Page 92 of Liars

I clenched my jaw. “Your dad thinks whoever is after me might try something at school?”

“He’s not taking any chances,” Mason said over his shoulder, changing the radio to the hundredth song.

I hadn’t been scared before, but now…I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to school at all. “Should we have called the police? Told them what happened?”

“It’s been handled,” Kreed informed roughly, his gaze catching mine in the rearview mirror.

I stiffened. “What does that mean?”

“Itmeans,little raven, you don’t have anything to worry about. Nothing will happen to you. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not while we’re around. Okay?”

When we finally pulled into the school parking lot, I barely waited for the car to fully stop before pushing open the door and stepping out. The Corvos went one way, and I went another. At least, that’s what I thought until I caught a glimpse of Evan, my shadow, following at a safe distance.

I exhaled sharply through my nose, ignoring the prickle of unease under my skin. I hadn’t been worried before, but somehow, having a bodyguard assigned to me made the situation feel a hell of a lot more real. And a hell of a lot more dangerous.

Swallowing, my steps slowed as a sickening thought crept in.

Someone might actually try to snatch me at school.

“You almost had sex with Kreed Corvo.”

“Shh.” I shot Poppy a warning glare, glancing around to see if anyone heard as we walked down the hall. Not that it mattered. The entire school already thought I was sleeping with Public’s bad boy.

She was utterly unfazed, her boots clamoring on the floors. “What? Everyone already thinks you’re screwing. Only you, Kreed, and I know the truth. I swear, even Maddox, Mason, and Nash think you hooked up.”

“They do not,” I scoffed, refusing to believe the twins had bought into the rumors.

Poppy leveled me with a look. “Are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

She hesitated. “I didn’t think things would go this far with him. I got the feeling you were interested or fascinated. I couldn’t tell, but you like him, likelikehim.”

I didn’t like the weird feeling in my gut. “I was having a bad day after the police station. He was there. Neither of us meant for it to happen, and I doubt either of us will make that mistake again.” I exhaled sharply. “Kreed hates me.”

“I didn’t hear you deny that you like him.” She gave me a knowing look. “Girl, you’re in so much trouble. Of all the guys at Public, you had to fall for Kreed Fucking Corvo.”

“I don’t want to like him.”

“I’m not sure it works that way.”

I groaned. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

“Depends on your definition of bad…”

“But what? You can’t leave me hanging like that, Poppy,” I warned.

She shrugged. “You look like the type of girl who wants romance. Someone to treat you like a princess. You deserve that.”

“And you don’t think Kreed is capable of those things.”

We hooked around the corner, taking the stairs to the first level. “Do you?”

I sighed. “No.”

“His tastes run a little more…businesslike.” She hesitated, chewing on the corner of her lips. “I’ve heard things.”

I frowned. “Like what? What things?” I asked because how could I not? My curiosity surrounding Kreed grew daily. He was something of a mystery, the kind that made you want to pick apart the pieces until they made sense.

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