Page 120 of Cruel Academy (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 2)

“It’s Shakespeare, you uncultured swine. That was a Shakespearean sex joke.” J.C. flops back into the back seat and shakes his head. “I’m so underappreciated around here. I thought you said you’d start laughing at my jokes since I decided to stay friends with your poor ass.”

If the stakes were lower, I might laugh.

But since Haley is on the line, I can’t find it in me to think anything is funny right now.

I just need to get Haley back.

No matter what it takes.

46

Haley

John paces around the mostly empty auditorium like a trapped animal, barking useless orders and grumbling with impatience.

“I guess your new boyfriend doesn’t care about you as much as I thought.”

I don’t bother telling him Caleb isn’t my boyfriend. John wouldn’t care or believe me either way. Anything I say now will be seen as an attempt to escape, and that would only make this more enjoyable for John.

So, I’m doing my best to seem relaxed, casual.

I’m anything but relaxed, though.

If Caleb never shows up, I’m not sure what will happen. John might be right—Caleb might not care about me anymore.

And if he doesn’t, will they let me go?

Or will they find another way to get revenge?

“I’ve paid you your money. Don’t you think this is all a little … dramatic?” I say with a roll of my eyes.

I’m trying to sound more confident than I feel.

God knows I spent enough time letting John see how much he terrified me.

“Says the girl who flipped my kitchen table after we broke up.”

“After I dumped you,” I correct him. It feels important to reiterate exactly how that went down.

Maybe antagonizing him is a bad idea, but it seems like a better option than collapsing in tears, which is what I really want to be doing. So, for now, it is what I’ll go with.

John’s dark eyes shimmer with malice. “I guess we’ll see if you made the right choice. If you were my girlfriend, I’d already be here to save you. I don’t like when people touch my things.”

Things. That word alone proves to me that, no matter what happens, I made the right choice. I’d rather be dead than be John’s possession. A thing for him to play with, torture, and toss away at will.

“We’re in agreement then. No below-the-belt stuff when we get in the ring.”

A third voice echoes through the auditorium, and I snap my head to the doorway just as Caleb steps into the frame. He waves his fingers in front of his crotch. “I don’t like when people touch my things, either. Well … most people, anyway.”

He takes that opportunity to shoot a wink in my direction.

I don’t know if he is just flirting with me to get under John’s skin or if there is some chance he really has forgiven me for everything, but I don’t care.

Because Caleb is here.

He came, and that at least means he has some concern for what happens to me.

J.C. and Noah take up positions on either side of Caleb.

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