Page 42 of The Betrayal You Serve
"No, obviously not. But it's what's going to happen."
"I've messed everything up," I whisper, taking a step toward him and dropping my head to his chest.
Leon wraps his arm around me and holds me as I suck in some shaky breaths.
"I never should have come here."
"No, Let. You can't say that. This is where you belong."
I suck in a long breath, trying to find some strength to say the words I need to say.
Pulling my head from his solid chest, I look up at him, holding his green eyes.
"He knows," I breathe. "He knows what we… what you did."
He reaches out and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. "He barely even looked at me this morning. It'll be fine, Let."
"But—"
"I knew the risks, Cupcake. I did it anyway." He wiggles his brows, a smirk appearing on his lips.
"Leon Dunn, you're wicked."
"It was worth it though, right?"
"Oh my God," I mutter, hiding my face in his chest once again.
I know the second Kane joins us in the hallway, not only does the air around me become charged with tension but Leon's hand tenses on my waist.
"We should go in," I say without looking over my shoulder.
"Hold your head high, Cupcake," Leon says, cupping my jaw and forcing me to do just that. "Don't let him see that he's affecting you."
"But—"
"You're strong, Scarlett Hunter. Show him."
I nod at him, grateful for his support.
"Come on then."
Without looking back, I take a step away from Leon and march toward our class with him following behind me.
We take our usual seats, leaving an empty one at the end of the row for when or if, Luca appears.
I'm already settled when Kane finally joins us but he doesn't so much as look at me as he makes his way across the room and then up the stairs to his usual seat at the back despite the fact my eyes stay on him the entire way.
Leon leans over and whispers in my ear. "Have faith. Everything will work out." He squeezes my thigh in support before Professor Whitman joins us and immediately begins our lecture.
We're ten minutes into the lecture when the door opens and a familiar face steps inside. Leon stiffens beside me. I know he's trying to play it down, but I can see the concern for his twin every time I look at him.
Without looking up, Luca finds the closest empty chair and drops into it.
My heart sinks as I watch him pull his notebook out and slump back in the chair as if he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders.
I want to talk to him. I want to fix everything but I'm not sure anything I can say will make any of it any better. He's chasing something that doesn't exist.
Blowing out a long breath, I glance at Leon who gives me a small encouraging smile before focusing back on Whitman.
