Page 55 of The Pawn

"What kind of bet do you want to make?" I ask him.

"The kind that's interesting." Pushing away from the bookshelves, he approaches me and raises his hand to my cheek, his fingers playing with a stray bit of highlighted hair that's swung in front of my face. "I've been so bored here ever since you burned my hand in that chapel. Nothing has made me feel quite asaliveas that moment."

I swallow, refusing to admit that the very same moment has stayed with me too. The last thing his ego needs is a stroking—unlike another, more pressing thing still making itself known against my thigh.

"Tell my the terms," I tease him, tilting my chin until my mouth brushes against his hand, "and I'll tell you if I agree to them."

"Hmmm. Oh, you agreeing is not something I'm concerned about." He flashes his white teeth. "The wager is this: I bet Cole and I can make you want to leave this school by the end of the semester. And if we fail, we'll both tell all your little friends who you really are, one by one, until none of them want anything to do with you."

My body goes cold all over. "What?"

"Holly. Chrissy. Her roommate Tricia. Hell, even that obnoxious Hector Sanchez when he gets back from his suspension." His fingers trail down to my jawline, my neck, his arousal clear, as if he's turned on by the feeling of my pulse skyrocketing. "You won't get to have any friends here, Brenna. Not unless you convince them to fraternize with the sister of the trash everyone knows your brother is—a feat I doubt you'll be able to pull off."

Chapter 28

"Why?" That's the first word that leave my tongue. It comes out higher pitched, almost desperate, revealing me for the fool that I am—because for a moment I almost believed that he could want me enough to treat me well. "Why do you want me to leave Coleridge?"

"It's for your own good," he says, voice soft and low, slipping into his native Kentucky accent. "This place wasn't meant for girls like you. You're too pure."

"I told you," I bite back at him, reaching down to tug at the waistband of his jeans, "I'm not that pure."

"Good. Because if you're less innocent than you seem, you'll realize pretty soon that the best thing for you is to get far, far away from his place, and never come back." His fingertip traces my lips, his touch as soft as his words are cruel. "You don't belong here. This place will destroy you—thesepeoplewill destroy you."

"They've all been perfectly nice so far, except for you, your shitty friend, and that bitch you call an ex," I snap; he jerks his finger back, as if he's afraid I might bite him, and maybe I would. "I'd be perfectly fine if you'd all justleave me alone.Let's make that the bet: leave me alone for the rest of the semester and I won't destroyyou."

He shakes his head. "No deal. Youhaveto leave Coleridge. The sooner the better."

"And if I refuse? If I beat you all at your little games—if I survive, and thrive, despite you?"

"I told you: we'll tell everyone who you are."

"Who cares?" I snarl at him. "Whatever sins you think come with my family name, reasonable people will see that it's all bullshit. All my friends are reasonable—and they hate your little bully games. Especially the shit Cole does. You really think you'll be able to turn them against me?"

Tanner draws back, shrugs nonchalantly, like it's nothing. He shifts his weight as he mutters, "We can try. You must've lied about your name for a reason. Why you did it, I don't know, but if telling the truth will get you to run back home, then get that over with now. Because you don't want to see what will happen if you defy us."

"Try me." I toss my head and push my hair over my shoulders, hands on my hips, chest out—suddenly aware of the way his eyes are watching me, how they're drawn to the curves of my body. "I can outlast you, Tanner Connally. I've got stamina. Do you?"

He grins lopsidedly. "If you want me to show you my stamina, Fire Girl, you're more than welcome to a demonstration. The only compensation I ask for is that you transfer out of here by the end of this week."

"Never."

"Then prepare for a fight," he warns. "Cole has more than enough spite in him to get rid of you. Georgia, too, if I don't stop her—which I could, if you promise to play nice and go away. You could have an enjoyable last week here. I'll make it worth your while. I could show you what it's like to live as the other half does."

I can imagine what that would be like: a whole week of Georgia leaving me alone, of Cole ignoring me. Having Tanner whenever I want, wherever I want. Getting one of those double dates with Holly. Sitting with the Elites at lunch.

It wouldn't feed the fire in me.

I need to make themburn.

"I enjoy living like my half," I lie to him, the hardest lie I've ever told. "Bring your worst. I'll bring mine."

Softly, he says, "I can't imagine there's much you can do to us compared to what we can do to you. Please, Brenna—I don't normally say that word—just leave."

For a moment I'm still, staring into his eyes, wondering wildly if I'm really seeing what I think I see in them.

It's almost like he's begging me.

It's almost like he's pleading.

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