Page 41 of Corrupt Me

“I’m thrilled,” one of the assholes sneered. Cruz or Hudson, I didn’t know which…didn’t care to know.

Tristan’s glower turned to the two jackasses I never wanted to set eyes upon again. “Get the fuck out of here,” he barked, the vein in his neck throbbing.

One of them touched the side of their jaw as if they were remembering what it was like to have Tristan’s fist hammer the side of his face. That memory must have been enough for him not to take the chance of a repeat beating.

As Cruz and Hudson wordlessly departed, Tristan’s icy gaze turned to his brother. “Preston, go home,” he ordered. “Ever, you’re coming with me.”

Preston stepped in front of me, putting himself in the middle. “Who died and made you king? She’smygirlfriend.”

This was getting out of hand, and all I wanted to do was shove my earbuds back in and run. Another mile no longer sounded difficult, not when faced with these two.

An almost cruel grin curled on Tristan’s lips. “Not anymore, she’s not.” Tristan was always a jerk but usually had a soft spot for his brother. What was up his ass?

Preston flinched. “I thought shit was cool between us.”

What shit, I wanted to interrupt, but I knew it would fall on deaf ears when the two were zeroed in on each other.

“It is when you’re where you belong,” Tristan said with an emphasis again that Preston shouldn’t have come.

“Fine. We’ll go somewhere off campus.” Preston reached for my hand.

Tristan beat him to it, lacing our fingers together and pulling me to his side. In doing so, he drew an invisible line between his brother and him, me along with him.

A dark look passed between the brothers, and dread came over me. “What the fuck, Tristan?” Preston seethed, his anger simmering to the surface. “Ev can speak for herself.” Preston reached for my other hand, the one Tristan wasn’t clutching.

I suddenly felt like I was a tug-of-war rope, being yanked this way and then that.

“Ever, do you want to talk to Preston?” Tristan put me on the spot, his fingers squeezing mine, prompting me to say something.

This wasn’t good. Not only was Tristan testing me, but he also put me in the middle—a place I didn’t want to be. “Tristan,” I gritted between clenched teeth.

He raised his brows at me, waiting for an answer, while Preston stood on my other side, also expectantly waiting.

Assholes.

I dug my nails into Tristan’s hand, making my annoyance very clear as I said to Preston, “No, I have nothing more to say.” Exhaustion dragged into my voice.

Hurt flashed over Preston’s face. A pang bloomed in my chest. It had never been my intention to cause Preston pain. Preston’s fingers released me, and my arm fell limply to my side. “Fine. Have it your way.” He stepped away from me, his blue-green eyes sparking with anger. “Don’t call me crying when you realize you’ve made the biggest mistake of your life. We’re done, Ev.” Shaking his head, he gave his brother one last furious glower before storming off.

“Preston,” I called after him, a gut reaction born from years of bending and yielding to the youngest Malone, and I cursed myself for it.

Tristan yanked on my hand, keeping me at his side and preventing me from going after his brother. I stared at Preston’s retreating back. He didn’t turn around.

“It’s for the best,” Tristan whispered lowly.

I whirled, jerking my fingers away from his. “What’s your problem? You didn’t have to be such an ass. He’ll never forgive me.”

Tristan shoved his hands into his pockets as if he didn’t trust himself not to reach for me again. He bit the corner of his lip where the silver hoop gleamed. “He doesn’t deserve your forgiveness.”

I stared up at Tristan, my heart battering in my chest. “What does that mean?”

He held my gaze with such intensity it made me want to look away. “It means, Shortcake, one day, you’ll thank me.”

Fucking doubtful.

fifteen

Ishook my head at Tristan. “It’s easy for you to say. You have nothing to lose.Ican’t afford to lose anyone else.”

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