Page 157 of Teacher's Pet

Twice.

Three times.

Then-

"I figured I’d hear from you," Cole murmurs, his voice a slow, sinister drawl. "Pity. They could’ve at least used a better picture of the kid-"

"What did you do?" I whisper, my throat tightening.

"You made some very powerful enemies, Anastasia," he purrs, amusement dripping from every syllable. "So did your little fuck buddy. You know, I always pegged you for a kinky whore, but screwing a professor? That was unexpected."

"What the fuck did you do, Cole?" I snap, my teeth grinding together.

He sighs, like this entire conversation is beneath him. "The Antonovs had business with Walker’s family. I needed money. Walker knew that. And after Noah’s little stunt in the classroom, well… he was motivated to help my little problem go away."

My stomach churns.

"Noah said Walker’s family and his were competitors-"

"Joint interest has a funny way of making people see eye to eye. Especially when interested in taking down a common enemy. You... the Briars." Cole muses.

The Briars?

Glancing back at Jake and Noah, the realization slams into me like a freight train.

That’s why Jake sought me out.

That’s why he dangled me in front of Noah, why he pushed him.

He knew this was coming.

He knew this would happen tonight.

"The police are one tip away from pinning this all on you," Cole whispers, his voice a razor-sharp promise. "So long as Noah plays nice and listens to Jake, everything should be fine."

A cold wave of dread washes over me as my grip tightens around the phone. Across the room, Jake’s forehead is still red from where Noah slammed him into the bar, but it’s his smile that fills me with something far worse than fear.

"You killed that boy," I rasp.

Cole laughs. "Yeah? You should be grateful I didn’t kill you, too. Keep your mouth shut about this conversation or Walker will have someone pay your dear old dad a visit the next time he’s in the hospital."

My pulse pounds in my ears.

"That’s it, then?" I whisper. "You win?"

"Win?" Cole chuckles, dark and cruel. "I’ll win when you’re ten feet under, just like Levi. Enjoy your night, Anastasia. Too bad Jake couldn’t get a taste of you before your professor ruined it all."

The line goes dead.

Slowly, I lower the phone, my fingers barely able to grip it. My gaze locks onto Jake’s, his malicious grin stretching wider, his victory carved into every inch of his expression.

"Ana," Elijah murmurs, his voice cautious. "Who was that?"

I glance between Jake and Noah.

Noah looks as miserable as I feel.

"I-I have to go," I whisper, my voice barely holding steady. A million thoughts crash into me at once, each one louder than the last. "Right fucking now."

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