Page 84 of The Venom We Bleed

“What are you doing?” I choke out, reaching up and clamping a hand over the side of my head.

“Isn’t that the question of the century?” Gio chuckles behind me.

Neither man moves away, and I have the distinct impression that they’re doing this on purpose. They’re all over me in the school parking lot and there are dozens of eyes on us.

Reality is a cold-hearted bitch. “You’re using me.” Slowly lowering my hand back to my side, I turn my head to gaze at Gio over my shoulder. He frowns. I pivot back and meet Nolan’s eyes and let emptiness fill me as my tone comes out flat and even. “Did you already tell everyone?”

Nolan’s brows dip and twin lines form between them as he backs up a step. “Tell everyone what?”

The Scorpion Kings saved me.

The Scorpion Kings drove me to school.

The Scorpion Kings are practically dry-humping me in front of the entire student body.

I’ve been played.Again.

“Did you tell everyone that you fucked me? That you got into the ex-prep girl’s pants?” I look back at Gio. “He did by the way—get in my pants that is,” I say truthfully. “But he didn’t fuck me. Was that the plan?”

The hands on my hips disappear and Gio looks like I just slapped him. I don’t care. Turning, I get into the car, ripping my backpack off and throwing it onto the floorboards as I grab the door handle and slam it shut behind me. Neither man stops me; both remain outside, staring down through the tinted glass of the passenger side window. After several beats, they move away from where I’m sitting to the rear of the car.

The back of my skull meets the headrest as I stare up at the ceiling of the car. I was a fucking fool last night. Of course Nolan doesn’t actually want anything else from me but what hecan use. There must be a reason they came to my rescue after the attack. Hell, what if the Scorpion Kings are the ones who instigated it in the first place?

My thoughts are driven away as the driver’s side door opens and Gio gets in. Silence stretches between us as he cranks the engine and puts on his seat belt. A large part of me wants to call him and his fucking Scorpion brothers out on the shit I’m just now starting to work out, but another part of me warns me to stay quiet. If they’re responsible for the attack last night, then they’ll learn I’m not just an ex-prep princess; I’m the girl that will ruin them.

I stare at Gio’s profile as he backs up and heads towards the parking lot’s exit. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Juliet.”

Juliet. Not Prep Girl. I smile, and I know it’s anything but sweet and amused. “Are you mad because Nolan got to me first?” I ask.

He doesn’t respond, but the skin of his knuckles turns white as his hands tighten on the steering wheel. They’re not the only ones who can play this game. They’re not the only ones full of venom.

“Nolan didn’t fuck you,” Gio finally says, the words sharp and angry.

I laugh. “But he wanted to.” Worse yet,I’dwanted him to. Like an idiot.

Gio’s eyes flash to mine, dripping with venom. “Look in a fucking mirror, Prep Girl,” he snaps. “Any man with a working cock would want to.”

“The whole school knows I’m involved with you somehow now,” I say, ignoring his claim. “You know what they’re going to start saying.”

“Fuck what they say.” Gio slams a palm on the steering wheel. “You think we care what they say?” The Firebird jerksto a stop at a red light and he turns to face me. “People in this town talk; it’s what they do.” He glowers at me. “You should know that better than anyone. If you think we feel any need to hide simply because you don’t want people to talk…” He lets his words drift off because his meaning is clear.

I face forward and cross my arms over my chest. “The light is green,” I snap. “Drive.”

Gio curses and the Firebird eases forward, but not before he gets one last statement in. “We’re not your enemies, Juliet. Sure, we tested you when you first got to Public, but I’m sure you’ve noticed how everyone’s stopped shoving you in the halls. How they’ve all stopped leaving trash or rotten food on your desk and in your locker. We saved your ass last night, and if that doesn’t prove you can trust us, then nothing will.”

But Ican’ttrust them. Maybe it’s not even about them. I can’t trust anyone. I’ve been stabbed in the back too many times and I’m tired. Tired of trusting and tired of betrayal.

If history has taught me anything, it’s that I’m a poor judge of character and nothing has changed except my zip code.

33

NOLAN

She’s right not to trust us; even I don’t know what the hell we’re doing with her. I consider Juliet’s words as I jog towards the gym. Lex is already there in the locker rooms when I arrive. His back is to me as he yanks his t-shirt over his head and tosses it into his open locker. I glance down the row of doors and into the adjoining shower room, but for now, it appears, we’re alone. With a sigh, I let the door close behind me and move slowly towards Lex.

“Hey, man…” My head throbs as I approach.

Lex stiffens at the sound of my voice, his back muscles tightening in bunching jumps before he reaches into his locker and yanks out his practice jersey. He’s angry and I get it. He’s so close to having what he’s always wanted—a way out of Silverwood and … her. It’s not the escape that has him so insane, it’s the girl.

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