Page 53 of If You Dare

Other than the Devils, the library is vacant. I nod, even though their presence makes my hands tremble. These boys are the real-life nightmare I can’t escape. “Go enjoy your book.”

She points at my closed laptop on the desk. “You get writing, little miss.”

I try to hide my cringe by forcing a smile. “I will.”

As soon as Edith is gone, I pull out my latest book. A dark romance that was advertised as including knife play and “hand necklaces.” I’m not a hundred percent sure what that means, but I have an idea, and even worse, I think I’m going to like it. This is the first book I’ve read in months that has actually made me want to read. I’m still a fractured version of the girl I used to be, but I can’t help smiling at finding this piece of myself again.

A chorus of laughter breaks out at the hockey team's table. A wave of dread washes over me. They can only be laughing at one thing.

Me.

But when I dare a glance over my book, it’s not me they’re watching—it’s the team’s newest recruit, a freshman. Mason. How he made the team in the first place is a mystery. He’s short and slim. The kind of guy who will get rag-dolled on the ice.

Trey slams Mason’s laptop shut, making some joke about porn. They all burst out laughing, and Mason pretends to join in.

Wes clenches his jaw. “Shut the fuck up or leave. I’m actually trying to work.”

At least it’s not just me he snaps at.

A mousy girl appears in front of me. “Hi. I can’t find the book I’m looking for. Can you help me?”

“No problem.” She tells me the title, a thick tome for her philosophy class, and I look up the call number.

She frowns. “I checked there.”

“Let me see if I can find it for you. Wait right here.”

I leave my post and head back for the stacks. The eyes of every hockey player at the table follow me, their stares turning my blood to ice.

I scurry back to the shelves, cheeks burning, and scramble for the book so I can get back behind the safety of the circulation desk. I chose my outfit carefully today. Sweater, cardigan, long skirt, and hair pulled up in a tight bun. All of it meant to make me invisible. Apparently, it didn’t work.

They can’t do anything to me here. We’re in public during the day. They’re just trying to scare me.

Before I can reach the desk and the girl waiting for her book, Trey’s spine-chilling voice calls out to me. “Violet! We need some help over here.”

I freeze, halfway between them and the student. Her wide gaze darts to the Devils and back to me before she rushes forward, snatching the book from my hand and murmuring, “Thanks,” before scrambling from the room.

When I remain frozen, Trey’s feline smile spreads. “Come on over, beautiful. We won’t bite. Too hard.”

They’re all watching with blood-thirsty amusement. All of them except Wes.

His blue gaze sears into me, but he’s somehow not delighted by whatever torment they’re about to inflict on me this time.

I don’t have a choice. If I don’t comply, whatever punishment they dole out next will be worse.

I step toward them slowly, hoping Edith will emerge from the back room and call for me. A student will rush through the door needing my assistance.

But the room stays silent.

As I near, Trey pats his lap. Nausea roils in my gut. I balk, but I’m too close now. He grabs my wrist and yanks me down onto him, my ass directly over the bulge in his pants. Nothing but his jeans and my flimsy skirt between us.

I squeeze my eyes shut, but that doesn’t stop me from hearing the low moan escape Trey’s lips. “Mmm. I wish we hadn’t been interrupted the other night. I would’ve had youscreaming.”

I swallow down the bile and dare a glance in Wes’s direction.

A muscle feathers in his clenched jaw, his gaze melting me and Trey with the raging heat of lava. This isn’t even my fault, and he’s going to punish me for it.

To Trey’s right, Brody leers before his hand lands on my knee, drifting up and up to explore beneath my skirt.

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