Page 35 of Rockwell Academy: The Twist

I heave out a frustrated sigh. “Firstly, the words study buddies don’t throw you in a good light. Are you still at High School?”

I sigh, wondering why I ever considered this guy an actual problem.

“Secondly, you don’t belong in Summer’s world. She would be bored in seconds and merely play with your heart like a dog with its favorite toy. Toss it around a little, chew it up and then rip it to shreds. If anything, I’m doing you a favor here—you’re welcome.”

“It doesn’t seem like you are.”

He cocks his head to one side. “So, what happens if I do show up?”

“You lose the use of your legs.”

His smile fades pretty damn quickly as I intensify my gaze. “You see, unlike you, I don’t play by the rules. Rules are a mere irritation in my world that I have no time for. If you get in the way of what I want, I bend them to remove you from the game. It’s simple really.”

His gaze falls past me to the house in the distance and he’s obviously weighing up his options. The girl or his dreams.

A flicker of distaste paints his features and he sighs, obviously deciding it’s not a fight he needs to win and shrugs.

“Does Summer know you’re blocking her social life?”

“No.”

He smirks. “I’m guessing she wouldn’t be so interested if she did.”

I step forward, loving how he steps back just a little and I growl, “We have established that I don’t play by the rules andthis conversation is over. If you turn around, don’t look back and if you choose a different seat next time you see her, we will not have a problem. If you decide to throw your hat into the ring, prepare to lose everything and, as I said before, I don’t play by the rules. My way is darker, faster and permanent. Do I make myself clear?”

Understanding dawns in his eyes as he takes my threats as intended. I don’t play around and it would be a shame to end his career before its begun but I don’t really give a shit about that.

He nods miserably and with one last lingering glance at Willow Tree House, he heads back the way he came. Just another minor irritation dealt with in my quest for getting whatever the fuck I want.

I watch him disappear into the distance and smile to myself. It pays to have spies set up around campus. It didn’t take long either. Guys like to align themselves to a stronger predator. It keeps them in the loop and ensures a smoother path through college. It was the same in High School. I commanded a small army of loyal followers and it’s taken me all of one day to do the same at Rockwell. Chase was in the same class as Summer and reported back. It didn’t take much to deal with this latest problem, and I chuckle to myself. Life is easy when you know what buttons to press and Mason is more interested in his dreams than scoring with some chick.

As I head along the path he was on, I see Summer heading out of Willow Tree House, her eyes searching the vicinity, obviously expecting her ‘date’ for want of a better word.

As I draw closer, she does a double take and then glances past me, her eyes scanning the horizon as if she hopes Prince Charming will ride in to save her from the evil villain.

“Hey.” I stop at the steps to her veranda and she peers down at me with a blank expression as she nods. “Hey.”

She glances past me and I drawl, “If you’re looking for Mason, he’s not coming.”

“Excuse me.”

Her irritation shows as she frowns my way and I lean against the wooden post that’s holding up the veranda.

“He scurried off pretty damn fast when I laid out his options.”

“You did what?”

Fury burns bright in her eyes and I love the image in front of me. Summer is a beautiful, fiery woman, who is exactly the kind of girl I need in my life. She has a wicked sense of humor and turns heads wherever she goes. She’s not afraid to stand up for herself and repels rather than encourages advances. As far as I know, there is no other girl in Rockwell who equals her, so she is an obvious choice as my queen.

“Did my brother put you up to this?”

It would be so easy to lay the blame on him, but where’s the fun in that? I don’t shift blame on anyone when the problem is of my own doing.

I shake my head. “No.”

“Then why?”

I advance up the stairs, noting how her breath hitches and her face glows, the fire in her eyes changing subtly to desire. I’m guessing Mason NFL hottie wouldn’t get this reaction and I smile to myself. Outwardly, my resting bastard face is firmly on display as I draw close and whisper huskily, “Let’s just say I’m saving Mason from a beating.”

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