If she's trying to be discreet as she looks around for me, then she's failing miserably because I can almost feel her nerves from here as her eyes flit around trying to find me.
I sink down in my chair as she continues to search, and I know the very second her eyes lock on me. The crack of electricity between us is almost enough to alight the room. I feel it right down to my soul.
A smile curls at my lips. I try to make it a soft one but my need to hurt her means it turns into a snarl all too quickly.
Her bodyguards soon notice who is holding her attention as she fights to rip her eyes from mine, and they manage to move her so they can get ready for class to start.
Satisfaction fills me once again as she sits ramrod straight in her chair throughout the entire lecture as if she can physically feel my stare burning into the back of her head.
She never once turns around. I bet it's fucking killing her.
"Hey, aren't you Kane Legend?" a sickly sweet voice says from behind me as I'm leaving the auditorium not long after Professor Richman has left our class.
I didn't hang around and wait for her and her goons to leave. I didn't want her to think that what she did had any impact on me. I never planned on getting accosted as I left but it's kind of perfect.
News of my arrival hasn't spread all that far yet, seeing as Luca fucking Dunn is doing his damnedest to get rid of me. He's somehow managed to put a halt to most of the gossip, which, I must be honest, is kind of impressive.
Maybe he does have more power around here than I gave him credit for.
"Yeah, who's asking?" I spin on my heels and lock eyes with a pretty blonde girl with the bluest eyes I think I've ever seen.
"Hey." Her smile widens to show off perfectly straight white teeth. "I'm Clara." She takes a step forward, right as movement over her shoulder catches my eye. "Would you like to go and grab a coffee sometime?"
Ripping my eyes away from where Letty and her goons are, I look down at Clara.
My skin prickles with awareness as she gets closer. I don't need to look up again to know she's shooting me a death stare.
"Careful, girl. That one bites." The desire to throw my head back and laugh at Letty's little warning almost gets the better of me.
The fact she cares enough to even try to warn this girl tells me everything I need to know.
"It's okay, hon. I can handle rough. Right, Brax?" She lifts her chin in the direction of one of Letty's followers and his chest expands.
"Hell yeah she can," he brags, much to the other guy's irritation if his dramatic eye roll is anything to go by.
"Let's go," he barks. "I need food." Gently pushing Letty forward, although it seems that she doesn't need too much encouragement before she races down the corridor calling, "Don't say I didn't warn you," over her shoulder.
I smirk. It amuses me that she cares enough to get involved.
"So, coffee?”
“Now?”
“Sure.” Her eyes light up as she tugs her purse up higher on her shoulder.
I, on the other hand, don’t feel even a flicker of excitement. That is until we get to the end of the hallway to find Letty and the guys disappearing behind the closing elevator door.
Racing forward, I shove my foot into the gap and watch in delight as horror floods Letty’s face.
“Stalker territory, Legend,” one of the guys mutters as I step inside the small space with them.
In an ideal world, I’d stand right beside Letty, even behind her, so she couldn't see what I'm doing. But with her personal protection both taking a step closer to her, I know I've got no choice. I'll have to settle for my presence pissing her off.
The second Clara steps in beside me, I reach an arm out and wrap it around her waist, pulling her into me.
"Anyone ever told you that you've got the most mesmerizing eyes?"
"Yes, but I prefer hearing it from you."
Someone makes a gagging sound behind me but I ignore them, sliding my hand from the small of her back to her ass.
"I think we're going to enjoy spending time together, Princess."
Letty’s gasp of shock sounds out loud and clear around the enclosed space.
I know how much she hates the nickname I gave her when we were just kids, but it seems as much as she might dislike it, she doesn't want anyone else to have it either.
"I sure hope so," Clara breathes, running her palm up my chest.
Her touch is… nice. But it doesn't stir a fire within me like I know someone else does.
We might have only been together once, but fuck it if didn't make all the other girls of my past pale in comparison.
The second the elevator pings to say we've hit the ground floor she storms out of the enclosed space, her shoulder slamming into me as she passes sending a bolt of electricity straight to my dick.
If she felt it then she doesn't show it because she doesn't so much as look back as she exits the building as if she's being chased.
"What's her problem?" Clara purrs, wrapping her hand around the back of my neck and staring into my eyes.
"Probably jealous that she's not as pretty as you."
"You're an asshole," one of Letty's protectors barks as they follow her out.
"I know. It's fun."
He flips me off over his shoulder as Clara threads her fingers through mine and pulls me from the elevator.
The second we step outside and I realize that Letty is nowhere to be seen, I pull my cell from my pocket and stare at it as if I'm reading something.
"I'm sorry, baby, I'm going to have to call a rain check. One of my boys needs me."
"I can come with," she offers, stepping forward and pressing her breasts against my chest as if it's enough to change my mind.
No fucking chance, love.
"Sorry, maybe another time."
She sticks her filler-filled lip out in a pout but all I do is spin away from her and walk away, not giving two fucks about dropping her like a stone.
She's a jersey chaser. I'm sure there's plenty of other team members she can run off and dig her claws into.
I get myself some lunch and manage to get some work done on an assignment I've been working on before making my way to my afternoon class early, just like this morning.
I have no idea if I'll have the pleasure of making her squirm uncomfortably in this class as well seeing as I missed our first lecture on Monday but I can only hope.
10
Letty
"He really is an asshole," Brax mutters as he and West catch up with me after I all but sprinted from the elevator.
The second I heard him call her by my name, all I could think about was getting away from him.
I never want to hear him say that again, but I didn't realize just how hearing him say it to another girl would affect me.
The jealousy that surged through me was almost too much to contain and I was about two seconds away from wrapping my non-manicured nails into her hair extensions and dragging her away from him.
Thankfully, the doors opened just in time and allowed me an escape.
The second the outside air hit me, I sucked in a huge breath that wasn't laced with his masculine, woodsy scent and forced myself to relax.
I hated that I showed that he affects me by storming out the way I did, but I couldn't help it.
I was losing control and I had to get away.
"He is."
"What's his issue with you anyway?"
"It's…" I think of all the things he hates me for. The majority, things that were totally out of my control and not my fault, but that doesn't seem to matter to him. "Just stuff from the past that he can't let go of."
"Well, he needs to. It's bad enough he hates Luca, we don't need him causing you shit too."
I shrug. "I'm used to Kane. I know how to handle him."
They both turn their eyes on me but I ignore the fact that they’ve both witnessed me fail to deal with him twice now.
"Come on, I'll buy you both lunch.
"
"I know just the place."
The three of us pile into Brax's car and he floors the accelerator taking us away from campus. I'm more than happy to get away and reduce the risk of bumping into him again.
"Didn't think you were ever going to get here," Violet says when we walk up to where she's waiting outside the diner.
"Stop whining," West mutters, pushing the door open and stepping inside.
There are college kids everywhere but thankfully, he's not one of them.
Our time off of campus passes all too quickly and before I know it and with belly's full of pizza, we head back so I can get to my American lit class on time.
I take off toward the Westerfield Building after insisting that I didn't need escorts and the others head back to the dorms seeing as they've got the afternoon free.
I'm almost at the entrance when two very welcome faces come into view.
"Letty, looking gorgeous as ever," Luca says, pulling me into his arms and swinging me around dramatically while everyone within a fifty-foot radius stares at his over-the-top greeting.
"Put me down," I squeal when he continues to twirl us.
When he finally places my feet back on the ground, my head spins and I can't stop laughing.
"You're a goof." I pull him into my arms and give him a hug, quickly repeating the action with Leon.
"You okay, Cupcake?" he whispers in my ear, holding me for a beat longer than acceptable for friends.
I feel the jealous stares of all the girls around us burning into my back but I'm used to it. I've been friends with these two long enough to deal with the haters.
"Yeah, you?"
"Always." He winks at me when I pull back.
"Ready to hit class?"
"Hell yeah," I state. How could I not be with a Dunn twin on each arm.
I'm ready to face the fucking world.
Unfortunately, my confidence dwindles a little when the three of us step into the lecture hall and my eyes immediately lock with an angry set of blue ones.
My steps falter and both Luca and Leon notice.
"What's—oh. Is that motherfucker stalking you or something?"
"I'm pretty sure he's probably just in this class." I shrug. "Just ignore him."
"Hard to do when he seems to be everywhere I fucking turn. If I make it to the first game of the season without breaking his nose it'll be a fucking miracle."
“Don’t let him get to you, and don’t give him the satisfaction of ruining your season. If your coach says it’s all above board then you need to let that shit go and focus on the games.”
He stares at me in amusement for a few seconds. "Who are you and what have you done with my football hating best friend."
"I don't hate football, I just—"
I can almost see the light bulb go off in his head. "You wanted to stay away from him. You never came to our Harrow Creek games. Ever."
"Guilty as charged."
Anger washes through him and his expression pulls tight as we make our way to our seats.
"I wish you'd have just told me, Let," he grits out after a few minutes of silence.
"If I knew it would turn out like this, then I would have. I don't want him ruining your chances at the NFL."
"That fucker isn't going to ruin anything." He reaches out and grabs my hand under the table. "I won't fucking let him."
I smile at him and rest my head on his shoulder. "You're a good person, Luc."
"So are you and I won't let you get poisoned by the likes of him."
"We've got your back, Letty. No matter what," Leon adds right before our professor starts the lecture.
I feel his stare throughout the entire class but I never once look back. And when we get up to leave first, I continue looking where I'm going.
Kane is a part of my past. A part I'd rather forget. It's time to focus on my future.
I breathe a sigh of relief as I walk out of sociology late Friday morning. It's my last class of the week and I've got my first MKU football party to get ready for.
Ella has already warned me that her and Violet have the face packs and fireballs ready.
I can almost feel the alcohol burning down my throat as I think about it.
I haven’t had a drink in… I can't even remember how long. So I know I'm going to need to take it easy tonight.
The last thing I want is to end up passed out or sick and embarrass Luca and Leon at their own party.
I practically skip back to the dorms with excitement stirring in my belly. It's a feeling I've missed.
Hanging with the girls and getting ready to spend the night dancing and forgetting about the stresses of college is one of the reasons I was so excited to embark on this chapter of my life.
No parents, no one watching your every move.
I push through the door to our dorm and already there's music booming through the small space and Ella and Violet are dancing around the kitchen.
"We're making tacos and margaritas. You want?"
"Serious question?"
I dump my bag and books into my room before joining them and helping where I can.
The guys never appear and I wonder if that's because they got class or if they've been banished from the dorm so we can all hang out.
It's not until hours later when I'm sitting on Ella's bed with some purple junk on my face while she paints my nails fire engine red to go with the dress she insisted I wear tonight that we hear them return to the dorm.
"It's Friday," one of them bellows before their doors all close, I assume so they can get ready for tonight.
I was happy with a pair of skinny jeans and a top but she point-blank refused and pulled out a dress that was hanging in my closet with the tag still attached.
I have no idea why I kept it. I'd bought it with every intention of wearing it on a night out at Columbia, but everything turned to shit and it never saw the light of day again.
I almost gave it to goodwill when I packed up but something about it made me keep it. Maybe it was the hope that one day I could pull it on and somehow find the confidence I used to have and realize that life can return back to normal. That I can go out and enjoy myself once again without drowning in the past.
"You still hating on me for that," Ella says, following my eyeline to see me staring at the dress that's now hanging on the back of her door.
"N-no," I stutter.
"It's gonna look killer. Those Dunn boys won't know what's hit them."
"It's not like that with us," I argue.
"Girl, have you seen the way both of them look at you. It's literally like you personally hung the moon or some shit."
"Nah, we're all just friends. If you want my permission to make a play then you're more than welcome. Either of them would be lucky to have you."
A smile splits her face at my words. "I'm not sure they'd even notice I existed. I could walk in naked and I'm pretty sure they'd both still have their eyes firmly focused on you.”
I squirm uncomfortably.
"That's not—"
Ella holds her hand up.
"It's not how it is, I got that memo. But I think you might need to look a little harder because I think you might be missing something."
I stare at her.
"What?"
"Nothing. Pass me my drink?"
Ella quickly fills my glass from the pitcher we made earlier.
I've been keeping it slow all afternoon, unlike her and Violet who polished off the first pitcher between them in no time.
"Where's Violet? I thought she was just going for a shower. That was like, over an hour ago."
"Come on," Ella encourages, pushing from the chair she's sitting on and pulling her door open.
"The guys are now sitting in the kitchen with bottles of beer but they pay us little attention as we sneak across the hall with our hair in curlers and goo on our faces. I'm sure it's something they've seen a million times living with these two.
"Shhh." Ella holds her finger
up in front of her lips and quietly pushes Violet's door open.
I stifle a laugh when she comes into view curled up in a ball fast asleep on her bed.
Ella's hand lands on my forearm stopping me from backing out to let her rest.
"Get ready," she mouths, before holding her hand up and counting down from three.
On one, she screams before running at Violet, who sits up like the world is exploding around her. The alcohol that's trickling through my veins ensures I burst into fits of laughter as the two of them begin wrestling on Violet's bed as footsteps race our way.
"Oh hell yeah. Micah, go get the chocolate sauce," West announces, his eyes locked on the girls.
Ella's robe falls open flashing us all her black lace bra while they continue to fight.
"Fuck the party," Brax adds. "We can just have an orgy right here."
He dives onto the bed with them, wrapping his arms around both of their waists and pulling them into his body.
"I'm more than happy to take on both if you two pussies don’t want to get involved. Let?" he adds, his eyes locking on mine. "There's more than enough of me to go around."
"You're a fucking idiot," Ella squeals as he slaps her ass and she scrambles away from him.
"That's a good look, girl. You look hot." He blows her a kiss as she walks to me.
Her curlers are everywhere and the junk on her face mostly rubbed off on Violet's bedsheets.
"I guess I should have that shower now then, eh?" Violet asks, unattaching herself from Brax and walking toward her bathroom. He quickly follows. "Alone. Thank you."
"It's like none of you want to sleep with me," he mutters, pulling a sad puppy dog look.
"That would be because we don't," Ella announces.
"But you're all about the players, baby." He runs his eyes down her robe-clad body.
"Hmm… not this player. I've seen what you're hiding down there, and I've got to be honest, I wasn't all that impressed."
Everyone in the room falls about laughing before we all turn to leave Violet alone to shower.
"I can't help that I'm a grower," Brax barks, causing us all to laugh again.
"I swear to God, we have the best dorm on campus," Ella says, walking to her own bathroom to wash her face.
The Revenge You Seek: A Dark College Bully Romance (Maddison Kings University Book 1) Page 8