Page 110 of Cruel Prep (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 1)

Right now, I’m running to save my life.

And hopefully, Finn’s, too.

Regardless of what the truth is, I don’t want him to die. Not like this. Not over something he didn’t even do.

I believe he didn’t hurt Dallas.

I have to believe it.

I lower my head, pull my arms in close, and run for the back of the house. I’d prefer to take the road and run on even ground, but I need to steer clear of the road in case the officer is out there waiting to see how this all plays out. The last thing I need is him picking me up and bringing me back.

So, I run through the lawn and then down the hill towards the tree line. The ground gets more uneven the further I get from the house, but I try to plant my feet firmly and solidly. If I roll an ankle, that’s it, I’ll be gone.

There is so much noise behind me. Shouting and cursing and fists hitting human bodies.

Surely, everyone inside the house has heard the noise by now, too. Hopefully. Because if Finn is fighting off all the bikers on his own, it won’t be much of a fight. It will be over before I even reach the tree line.

I push the thought from my mind. I can’t worry about Finn. Not now.

I have to focus on my own safety and figure everything else out later.

As soon as I arrive at the trees, I feel like I’ve made it. Like I’m safe.

Once the dark is full and thick around me, I stop to try and decide which way I should go. I know there are neighbors in front of Finn’s house, but I don’t think anyone lives on the hill behind it.

I’ll have to wrap around the house through the trees and come out on the road, keeping an eye out for the officer.

All of these thoughts and plans are swirling through my head.

And then I hear the footsteps approaching.

Fast, heavy footfalls. Someone is running towards me.

My eyes are adjusting to the dark slowly, so I can’t look to see who it is, and I don’t care. I’m not waiting around to find out.

I start moving deeper into the darkness, stepping as lightly as I can. Even still, branches and twigs snap on my arms and legs. My skin burns with small scratches, and rocks poke through the thin soles of my sneakers, but I keep going.

Because if I stop, it’s all over.

The life-and-death stakes of all of it crashes over me, and before I can stop my mind from taking the path, I’m back in the park this summer.

In my mind’s eye, I’m back on the trail, walking into the opening where Nico Barber is having his dick sucked by a girl spread out on a table.

And I see Finn. Watching it all go down.

A sob wrenches out of me, bringing me back to the present moment, and I choke down the sound.

Now isn’t the time.

Not for a flashback.

Not for dwelling in the past.

Not now.

“Come on, Lily!” Nico yells, his voice far too close and echoing off the trees. “Your boyfriend is getting the shit kicked out of him, but if you hand yourself over, it will all stop.”

I cut right, hoping to lose his trail. Maybe he’ll go deeper into the woods, and I can circle back to the house.

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