Page 43 of Cold and Broken (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 1)

“The number printed on there is my cell. Put it in your phone so if something like that happens again you can text me. I’ll see the notification on my iPad or computer.”

“Connor and Griffin got there in time.” He opens his mouth to say something but I continue on. “I’ll add it into my contacts though. Thank you.” I duck back into the classroom.

I’m greeted by Connor’s intense gaze then I watch him glare at Mr. Jameson over my shoulder. He reaches his hand around behind when I take my seat and rubs my calf. “Everything okay?” he asks quietly over his shoulder.

“Yeah. He just wanted to check in after what happened Friday.”

I feel my phone vibrate a minute later and discretely pull it out to check my messages.

Connor: The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them. -Ernest Hemingway

Connor: I’m going to prove myself to you.

Me: Big talk, Junior

* * *

All morning I’ve been tailed by no less than two guys at a time. If it’s not one of the guys, it’s some of Levi’s football player friends. One of the football players in my third period class even followed me to the bathroom. By the time lunch rolls around I’m done with the security detail.

“This has to stop.” I drop my bag beside the chair next to Connor.

“Hello to you, too,” Connor says unaffected by my demeanor.

“I’m serious, Connor. This is ridiculous. Less than a day in and I’m already going insane.”

“Well,” he drawls, “if you had talked to me yesterday I would have filled you in on the plan. This is for your safety. Unfortunately, you ignored me all day,” he says while looking through the menu. “What are you getting today, Levi? The carbonara sounds good.”

My eyes narrow to slits. “You aren’t going to brush me off.”

“I was actually thinking about the steak frites,” Levi says, also ignoring me.

“I thought you wanted to build trust with me or was everything you said this morning complete bullshit?” I snarl.

Connor sets his menu down and looks at me. “All bets are off when it comes to your safety. You can be as mad about this as you want.”

“Griffin.” I look across to him. “Back me up here. You have to think this is excessive.”

“Lilith, the image of you lying on the stairs with him on top of you will forever be etched in my memory. I’m entirely behind Connor on this.” He scrubs his hand over his face. “What if we hadn’t gotten there in time? You were left vulnerable by Margaux’s actions and didn’t come to us for help.”

“Yeah,” Levi says as he pours waters for everyone from the pitcher on the table, “what they said. If it isn’t one of us with you, it’s one of my offensive lineman.” He motions over four huge guys who have all shadowed me at one point or another today. “Sam, Mason, Tucker, Jace.” He points to each of them in turn.

At least the goons have names now. I commit them to memory so I can at least speak to them.

“Mr. Jameson asked me to put his number in my phone in case something happens again like last Friday.” I innocently say knowing full well Connor will lose his shit.

“The fuck?” Levi says.

“What?” Griffin drops his menu.

“Fuck no,” Connor growls. “Did you put it in your phone?”

“No.” I omit the fact that I have his card.

“Good.” Connor sets his hand on my knee. “Can we talk about something better than this? Where’s Ivy?”

“She said she was gonna find a lunchtime hookup earlier today.” I shrug and keep a close eye on Levi’s reaction. I swear there’s something going on between them but she gets cagey any time I bring it up.

Levi’s jaw ticks and his eyes narrow. “Good for her.”

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