Page 169 of Teacher's Pet

"Ana?"

Eden’s voice pulls me back.

I blink, finally turning to face her.

"Are you okay?"

Jake’s gaze burns into the side of my head, scorching, relentless.

Swallowing hard, I force down the fear clawing at my ribs.

"Fine," I whisper, even though it’s a lie.

Even though nothing about this night is fine.

Even though, from across the courtyard, Jake is still watching.

And we both know it.

Noah

"What the hell are you doing?" Roman snaps, yanking his arm away as I pull him farther from the three devils watching us.

I don’t answer. Not until we’re out of earshot. Not until my back is turned to my brother’s pack of criminals.

Lowering my voice, I lean in. "You need to look like I’m threatening you."

Roman’s eyes narrow. Confusion flickers across his face. "What-"

"Antonov," I hiss, cutting him off before he can protest. "That’s my last name. And the man standing over there, watching Ana like a crow, is Jake Antonov. Ever heard the name?"

His jaw clenches. His expression hardens.

"Antonov?" he mutters under his breath. Then, his voice drops even lower. "The same Antonovs who Catalyst had a run-in with last year? The ones who killed a couple of my men during a drug bust gone south?"

I nod, gripping the edge of my suit jacket to keep my hands steady.

Roman grimaces, his mind already piecing the rest together. "There wasn’t a Jake Antonov in charge when my men busted that warehouse." His gaze darkens. "I thought it was odd. A man named Noah Ackerman. No background, no life before Spokehaven. A clean social security number...almost too clean."

His eyes flick to mine, sharp and unreadable.

"It was a long shot," he continues, "but then there was another name. One that carried weight. Noah Antonov. Feared. Ruthless. A murderer. A drug smuggler. A man willing to do anything to uphold Gregory Antonov’s legacy."

The words hit like a bullet to the ribs.

Roman studies me, his jaw twitching. "So, tell me, Noah, what made you drop everything to become a teacher? And more importantly, why the hell would a man like you go and fuck such an innocent girl?"

I exhale sharply, my voice barely above a whisper. "You don’t understand what Ana means to me."

"Maybe not. But it doesn’t excuse the blood on your hands." Roman’s lip curls.

"I left," I snap, my patience thinning. "I ran. My father built his empire on blood he forced my brother and me to spill. Jake fed into the madness. I got out."

Roman’s eyes flick behind me, zeroing in on Jake with unsettling focus.

"Why are the two kids with him?" he asks quietly.

I glance over my shoulder. Walker and Cole. Both standing with my brother. Both playing their roles in a game that’s been rigged from the start.

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