Page 67 of Cruel (Brutal Academy)

"If that's what it takes," she agreed.

I frowned at her. A disturbing flash of understanding popped into my brain. One I didn't want to contemplate too much, but I had to. Even if my stomach turned and my hands trembled.

"You're terrified that if you lose, he'll put you back down there?" The thought had occurred to me before. Judging by the way she shivered, it occurred to her too.

"If you win, he'll make you lock me in there," her voice wavered.

My blood went cold. "And if you win…"

She looked back at me for a solid minute before she stood and walked away.

The problem was, I wasn't sure if he had to make her lock me in one of those dark, unrelentingly miserable rooms. I would die before I let her do that to me.

I would kill.

CHAPTER25

LILA

"Something makes me think we're not out here enjoying the sunshine," Parker said. He held my hand in one of his, while the other toyed at something in his pocket. I suspected it was the panties he stole from me the night before. While Slade was marking and Hunter was studying, he and I had a rare night alone. He'd made the most of it.

"Of course we are," I said lightly. "It's a beautiful day out here. The sun is shining. The kookaburras are laughing. I survived yesterday's exam. Why not step out and enjoy ourselves?"

Hunter raised his eyebrows at me. "It's not as though we don't appreciate your good mood, because we do. It's just that—"

"We've been worried about you," Slade finished for him. "You've been quiet for the last while. Since the attack."

I shrugged. "I've been busy with essays and exams." I cocked my head at him. "Whose fault is that?" I smiled teasingly.

He grinned. "Brutham Academy. They tell us how many major assignments and exams we have to assign you. Ultimately that goes back to the school board."

"So it's all Reuben's fault," Parker concluded.

"Blaming him seems like as good a strategy as any," Hunter said. "And Lila's dad."

"If they don't kill us with mercenaries, they'll kill us with coursework," Parker groaned, a hand to his chest as though he was about to die under the pressure of study.

I frowned at the mention of my father but turned my attention to Slade. "Did you ever find any evidence that the school board endorsed that attack?"

"Not really." He draped an arm over my shoulders. "Either no one is talking or Reuben and Samuel did that all on their own. Of course, they contribute so much money to the Academy, the board can't kick them off."

"I don't get why Reuben and Samuel would work together," Hunter admitted. "What does Reuben have to gain?"

"Me dying?" I suggested. "Chloe and Zachary too. Getting rid of us would be guaranteed to make him smile. Even if you two were killed too."

"Chances were, Samuel wouldn't have been able to conduct his test without Reuben's backing," Slade said. "Reuben really had nothing to lose."

"Hey," Parker protested. "Hunter and I are not nothing."

Slade leaned over and patted his shoulder. "I know you're not. People like us are expendable to people like Reuben and Samuel, even if we're related by blood."

"You're not secretly a Brantley, are you?" I tilted my head back to look at him.

He chuckled. "Not that I know of. We're just brothers from different mothers."

"Sibling zoned," Parker looked slightly disappointed.

"Sorry dude," Slade told him. "I'm a one person guy and that person is Lila. For what it's worth, if I was going to screw another guy, it would be you."

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