Page 121 of Cruel Academy (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 2)

Almost as if on command, the doors at the back of the auditorium open and five Hell Princes come streaming in, including Levi and the man who attacked me in the park.

There would probably be more Hell Princes here if the fights weren’t tonight. Felix and a good number of the other members have to be there to keep the event running. I say a silent prayer of thanks that I reached out to Estefania on a Saturday rather than any other night of the week.

Three versus six still isn’t ideal, though.

And John knows it.

“Your crew is looking a little small these days,” John says. “Too bad your members aren’t more loyal.”

“Unlike you shitbird townies, our friends are out seeking a higher education. While you all grow old and fat, still running the same corners and peddling drugs to teenagers, we’ll be running our own companies.”

John’s jaw clenches, but he manages a smug smile and a shrug. “We’ll see how much education helps you all in a fight.”

Caleb frowns. “We don’t all need to fight. This is between you and me.”

“No,” John says, tucking in his lower lip and shaking his head. “We had a truce, but you broke it the second you offered protection to someone who had wronged us. I mean, I get it, she’s a good fuck. I just hope those five minutes will be worth it to you in the end.”

Caleb slaps a hand over his mouth and snorts. “Is five minutes all you think I got? If that is how long you think a good fucking is, then I think you’ve already punished Haley enough. We’ll just take her and get out of your hair.”

My face burns with embarrassment, but I also have to bite back a laugh.

J.C. doesn’t even bother to fight his. He throws his head back and cackles at full volume, the sound bouncing off of the limestone walls.

John’s nostrils flare and his hands fist at his sides. “You’re not going anywhere.”

He raises a hand. The Hell Princes behind advance to the middle of the auditorium. Caleb starts moving, too, Noah and J.C. just behind him.

They are going to fight. Over me, I guess?

I insulted John when I broke up with him and stole his drugs.

Caleb insulted John by protecting me rather than handing me over to him that night at the campsite.

But even then, this fight feels like a bandage over a bullet wound. The damage is deeper than this, and even if they do fight, this won’t be the end of it.

John’s issue is with me.

If anyone should be fighting, it should be the two of us.

“Wait!” The rusted bleachers squeal as I jump up and run to where the two groups are about to converge.

John holds up a hand. “Sit down, Haley. This isn’t about you.”

“Yes, it is, you idiot!”

That catches his attention, and he turns to me, face contorted into the same mask of frustration and annoyance that I used to look at every day.

The same face that would push me against walls, holding me by my neck, and threaten me to obey himor else.

Now, I’m in charge of theor else.

I am going to set the rules.

No more damsel in distress.

“You all have drama that stretches out beyond me, I know, but your truce is broken right now because of me. Because of what I did. So, let me be the one to fight.”

Caleb steps forward immediately. “Haley, don’t—”

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