Page 53 of Hunted by the Fallen
Tina raises a hand to slap me. Tapping into my power, I use angelic speed to catch her wrist before she can make contact. Her eyes widen, and more gasps sound aroundus.
I tilt my head to the side, and the monstrous part of me revels in her unease. This part of me may have lied dormant the past few days, but it is still inside me. It enjoys violence. Andvengeance.
“Did you just try to hit me?” My voice is cold anddistant.
“Ronnie?” I feel Annie touch my shoulder. “Let’sgo.”
I don’t look away from Tina. “Not until Tina apologizes.” Annie lowers herarm.
Tina balks. “Apologize? Forwhat?”
For calling me a freak. For daring to flirt with the Fallen. “For being abitch.”
“You’re insane,” Tina tries to free her hand, but my grip is unrelenting. Whispers are exchanged amongst thespectators.
“Apologize,” my voice loses its eerie calm. My palms heat. My Angel Fire longs to be unleashed. It takes all of my focus to keep it atbay.
“You are a nobody,” Tina hisses, looking down at the hand around her wrist. I wonder if she can feel my power begging to bereleased.
“A nobody who Preston dumped you for,” a girl mumbles near the back of the line. I don’t look to see who spoke. I think tapping into my power has unintentionally given me enhancedhearing.
I’m proven wrong when Tina’s neck snaps to the left, staring daggers at the three girls near the end of the line. “What did you justsay?”
All three girls cower. The culprit is unwilling to face Tina’s wrath. Iintervene.
“She said Preston dumped you. For me.” Taunting Tina fills me with glee. It’s nice to have the tables turned for once. I can’t wait to see her reaction. I hope I’m given an excuse to hither.
I’m disappointed when we’re interrupted. “Ron?”
I should’ve known someone else had appeared in the hallway. Our audience had grown quiet. I don’t turn around, keeping my attention on Tina, waiting for her next move. “Zeke.”
“What are you doing?” I hear his steps draw closer. He positions himself behind my rightshoulder.
“Talking.” I continue to watch Tina. Her eyes move to Zeke. I can tell she is debating whether or not to tell him what’s going on, but she doesn’t want him to know how this little altercationbegan.
“It doesn’t matter what you say or do,” I lean forward and tell her in a loud whisper, hoping everyone can hear me, “Zeke will never be interested inyou.”
Splotches of red rise in Tina’s cheeks. Oh, goody! I’ve embarrassed the queenbee.
“Let go,” she commands as she tugs her wrist. I release her, and she stumbles back into the wall, knocking down a photo of the Hutchins family on a snowy mountain. She doesn’t bother to pick it up. Tina steps out of line, knocking me with her shoulder, and walks toward the other end of the hall. I smirk,gratified.
Strong fingers wrap around mybicep.
I look at the offending hand before raising my gaze to Zeke. I cock my head to the side. “Can I helpyou?”
His lips are pressed together, but he manages to say. “Aword.”
Zeke drags me away from the crowd, not waiting for my answer. We walk until he sees an empty room. He shoves me inside and slams the door behindus.
“Is there a reason you manhandled me?” I sound calm, unaffected by his pushybehavior.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Zekegrowls.
Me? “Nothing.”
He strides towards me, then pivots and walks back to stand by the door. “Then what was that?” He throws an arm toward the hallway. “Why were your hands on thatgirl?”
Annoyance sparks. “For your reference, she tried to hit me. I was just making sure she would not venture such an attemptagain.”
