Page 30 of Cruel Academy (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 2)

She opens her mouth to answer and then frowns, studying me. “How did you know that?”

I push her away and step back, putting some much-needed space between us. “I’m at the fights every week. I haven’t seen you with him in a few months.”

One of her dark brows arches upwards. “You look for me?”

“You wish. Bumper is hard to miss. You said I strut around, but your ex-boyfriend is the king of it. Asshole thinks his shit doesn’t stink.”

Her red lips twist together, and she lowers her eyes to the ground, curls falling over her forehead. “I dumped him at the end of last year. As you know, he sucked. Saturday night was my first time back at the fights since then, and clearly, it should be my last.”

“You don’t have a good track record there, that’s for sure.”

Something like a smile plays on her lips, and she shrugs. “Not as good as yours. It’s why I want you to help me.”

I sigh and take another step back. “Watch a YouTube video or hire an instructor. You don’t need me.”

“But I do,” she says, closing the distance between us again. “I can’t learn how to fight through the internet, and I don’t have the money for an instructor.”

“Your parents just bought a million-dollar house. I think they can afford to pay Sam’s Karate downtown two hundred a month for lessons.”

She lets out a harsh huff of air, clearly frustrated. “Listen, you have secrets you want to keep, and so do I. If my parents do give me money for lessons, I’m not going to give it to Sam. I’m going to save it. And until I can save enough money, I need to know how to defend myself.”

I narrow my eyes. “What’s the money for then?”

At that, she lets out a chuckle. “That’s not for you to worry about. What I need from you is your expertise.”

“In exchange for you keeping your mouth shut about the underground?”

She nods.

“Fuck,” I snarl. “If you were a guy, I’d beat the shit out of you. You do understand that, right?”

She nods again. “I know. I’m only doing it now because there is no other choice.”

“I could ruin you, you know,” I say in a low voice. “With a single phone call to Finn, I could have your father fired. You think your pretty little life is hell already? I could turn Ravenlake Prep into an actual hellscape for you. I have the ability to destroy your life, and the only reason I’m not is because teaching you to fight uses less energy. But the second you become more trouble than you’re worth, this deal ends, and I destroy you. Are we clear?”

She swallows, her throat bobbing nervously, and then she nods. “So you’ll do it?”

I lower my face to hers until I see her lashes flutter when I exhale. “Tell me you understand the terms of this deal. I want to hear you say it.”

Her lips twitch together. “I understand.”

“You keep your mouth shut, and when this is over, you stay out of my sight and keep away from my friends. Repeat that back to me.”

“I keep my mouth shut,” she breathes. Her breath smells like peppermint. “And I leave you alone.”

I let go of her arms and step back, flinging an arm towards the drive. “We’re done here. Fuck off.”

She hesitates for a moment, doe eyes watching me.

Then, just as quickly as she appeared, Haley leaves, jogging down the driveway and onto the road towards her house.

14

Haley

As I jog away from Caleb, I can’t help but wonder…

Did I just strike a deal with the devil?

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