Page 48 of Cruel Academy (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 2)

“I’m saying that your mouth is writing checks your body can’t cash, Haley Cochran,” I whisper. “This is your last warning to rein it in. Next time, I won’t be this gentle.”

It’s a good lesson in always being aware of your surroundings. In not letting your guard down, even when your opponent doesn’t seem to be a threat.

I realize suddenly how angry I am. The memory of Bumper and his idiot goons assaulting me from the shadows, jumping me like cowards, knowing they’d never stand a chance in a fair fight… it gets my blood boiling.

I realize also that Haley is trembling in my grasp.

It’s not a shiver, but a full-body, uncontrollable shaking. So violent that I almost think she might be having a seizure.

I let go of her arm and spin her around. The moment her eyes land on mine, she blinks and shakes her head, trying to smile. The attempt is feeble. Her distress is obvious.

“Don’t cry,” I bark.

“I’m fine.” Her voice is high-pitched and shaky, and she tucks her hands behind her back to hide the trembling. Her entire body is tight as a bowstring.

She can lie all she wants. It’s obvious that she is terrified.

“Yeah, you look fine,” I say sarcastically.

“I am,” she insists with a false laugh. “I’m okay. You just surprised me and … I need to get going. I should get home and—”

She starts moving towards the door—leaving behind her phone, house keys, and tennis shoes by the couch.

I step in front of her to block her path, keeping my distance.

“You’re not leaving.”

“You can’t keep me here, John—” Her eyes go wide, and she shakes her head. “Caleb. God. See? I’m exhausted. I should go.”

“I’m not anything like John.” I meant the words to be comforting, but they come out in a growl.

Haley drops her face into her hands. “I didn’t mean that. Seriously. I’m fine. Please, let’s just—”

“What the fuck are you doing saying his name in this house anyways?”

Haley lifts her eyes to mine, and they are pleading. “I don’t want to talk about this.”

My hands clench into fists. It takes serious effort to uncurl them.

She doesn’t have to say it out loud for me to get what she’s thinking—that I’m just like her piece of shit ex. That I use violence to solve my problems. To intimidate her into silence.

Fuck that. I’m nothing like him. He’s nothing like me.

She needs to get that straight.

I hold up my hands in surrender and step away. “Fine, don’t talk. But you still can’t leave.”

“I can’t?” The fear in her eyes hardens, morphing into anger. “Why?”

“Because I said so.”

“Why?” she asks again, firing the word like a bullet.

“Because I’m trying to help you!”

“Why?”

She is shouting at me now. The trembling girl from a few minutes ago is gone.

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