Page 32 of The Vipers and Their Vendetta

“I’ll do what I like, and you should respect me enough to understand that I need some space.”

“No.”

I cock an eyebrow. “No?”

“You don’t get to have fucking space from us. You don’t get to run in the middle of the night, and not expect us to come after you. You’re ours now, Venom, whether you like it or not.”

I close my eyes and shake my head. “Fuck off, Lex. I can’t deal with this shit right now.”

The math professor walks into the room, and the hum of activity drops down a level.

Lex stretches out one long leg, the thigh muscles defined beneath his jeans, and nudges my foot with his. I refuse to look at him.

“Ours,” he repeats. “Even if you make us want to tie you up and hurt you at times.”

I shiver at his words and try to focus on what the professor is saying. It’s nearly impossible. My entire body fizzes at Lex’s proximity, and it’s like my head is full of bees. I barely notice my injuries from the crash when he’s this near. He blocks out all other sensation.

Tie me up. Would they really do that? I picture myself naked and bound with ropes cutting into my skin. I imagine them circling me like a pride of hungry lions, figuring out which hole they want to fuck first. The worst part is that the thought creates tension between my thighs, my pussy growing wet, and leaving me desperate and needy. I must be so messed up to take that threat as anything other than what it is.

They want to hurt me.

Somehow, I manage to get through class. The moment the bell signals an end to it, I leap from my seat, needing to escape.

By some miracle, the professor calls for Lex to stay behind, buying me a moment to get out of there without him following me. It allows me to breathe deeply for the first time in the past hour.

I still haven’t eaten anything yet today. The giant coffee I drank first thing swirls uncomfortably in my stomach. I know I need to force something solid down, though.

On my way to the cafeteria, I run into the tall, blonde girl I know is called Mackenzie. With her is a shorter, dark-haired girl who looks more like me.

“Ivani!” Mackenzie pulls me in for gentle hug. “Oh, my God, how are you? I heard what happened.”

“I’m okay,” I say, but my chin trembles at her kindness. I’m in that mood where even the slightest nice thing makes me want to cry. “And thank you for asking.”

“It can be rough with men like the Vipers.” Mackenzie shoots the girl next to her a knowing glance. “And believe me, I’m not the Vipers’ biggest fan. But they are worth it, in the long run.”

Her words warm me inside, but I wonder if there’s a story behind that look she sent the dark-haired girl. “How could you tell?”

She shrugs. “I was in your place not so long ago. I recognized the look on your face. That kind of torment doesn’t come from falling off your bike.”

I manage to tug the corners of my mouth into a smile. “No, you’re right. It doesn’t.”

She gives my hand a squeeze. “I’d better get going, but if you need a friend, you know where I am—probably surrounded in diapers and bottles.”

I laugh. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

While diapers and milk bottles definitely aren’t my scene, there’s a certain normality to it that makes it sound appealing. Babies are much easier to think about than suicidal girls, and weirdos in the woods, and bullying men who can’t keep their hands off me.

I head into the cafeteria, and, to my relief, I spot Angelica, Jarena, and Faith already seated at a table. There’s nothing worse than standing awkwardly in the middle of a college cafeteria with nowhere to sit. It doesn’t look like either of the other Vipers are here—they might have gone out to their hangout spot, the mansion. I hope they have. Keeping their distance from me only makes my life easier.

I get in line to order some food. I go for the plainest thing they have available, a slice of margarita pizza, and a Coke for the sugar and caffeine hit. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to eat,but I decide I have to try. If I’m going to survive here, I need to stay strong, and that means both mentally and physically. I carry my tray over to the table, and I’m greeted with a chorus of welcomes. Right now, despite my mixed feelings toward them at times, I’m so grateful to have these girls on my side—and for girls like Mackenzie, too.

We all need to stick together. I hope I can become real friends with them. I need that kind of cushion if I’m going to make it through the next few years.

I wonder what went so wrong for Reagan that she didn’t feel she could confide in anyone else.

“How are you doing?” Faith asks, her palm covering the back of my hand.

I manage a nod. “It’s been a rough morning, but I’m getting there.”

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