Page 134 of Cruel Prep (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 1)

“Leaving,” I snap. I wrench my arm free of his clutches and take a step away from him.

“Why did you come here tonight?” His breath is thick with the scent of alcohol. Enough so that I feel a little drunk just smelling it. “Not smart, little Halez. Not smart at all.”

“Thought I’d put some money on the Wilson kid.”

He growls between clenched teeth. “Don’t be a smartass. No one has heard from you in months. If you knew what was good for you, you’d be hiding.”

I roll my eyes. “You don’t scare me, Levi.”

That’s a lie.

I do a quick survey of my surroundings. I’m alone in a parking lot with a drunken asshole whose best friend is my abusive ex.

Everyone inside is screaming their heads off as the Fighter Prince of Ravenlake Prep beats another idiot into submission, which means none of them will hear me if I start screaming for help.

All of which means one thing: I’m fucked.

Levi stands taller, puffing out his thin chest. I always referred to him as “the rat,” which amazingly he didn’t care for, despite how accurate it was.

Like a rodent, he scurried around gathering intel on everyone and everything to take back to his nest. And if you gave him the chance, he’d shit all over you. The only person he was loyal to was John.

Still, he is bigger than I am. Stronger, too.

He reaches out and grabs me again. His hand is an immovable cuff around my forearm.

He pulls me close, his breath hot in my face. He must see me glance around, hoping for some last minute savior, because he smiles.

“You aren’t under the protection of John anymore. You know that, right? No one gives a shit what happens to you.”

“Let me go.” I speak evenly. “Even if we aren’t dating, I’m sure John wouldn’t appreciate this.”

The fluorescents make Levi’s skin look yellow and sickly. When he smiles wider, a shiver moves down my back.

“You’ve been gone a long time, honey. You don’t know what John wants.”

Before I can really react, Levi yanks me into a small alcove in the alley behind the abandoned building where the underground fight is taking place.

I try to pull against his hold, but I can’t break free.

He’s got me.

Levi flings me against the rough brick wall and pins me there with his hips. My head cracks hard against the bricks and I see stars.

My heart is a jackhammer in my chest, but I can’t move. Can’t breathe.

My entire body is frozen in panic.

Then, suddenly, Levi’s mouth is over mine.

His lips are dry and thin, and his kiss is crushing and unrelenting. There is nothing warm or sensual or pleasurable about it at all. It feels like my teeth are being ground into dust and the smell of alcohol on his breath is so strong I want to gag.

I slam my hands into his chest, surprising him enough that he stumbles back a step and breaks the kiss.

“What the hell?” I curse, wiping at my mouth with the sleeve of my cropped, long-sleeved shirt. “What are you doing?”

He spits on the ground. “Seeing what the big deal is about. John was pissed when you left, and I didn’t get it. What’s so special about you?”

He lurches towards me again.

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