Page 13 of The Venom We Bleed

“I don’t think I qualify as a princess anymore,” I remind her.

I continue to follow Roquel until we come to a standstill, and when I take a look around, I realize we’ve traversed the whole school and we’re back in the cafeteria attached to the main hall. The sounds of clanking and metal on metal grind my nerves as the lunch ladies hurry to clean up breakfast and move on to prepare the first round of school lunches. Roquel spins in a circle until she faces me. Clasping her hands behind her back, she rocks back and forth on her feet. She seems nice—polite even and not nearly as hostile as I was expecting—but that doesn’t mean shit. Even nice people have dark sides to them.

“What happened this morning is only going to keep happening.” She offers me the warning in a casual tone.

I tilt my head in her direction. “I figured as much,” I admit, then with a slow smile, I lean back. “Bring it on.”

She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t be so cocky if I were you,” she replies. “You caught Megan off guard, that’s all. No one actually expected you to fight back.”

“Or win.” I deadpan as I push past her and head for the front hall. Halfway there, I pause and turn back, holding out my hand. “I think I can take it from here,” I say. “I’ll need my schedule back.”

One dark brow arches and Roquel smiles. “Sure, but first let me give you some advice.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “Save your advice,” I say.

She hums in the back of her throat, rocking back and forth on her heels once more. “Then no dice, chickadee. You want your schedule back? Then you gotta listen up.”

I turn to face her fully. “Why bother?” I demand. “I’m not going to be around long. Once senior year is through, I’m fucking out of this godforsaken town and you’ll all be a distant memory in my rearview.”

She smirks. “A lot can change in a year.”

A growl rumbles up my throat. “Fine,” I snap. If that’s the price of getting my goddamn schedule back, then so be it. “Spit it out.”

Roquel’s feet land flat on the ground and her smile drops away. “I know for a fact you were one of the rulers of your last school, Juliet Donovan,” she states. “Public has a hierarchy, too, and unfortunately for you, you’re now at the bottom of it.”

I cross my arms. “And I should give a fuck, why?” Despite my sharp question and tone, I sense the direction of the conversation as I recall Nolan Pierce’s hand gripping my upper arm in this very room. My fingers close over the same place now.

“You should give a hell of a lot of fucks,” Roquel says. “Because unlike your old school—bullying around here is a bit different. We don’t have any rich parties for you not to getinvited to. Public plays rougher than that.” She shrugs. “It’s the only way we know how.”

“Okay?” The word slips out through gritted teeth.

“People here go for the throat and they’ll rip it out if you give them even an inch,” Roquel says. “That girl this morning? That’s Megan White. She’s one of Giovanni Vargas’ girlfriends.”

The name slips off her lips with a sigh. Every muscle in my body tenses. If anyone is as bad as Nolan Pierce or Alexio Medicci, it’s their best friend, Giovanni Vargas.

“I guarantee that if Megan can convince Gio that you’re deserving of attention, your life will get a hell of a lot harder. The Scorpion Kings will eat you alive.”

The Scorpion Kings. Even in Silverwood Prep they’re infamous—the three bastards of Silverwood, not so much in terms of blood but in attitude. They’re the worst of the worst. Drugs. Guns. Blackmail. Revenge. Despite the fact that they’re all still in high school, the three men known as the Scorpion Kings are extortionists and runners for Darrio Vargas—the defacto crime lord of Silverwood’s seedy underbelly.

To get involved with them would be the opposite of what I want—freedom.

Maybe a year ago, I would’ve cared about Roquel’s obvious caution or the threat they present. Maybe before I’d been fucked over and left behind to take all the heat, I would’ve listened to the girl trying to give me somewhat decent advice and information about my new circumstances. Unfortunately for her, though, I’m not who I was and I just don’t care anymore. Not about her and not about some group of assholes who consider themselves powerhouses to control the populace of Silverwood Public.

“Listen, Roquel,” I say, stopping her when she parts her lips to start talking again. “Whatever the hierarchy is here—it’s got nothing to do with me. If I’m on the totem pole, then you’reright, I’m at the bottom. I’m fine with that. I’m not looking to climb shit. I meant what I said this morning—everyone leaves me the fuck alone and I’ll mind my own business.”

Roquel sighs and offers me a sad smile. “If you were anyone else, I wouldn’t bother with this,” she admits. “But you’re not—you’re Juliet Donovan. You’re public enemy number one.” Her sad smile falls away and a flat look enters her eyes. “I’m not saying any of this to scare you. I’m trying to save your damn life.”

She steps closer until we’re nearly chest to chest. “So, take the fucking advice and find a friend or two—whatever you have to do to make that happen,” she says. “It doesn’t matter how good you are, you can't handle the entire school alone. The Scorpion Kings aren’t going to be fucked with if you step out of line.”

I meet her eye to eye. “Then I won’t step out of line.” It’s as simple as that. I’ll keep my head down and I won’t do a damn thing. I don’t want to get caught up in their illegal bullshit anyway. One criminal in my family is all I can truly stand.

"You already have,” Roquel replies. “Megan’s dad lost a lot because of yours. Her parents are divorcing because her mom found out he invested practically all of their savings into your Donovan-Calloway enterprises. They lost damn near everything and she and her mom are currently living with her alcoholic grandpa. Shehatesyour father—ergo, she hates you too, and she has every intention of making your life miserable.”

Already there.“Okay,” I say. “Let her try. Not like I can stop it. She’ll learn that I’m not easy prey.”

A soft growl erupts from Roquel. “You’re not listening to me,” she snaps. “She’s fucking Gio and if she convinces him to get rid of you—he will. He might not even need to do it himself either. Nolan Pierce and Alexio Medicci would do anythingfor their boy. Everyone is pretty sure that Alexio Medicci kills people for the mob anyway.”

The mob? I resist the urge to roll my eyes. He, like his friends, deals drugs—the fact is undeniable considering I’ve seen him so often at various Prep parties trading little bags of weed or white powder for cash—but there’s no way the three of them are that dangerous.

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