Page 116 of Disobedient Pawn

“Do it, Axel, and you deal with me instead,” I said, stepping closer to Ren.

“I’ll ask again, do we have a problem, gentlemen,” Mrs. Grey said from the front of the room.

“You lost. Get over it and move on.” I never took my eyes off Axel as we stared at one another but called out to Mrs. Grey. “No, no problem. We’re having a friendly discussion.”

It was technically against the rules to fuck with the head of another family, even if he wasn’t what I’d consider major league. Axel was the son of the Slovenian mafia boss. They were a smaller group, known for being dangerous, but I wouldn’t just stand here and watch.

“Whatever.” He rolled his eyes and turned around.

I stuffed my laptop in my bag and could feel Ren’s eyes on me. The bell rang, and I grabbed Ren by the shoulder, guiding her out the back door and away from Axel.

“Why are you pushing me?”

“You don’t know when to keep your mouth shut, Princess, and one of these days, it’ll get you into more trouble than you can handle.”

“If you mean I stand up for myself, then yeah, I guess I do. That won’t stop, no matter how many names people call me or how many times I’m threatened. It certainly won’t stop even when guys in masks try to scare the shit out of me.”

I smirked at her pointed dig. We drew a few looks as we walked past. Most looked worried like I was taking her out behind the school to beat her to death. On the one hand, it was good that everyone thought I could and would follow through, but it also bothered me. It meant the only thing separating me from becoming my father was desire, and I was terrified that one day I’d wake up and that last piece of me would disappear.

“When did you start dating Myles,” I asked, not removing my hand as we walked.

I couldn’t figure out why her dating Myles bothered me or why I felt protective now. I blamed the journal making me see her as more than another chess piece.

“Technically, we’re not.” She sidestepped, and I let my hand fall away from her shoulder, but I walked with her all the same. “Why do you care?”

“Myles is one of my best friends and important to many things in my life. I like to know when there are major changes. Girlfriends tend to fuck things up and make my life more difficult.” I said.

She looked up at me like I’d just spewed dog shit.

“Yes, like I’m the one stalking you,” she drawled, and I narrowed my eyes at her. “Not that I owe you anything, especially after what you did, but I told Myles I would give him an answer after Christmas. Axel doesn’t need to know that. Happy now,” she said, pushing open the front door of Morisward Hall, and we stepped outside into the harsh wind.

“Yes.”

We were getting our first real snowfall this weekend, not just flurries, and I was looking forward to the blanket of white. Most couldn’t handle it or just didn’t like the cold and snowy months, but I loved to lay in the snow until my skin stung and then hop in my hot tub, feeling like my skin was going to melt off. It was cleansing.

Rory pushed his way out the doors of the building we were heading and walked toward me. He glanced at me but looked down at his phone as he continued his walk. As we passed, he ran his shoulder into mine, and I felt his fingers slipping into my hand, leaving a piece of paper behind.

“Hey, watch where you’re walking, asshole,” I yelled and stuffed the note in my pocket.

“Sorry, man,” Rory called back and kept going.

“Fuck some people,” I growled, making the exchange look authentic. When I told him I wanted the information fast, I hadn’t meant for him to hunt me down at school, but he was effective.

“Done harassing people,” Ren asked as I caught back up to her.

“He ran into me.”

Ren’s eyebrow arched up, and even though she didn’t say anything, I felt like she was scolding me.

“Why are you following me anyway?”

“I’m not, just heading the same way, and you’re the one that waited for me. Besides, I can’t help that you’re short with tiny strides.” I smirked as she glared up at me.

I yanked open the front door to the main building.

“You going to sit with us for lunch?”

“Me, sit with you and Vicky for lunch?”