Page 48 of Crooked Crows (Boys of Briar Hall 1)

“Get in the elevator, Ava Jade.”

I clutched my books tighter to my chest, wondering how hard I’d need to swing them at his head to knock him off balance long enough to get away. If it would be worth the fallout afterward.

“Or what?”

Fuck!

I scolded myself as the air left my lungs, forced out by the pressure of his shoulder as he easily tossed me over it, scattering my books on the floor.I could’ve stopped him, I told myself, face heating.

“Put methe fuckdown,” I snarled, pounding on his back, helplessly unable to reach the two blades strapped to both of my ankles in this position.

“Stop squirming,” he growled, locking me in place with his biceps and holding my legs down with his other arm. “Grab her books,” he said, and footsteps sounded on the parquet floor. I got an upside-down view of Grey collecting my books from the floor before he followed Corvus back to the elevator.

He all but threw me down as the elevator door shut, leaving me to wobble unsteadily for a second before I was able to find my footing, my face burning from all the blood rushing to my head.

Corvus jammed the emergency stop button, and I dove for my blades.

“Whoa,” Rook said from behind me, and I spun in the enclosed space, blade drawn. “No need for that. We just want to talk.”

The bell rang, signaling that I was now late for class.Great.

I pressed my back to the elevator wall, holding my blade out in case any of them dared come closer. “Don’t think I won’t use it,” I warned. “I can have the three of you on your asses and be halfway to Canada by morning.”

Rook pointed at me, giving Corvus atold you solook that made me think I was missing out on some private joke between them.

“I know you could use it,” Corvus replied, sliding his gaze stealthily to Grey and the arm I’d sliced open just a few days ago. “But I don’t think you will.”

Cocky fucker.

“What do you want?”

He lifted his brows as though affronted by my question. “It’s not what we want, Sparrow. It’s what we can give you.”

My face must have pinched up because his smugness intensified.

“Brianna Moore,” Grey explained. “You wonder why you weren’t hauled off by police Friday night? Why she hasn’t retaliated?”

I had to admit, I was wondering that, but the idea that they had anything to do with it just infuriated me even more.

“It’s because we paid her a visit before she returned home to daddy dearest,” Rook whispered huskily, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Saw to it that she wouldn’t speak a word about her littleaccidentat the docks.”

“And why would you do that?”

It dawned on me as soon as the question left my lips: to bring me under their control.

They were offering me a life vest, a ticket out of the mess I made Friday night, but in exchange for what? I had to admit having queen bitch off my back permanently would make finishing out this year and getting my sweet, sweet freedom so much easier, but at what cost?

Corvus shrugged. “Call it a gesture of goodwill.”

“Everything has a price.”

He licked his lips. “Well, now that you mention it, there is one thing we all agreed would be a fair trade for our services.”

“And what’s that?” I spat.

Corvus’ icy blue eyes flicked to both of his brothers before settling back on me with his reply. “Your obedience. You fall in line. Do as you’re told. We say jump, you ask how high.”

Unable to help myself, I barked a laugh, so caught off guard that my hold loosened on the blade for just a second. Hot tears stung my eyes and I flicked one away before it could fall, sniffling at the absurdity of it all. “Oh my god,” I said once I settled down, seeing that none of them looked even the least bit joking. “You’re serious? You want me to be your little bitch girl, is that it? At your beck and call?”

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