Page 44 of Cold and Broken (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 1)

I notice Griff looking at him skeptically. Then I notice Connor’s fingers tracing circles along my inner thigh. I move his hand back to his lap and cross my legs under the table. He gives me a straight up devilish smile and puts his arm on the back of my chair.

“What are you doing tonight?” Connor asks me.

“Probably catching up on physics and watching the game with dad.”

“I’ll help you.” I roll my eyes at Connor’s declaration. If he everaskedme something instead of demanding I think I’d pass out like one of those fainting goats.

“Maybe. I also have plans to FaceTime Z.”

“How often do you talk to him?” Levi asks.

“Everyday. At least once but we text all day.”

“Were you texting with him yesterday?” Connor furrows his brow.

“Yep.” I smile sweetly.

“Hey!” Ivy sits down at the table with flushed cheeks and messed up hair. “What’s up?”

“Not too much. Lilith’s just tormenting Connor,” Griff answers.

“Fun, one of my top five favorite things to do.”

“Where were you?” Levi glares at her. It’s the first time I’ve seen him so serious.

“None ofyourbusiness.” She arches an eyebrow in challenge.

“Later.” Levi pushes up from the table. “Just remembered I need to ask coach something.”

I look over at Ivy who watches him walk away. When her eyes meet mine she shrugs.

14

Connor

Gray clouds hang low overhead and the air has that ozone scent that promises a heavy rain as I walk across the quad toward the science building. I left my last class early in order to speak to Mr. Jameson privately. I’m done with the niceties regarding his interest in Lilith. Between him and now Owen’s sudden enrollment in this damn school, I’m starting to wonder if Founders Prep standards are dipping.

I take the stairs two at a time up to the third floor and stride down the hall to knock on Mr. Jameson’s door. When he says for me to come in I paste my cold no bullshit face on.

“Connor, what can I help you with?” He glances up from his desk not bothering to hide the disdain he holds for me.

“I wanted to discuss Lilith with you.”

“I’m pleased to hear you know her actual name,” he snarks. “What about her?”

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to be giving your number to students.”

“My conversations with another student are none of your concern.”

“Anything to do with Lilith is my concern.” I drop my bag at my seat and stroll up to stand in front of his desk. “She is mine to protect.”

He scoffs and leans back in his chair. “Yours? She can barely tolerate you. Even if that were true you didn’t protect her Friday. She’s covered in bruises.”

“I stopped Ferguson.”

“After he’d already hurt her.” I want to punch the smug bastard in the face. “If you truly are concerned about her safety I don’t see how having another person she can trust would be a bad thing.”

“I know what you did to Sarah Hobbs last year.” I lean over his desk and scowl down at him. “I will reign down hell upon you if you don’t back off. I can have you fired with a snap of my fingers.”

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