Page 42 of Cold and Broken (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 1)

We walk into the school together, people scurrying out of way the way they do for the guys. Margaux is with her group of sycophants across the courtyard from us and Connor leans down to whisper in my ear.

“I”m going to piss you off,” he says before wrapping his arm around my neck and pulling me in for another indecent kiss. His other hand cups my cheek and moves back into my hair as he deepens the angle of the kiss. This is him claiming me, marking me off limits. I should stop him. I should resist. Instead I cling to him, already giving the trust in this moment I told him to earn twenty minutes ago.

“You gonna whip your dick out and piss on her too, Volkov?” Owen drawls in his thick as molasses Texas accent.

“Fuck off, Owen.” I feel Connor stiffen under my hands before he brushes a soft kiss over my lips. “I need to talk with the guys for a minute. Can you and Ivy go to seminar without us?” he speaks softly into my ear.

“I think we can handle it,” I scoff.

Ivy meets me halfway with a concerned look on her face. She links her arm through mine and we start to head off toward class.

“So, everyone saw that kiss.” She fans herself. “I’m all worked up now. I might have to grab someone for a lunchtime hookup now.”

“I can’t believe he did that.” Actually I can believe it. He gives no fucks and does what he wants.

“I’m sure he had a reason. How was the rest of the weekend?”

“Good. I went to Boston with my dad yesterday to find a Bears bar to watch the game. Then I just stayed in our apartment all night, even when Connor came banging on my door last night. He was waiting with coffee for me this morning. We went a couple rounds of driving each other crazy before we even left the driveway.” I grin at her. “I have a whole string of texts from ignoring him yesterday.”

We both chuckle about that while we walk into Mr. Jameson’s seminar class. Unsurprisingly, he’s not here yet and the class is only about half full. Ivy and I take our usual seats and make plans for her to come over and watch Riverdale with me later in the week.

“Hello.” I turn to see Owen looming over my desk. “It must be my lucky day, seeing you here. We got off on the wrong foot. I’m Scott Owen.” He holds a broad, tan hand out in front of me.

“Lilith Nelson.” I give him my hand. “I’m not sure we got off on the wrong foot if you’re hanging out with Margaux.” I try to pull my hand away but he grips it tighter.

“She’s a means to an end.” He shrugs and for a second I feel bad for her. Connor has basically said the same thing. I wonder if she knows these guys use her as a pawn the way they do.

“Hmm,” I narrow my eyes, “definitely got the right first impression of you then. Let go of my hand.”

“Hands off, Owen.” A gruff voice comes from a guy I don’t know. I yank my hand away and look at the guy walking up the aisle toward us. He’s wearing a football jacket instead of the usual uniform jacket so I’m guessing he’s one of Levi’s goons. Ivy mentioned we had shadows on the way to class.

Owen moves to take Connor’s seat and football goon blocks his way. “Seat’s taken.”

Owen clinches his jaw and his hands ball into fists. Then he drags a deep breath in and smiles. “Which seat isn’t taken then?”

The goon doesn’t reply, just shrugs and walks away when Connor, Levi, and Griffin stroll through the door. Levi gives him a thank you and a fist bump and then the goon leaves the room. No wonder I didn’t know his name, he’s not even in this class.

Mr. Jameson breezes in a few seconds later coffee cup in one hand, briefcase in the other. He scans the room, zeros in on Scott and glances down at his iPad.

“Scott Owen, I presume?” he says looking back up over the rim of his glasses.

“Yes, sir.” Owen says pleasantly.

“That’s your assigned seat from now on.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Lilith, I’d like to speak with you out in the hall.” His vibrant blue eyes pin me in place.

“Okay.” I follow him out into the hall.

“Are you okay? I heard about what happened before physics Friday.” He gives me a concerned once over and notices the bruising on my leg. His eyes are stormy when they meet mine again. “Is that how you got those?”

I nod.

“This is the type of thing I warned you about.” He reaches over and gently squeezes my arm. “Do you have the card I gave you with my friend’s information written on it?”

I nod again.

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