“I heard Wes came running for you,” Meagan says, and I assume it’s to Sam because we don’t talk.
“Of course he did. I mean everything to him, and soon I’ll be his wife.”
God, her bravado is beyond delusional. Only Samantha would think being ignored positions her to be someone’s wife.
I snort at the look of devastation in her eyes that night back at the hospital.
“Something funny, trash?” she shouts from her perch, and I ignore her.
I really think she has a degradation kink. I should ask Wes. My gut lurches at the idea that he would know. The feeling confuses me. Why the hell would I care where the prick sticks his dick?
An image of him pressing me against the wall, and the feelings that stirred in me at his words as he worked my body into a frenzy comes to mind. I feel my cheeks flush at the reminder of how close I was as he called me a slut. I can’t like Wes. Is he attractive? Fuck yes, but he’s an even bigger douche. So what if his body looks lickable, or that I wanted to follow the trail of water as it cascaded down his muscular chest to the well-defined V leading to a spectacular-looking dick. He’s as big of a jerk as his junk is, super fucking huge.
“Did you not hear me addressing you, skank?” Sam tries again, jolting me from the dangerous path my thoughts were traveling.
My mouth sets in a straight line, and my eyes roll like they’re doing summersaults as I begin to count, trying to remind myself it’s better to be the bigger person in this instance.Don’t embarrass this ho. She’s not worth it.
“Maybe you’ve actually learned your pl-.” Her sentence is interrupted by the husky tenor of an unexpected voice.
“Don’t finish that sentence unless you want me to remind you of your place,” Lev instructs.
What alternative universe have I landed in where Levi Washington, the same guy who essentially told me I was wasting my time because I wasn’t good enough, is coming to my defense? Not that I needed it. She was about one more snide remark away from being read.
My gaze snaps up, our eyes locking. He looks better than when I last saw him last week. The dark circles no longer sit under his eyes, and his beard is now trimmed low. He’s wearing his usual ripped jeans, a thermal shirt with a navy flannel button-up over it, and a pair of combat boots. His pectoral muscles look carved from stone with how his shirt lines his chest. I don’t know if he notices me looking, but I swear he makes them flex, and I have to dip my chin to hide the blush creeping up my neck behind my hair.
“Whatever, Lev. I’m done with the bitch anyway. She bores me,” Sam mumbles.
“Bores you or intimidates you?” Shay asks pointedly.
I look at her and see she’s at the end of her patience, and class hasn’t even started yet. I shake my head quickly, and she huffs when she notices, gritting her teeth and folding her arms across her chest but says nothing else.
I’m sure I’ll get an earful about not letting her flay her later, but again Sam’s an attention whore and the best way to deal with that is to suck the oxygen out of the air instead of fanning the flames of her toxic personality.
“That bitch could never intimidate me. She’s not even in the same stratosphere,” Sam snarls. And now I’ve had enough.
“She was good enough to be one the original Selected and not a replacement for dead girls,” Lev challenges.
Am I wrong for bursting out into laughter at this? If I am, Shay’s riding to hell with me because she does the same.
She growls but says nothing in response as the rest of the heirs walk in. Wyatt and Owen’s eyes lock on me, both smiling, happy I’m finally back at school. They’ve been to the house daily, sometimes staying the night to keep the nightmares at bay.
I shut my mind down when images try to bombard me. Today will be a good day, even if I have to fake it until it’s true.
Wes sits next to Shay, close but still at a distance, Wyatt and Owen take up their positions to my left and my right after they each kiss a cheek, causing me to flame red, and Lev sits in front of me, looking back before facing forward like he’s a sentry on duty. It’s weird, but I feel protected in a way I haven’t since returning home.
Wes and Lev could still use a few slaps upside their domes, but for now, I enjoy the peace their protective energy brings, and because I’m a petty bitch, I turn to Sam, watching her as she takes in this display of solidarity. Malice fills her arctic eyes and she glowers.
Tipping my head to the side, I arch a brow, smirk, and wink.
Checkmate bitch.
20
SEBASTIAN
Ithought I was finally done with this place and having to be in the same space as Vivian. My return to Edgewood Academy has had her visit my office twice today under the misguided assumption that my return is for her. I’m here for one thing, and Vivan Taylor is not it.
I scan over the fifth personnel file on my desk. Verifying each person’s information matches Lev’s files is tedious, but his meticulous attention to detail makes my job far more manageable.
