Page 38 of Unhinged Kallie

“I’d let go of me,” I said, knowing he would laugh, but I had to give him a chance to let me go.

“Not until I’m ready.” Taylor jerked me hard, and I stumbled as he pushed a kid at his open locker away and tried to shove me inside.

In a move my dad would’ve been proud of, I broke his hold and landed a solid punch to his kidneys, followed by a hit that cracked his nose before he had time to react. I kicked out at his friend coming at my side and he doubled over in pain, but I was wrapped up by a set of arms that felt like a bear had a hold of my five-foot-six frame, yanking me off the floor. I thrashed around and slammed my head back, trying to get free, but Taylor jumped to his feet and smacked me across the face so hard that my teeth snapped together.

No one had ever slapped me, and the sharp sting brought tears to my eyes. The part of me that my dad never wanted me to show in public ripped free of my control, but before I could do anything, all hell broke out around me. One moment I was dangling in the air, and the next, I was covering my head as a massive fight erupted.

The screams were loud, and as hard as I tried, I couldn’t get to my feet without being slammed into the lockers or stepped on by feet.

Two guys landed right beside me. I blinked as I stared at the side of Carter’s face. He had a cut over his eye and blood dripping from his nose, but his fists were flying as he relentlessly brought them down on Taylor’s face.

Another guy fell to the ground next to me, and this time it was Troy landing the punches. I took a shuddering breath in. This was the first time I realized that as much as we pretended here at school, we protected one another when it came down to it. We were our own pack, just like wolves.

A shrill whistle was blown, and teachers started pulling people away like refs. One of the coaches grabbed Carter around the chest and heaved him off of Taylor.

“Don’t you ever touch her again. You touch her, and I’ll kill you,” Carter yelled, his eyes wild. “You hear me! Touch her and die.”

He loved me. He really did love me. As much as he tried to hide it, I could see it as his eyes found mine. He was definitely getting suspended for this, and he’d done it for me. I stared into his bright green eyes until I couldn’t see him anymore, then burst into fake tears putting on a show for the teachers.

I was quickly whisked away to a room by a teacher so I could tell them what happened. I used all the right trigger words like ‘threatened’ and ‘felt unsafe’ and ‘he was bullying me and told me he planned on doing more.’ If Carter was getting into trouble, so were Taylor and the rest of the Dickcicles. They would find out that they just fucked with the wrong family.

* * *

CARTER

Fuming, I stomped across my bedroom floor. I couldn’t believe I was suspended for three weeks while that asshole Taylor got four days. Can’t have the captain of the football team suspended when a playoff game was coming up even though he was bullying a girl and then smacked her across the face. No, of course not. The game was far more important. And people wondered what the fuck was wrong with the world? I knew what was wrong. Maybe Cain was right, and he was doing everyone a service.

With a yell, I spun and slammed my fist into the wall. Coach had set up a combine next week that scouts were coming to watch, and now I couldn’t play, they wouldn’t let me on the property. I’d do it all over again without question, no one touched Kallie without dealing with me, but that was beside the point. Those scouts were my ticket to a full scholarship and a ride to the big leagues.

“That’s not going to help you play better,” Kallie said.

I slowly turned around and slid down the wall until my ass hit the floor. “What do a few more bruises matter? It’s not like I get to play next week.”

“It’s not fair. Taylor attacked me, and you’re punished for protecting me.” She walked into the room and sat beside me. As soon as her shoulder touched mine, I felt better. “I hate them, they should pay for what they did, and I’m sorry you can’t play next week. If I hadn’t fought back….”

“Whoa, I know the rules better than anyone about keeping a low profile, but I’m happy you broke his nose. That asshole deserved worse.”

“I’m pretty sure you gave it to him.” She nudged me, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“I did, didn’t I?”

I looked down at her and the energy between us shifted in a blink. The room was gone, the pain in my knuckles and jaw disappeared, and all I could see was her. The way she held her mouth open just a little like she was hoping I’d kiss her, while her dark lashes fanned her cheeks as she blinked. Her skin was so soft. I ran my fingers down the side of her neck, my body heating and hardening at the slightest touch. Everything throbbed, and all of it was wrong.

My lips hovered just over hers. “You make me want to do things I can get arrested for,” I whispered.

“I do, do things I can get arrested for,” she whispered. “I want you to kiss me.” Kallie closed her eyes, and my willpower snapped.

“Carter, get down here,” Cain yelled, and I’ve never jumped up so fucking quick in my life. I stared at Kallie’s face. Fuck, he knew I was about to kiss her. I looked at my window, but I would never make the two-story drop without breaking a leg.

“Shit,” I swore. “I’m dead. He’s going to kill me.”

“Calm down,” Kallie whispered and grabbed my hand, but I jerked it away and had to ignore the hurt look on her face, or I’d pull her into my arms all over again. I thought I was getting control of this.

“No, no, no. This is exactly what I was worried about.”

“Carter?”

“Coming,” I called back. “Fuck.” Great, my life was over at seventeen. I was going to be fed to pigs after he dismembered my body.