Page 47 of Deadly Sacrifice

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“Are you sure it’s alright if I sit with you?” Annie whispers after we grab our lunch and turn to the table from hell. AKA the one with Asher, Creed, and Griffin. Not that Griffin is the problem, but he’s just extra broody and weird with his buddies around. I understand, though. Can’t have them knowing that Griffin and I are getting closer and working on destroying those Star assholes.

I smile, nudging her shoulder with mine. “Of course. If Asher is going to demand I grace them with my presence for one meal a day, then the very least he can do is accommodate my friend, too. Besides, it’s not like I’ll give him a choice either way, so if he doesn’t like it, he can lick my ass.”

She snorts out a laugh, covering her mouth while she rolls her eyes at me playfully. “The saying is ‘kiss my ass,’ you weirdo.”

I pause, consider that, and then shrug. “Nah, I like my version better.”

We laugh as we finish the walk to the table. Creed and Griffin are eating and doing whatever they do on their phones, but Asher is watching me like I might grow a tail any second and he’s scared to miss it. I set my tray down, gesture for Annie to do the same, and then announce, “Guys, this is Annie. She’ll be sitting with us from now on.”

Asher arches a brow at me, glancing at Annie, and then rolls his forest green eyes as he finally gets started on his food. The other two don’t so much as twitch a muscle with our arrival.

Rude.

“I can go sit somewhere else,” Annie whispers, clutching her tray of food and scanning the large room for an empty table.

I give her an incredulous look. “Nonsense. The guys hardly even speak to me, so I’m basically alone, anyway.” When she still looks like a flight risk, I add teasingly, “They won’t bite.” Sitting down, I gently take her wrist and tug her to follow me.

Creed lifts his head, looking at me for the first time since I walked over here. “Don’t feed the poor girl lies, Ember. I absolutely do bite, but only when you earn it,” he muses, licking his lips and dropping his gaze to my covered chest.

I ignore him, shifting on the bench seat a bit so he’s not even in my peripheral vision. I don’t have the energy to handle him today. Thankfully, he doesn’t keep trying, and we all fall into silence while we eat.

Until that silence is abruptly shattered.

“Annie!”

She tenses beside me, and I swing my gaze over my shoulder. Mark just entered the cafeteria, walking straight over to us.

Turning to my new friend, I take her hand beneath the table, and murmur, “Don’t pay him any attention, alright? Let me handle this.”

She nods with a thick swallow. Asher snorts across the table, and I whip my head around to glare at him.

“Problem?” I ask.

He runs his tongue over his teeth, looking over me to Mark, before spearing me with his eyes again. “It’s cute you think you can save the day. But go right ahead, Prudence. I’d love to watch him put you in your place,” he muses, a harsh smirk on his dumb face.

Creed snickers without sparing me a glance. Griffin grits his teeth, but keeps his focus on his food. Annie looks deathly pale.

I guess I won’t be getting help from anyone.

When Mark approaches our table, he leans on the edge with his palms flat, staring at Annie with an angry, possessive glint in his dark eyes. “Hey, baby,” he coos, but the fake smile quickly drops when she keeps her head down. He exhales hard, looking around the table before stopping on me. The look he gives me is a promise of pain, but I refuse to cower. Turning his attention back to Annie, he says firmly, “You haven’t been answering the phone. Where you been?”

Annie shrugs without looking up at him, holding onto my hand with a death grip that might break my bones any second. I give her a reassuring squeeze — also hoping it helps the blood flow to my fingers a little better — and then smile casually at Mark.

“Haven’t you heard?” I start, almost shivering when he snaps his violent eyes to me. “Cheaters don’t get second chances. Us girls are so over fuck boys like you.”

Mark narrows his eyes, nostrils flaring as he stands up straight and curls his hands into fists at his sides. “Watch your mouth,” he warns in a chilling tone.

Jutting my chin up in defiance, I say, “Or what?”

He smiles, all sharp and crazed, and it’s an expression that’ll probably live in my nightmares for a long time. “I can’t wait for you to find out.” He holds my stare for a beat, and if I wasn’t already creeped out, I sure as hell am now. Then he drags his eyes away from me and tilts his head at Annie. “Let’s go,” he orders. When she doesn’t move a single muscle, he reaches for her, curling his meaty fingers around her slim arm and yanking her up with him. “I said, let’s fucking go,” he barks at her, his grip visibly indenting her skin.

She winces in pain, trying to pull away and whispering desperately, “Mark, please. You’re hurting me.”

I push to my feet, slamming my hands on the table. “Why don’t you leave her alone and move on to your next target, Mark? She isn’t playing your manipulative game anymore.”

He ignores me, turning and dragging Annie behind him.

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