Page 115 of Twisted Heathens

His hands ball into fists beneath the table, barely controlling his rage. We watch the huddled group of assholes whispering and trading jokes, every laugh serving to escalate the thick tension between us. Worst of all, that slimy bastard Rio just stares, ensuring we know exactly who orchestrated Eli’s beating.

“I’ll break all of their fucking legs,” Hudson snarls.

“You can’t take them all.”

“Wanna bet? I’ll tear their goddamn heads off one by one for what they’ve done.”

“And land your ass back in solitary?” I point out, biting into an apple.

“Who cares? It’d be worth it for the satisfaction.”

I cast a glance at the looming security at every door. Always watching with their dark, beady eyes. Cataloguing every move and word uttered without alerting anyone.

“One day they’ll stop letting you out of that place,” I mutter.

“They ain’t letting me out of here, period. Get over it.”

We finish up quick and dump our trays, making sure to walk straight past the boasting dickheads with our heads held high. I walk Hudson to class and check my phone, finding nothing from Kade. That wanker better at least update us after the shit he pulled back there.

When I get to the history classroom, I’m too late to slip in unnoticed and glance through the door instead, finding our usual table deserted. No Brooklyn in sight. Anxiety immediately attacks me as I stare at the empty set, my stomach turning. Where is she?

I try to remember the last time I saw Brooklyn, realising with horror it was Sunday night in the cafeteria, a whole two days ago. Kade briefly saw her yesterday and mentioned something seeming off, but we were quickly swept up in the drama and everything moved so fast. Fucking idiots. In our fear for Eli’s health, we left her all alone. What if she heard and was looking for us?

We’ve screwed up big time.

I break into a jog to get back to the dorms. Once inside, I take the stairs two at a time to reach Brooklyn’s door. Rattling the locked handle, I press my ear to the wood, straining to hear but there’s nothing coming from inside. The bad feeling in my gut spirals. It seems completely irrational, but something is wrong. I just know it.

“The hell are you doing?”

I spin, desperate hope blooming but it’s quickly replaced with disappointment at what I find. Britt stands there frowning, hands on her narrow hips like she owns the place. “Looking for your psycho girlfriend?”

“Is it any of your business?” I snap.

“Where’s Hudson?” She tilts her chin up, eyes straying to his nearby door. “I’ve been waiting for him, we need to talk. It’s important.”

“Leave Hudson alone, he doesn’t want to see you.”

Britt stalks closer, sneering in my face. “What exactly do you see in her? She must have the tightest snatch in England to have all four of you losing your minds.”

My brewing anger flares and I grab her by the throat, shoving her against Brooklyn’s door. Her eyes bug out and I snicker, leaning close enough to see her yellow tinged eyes.

“She ain’t a bag of skin and bones, for starters. I wonder how long it’ll be before your heart just gives up.” I scan over her with disgust, my fingers toying with her brittle hair. “You’re fucking nothing. You got that? Nothing.”

Glorious tears brew in her eyes and I lean even closer, my nose brushing against her vulnerable throat. I can almost smell her fear. “Keep starving yourself and you’ll just crumble to ash, where you fucking belong,” I whisper into her ear.

“You weren’t saying that when you fucked me last month,” she spits, yanking her hair out of my clutch. “Thought you boys were all family and shit. Wonder what Hudson will think about you screwing his girl. Or better yet,” a devious grin lights her face as she winks at me, “your precious Brooklyn.”

No one threatens my firecracker and gets away with it. Britt tries to escape but I tighten my grip, flexing proudly while she struggles to breathe. I’ve got her completely trapped against the door, unable to run from my menacing smile.

“You dare tell them. I will ruin you. Got that?”

“Don’t worry, Nix. Our little secret, right? That’s what you said,” she chokes out.

I dig my nails into her skin, baring my teeth as she flinches. “That’s right, honey. I’m the fucking monster under the bed. Your literal worst nightmare if you start playing games.”

I finally release her, watching as she turns and flees, broken sobs echoing her steps. I can’t believe I was ever stupid enough to sleep with that bitch. Worst mistake of my life, now she’s trying to pull some twisted shit and screw with us? Not gonna happen.

Kade’s not the only one that would do anything for his family.

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