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“Yeah, well…”

He grabs the back of my jacket and pulls me to a stop. “Well, what?”

I shrug. “She’s pretty fucking badass.”

He nods. Andrea and Rat’s footsteps getting farther away. “She is badass. And hot.”

“Very hot,” I agree. All of this started out as a game, another classic prank, but somewhere along the way I came to like Reagan. Really like her. As Knox said, she’s hot, but she’s also brave and funny and fucking determined. Even looking like a skinny, ratty boy, she made my dick hard. And now…

I check my phone again. Wincing when I see no notifications.

“What?” Knox asks, noticing me shifting on my feet.

“Fuck it.” I push past him, picking up my pace to a jog. I have nothing but my phone flashlight to see the way, but the gravel road is wider and less bumpy than the trail. I hear footsteps behind me, but don’t look back. Knox’s long legs and physical condition mean he can catch up to me easily. I push myself as hard as possible, not stopping until I reach the clearing. In the flickering firelight, I see Reagan on her knees, dirty and tired. Royer stands over her, hand shoved down his pants. There’s no doubt where this is going, and fuck no, is anyone putting their cock near my girl without my permission.

She’smine.

Using every ounce of jealousy, rage and adrenaline, I charge at Royer. He sees me one second before I pounce on him, but it’s not enough time for him to recover—to get his fucking hand out of his pants. We land hard, rolling around the hard rock.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he shouts, grappling with me. He grazes my chin with his knuckles, slicing the skin with the edge of his frat ring. I manage to pin him down. Using every ounce of my weight to hold him down. He grunts and fights against me. “What the hell, Miller?”

“You had your chance, asshole,” I say, punching him in the face. It’s enough to get the upper hand, grabbing his shoulders and slamming them down on the granite. “And you fucked it up. You’re going to get the charter revoked, the frat shut down, the police knocking on our doors. Why? Just so you can prove you’re a better sadistic monster than the rest of us?” I stare down into his bruised, entitled face. “I’m not letting you take me down, Royer, and I’m sure as fuck not letting you put your dick anywhere near my girl’s mouth.”

“Your what?” His jaw drops, and he barks out a laugh, spraying blood in the air. “Oh, this is classic Miller Hansen. Falling for my sloppy seconds. God, you’re fucking—”

A foot slams into his side, knocking the breath out of him. I look up and see Reagan rearing back to kick him, or maybe this time, me. I hop out of her way and this one lands on his stomach. He rolls over to his side, groaning in pain.

She stumbles and I reach out to catch her, gripping her by the waist.

“Are you okay?” I ask, wiping the dirt off her forehead.

“What did you say to him?” she asks. “What did you call me?”

Footsteps echo off the rock and lights flash, glaring blindingly.

“Get your hands off of her!” a voice shouts—a man. I release Reagan and shield my eyes from the light, trying to see the man behind the glare. Grayson. I’d sent him my location an hour ago, but out here service is spotty. I had no idea if it went through.

“I’m not going to hurt her,” I say, holding my hands up in surrender. “Never again.”

A cop comes from behind, jerking me back, snapping cuffs on my wrists. Royer is dragged off the ground and I spot Knox, already cuffed, waiting at the edge of the clearing.

Grayson rushes to Reagan, eyes scanning from head to toe. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“Don’t touch me,” she says, backing away warily.

“He didn’t know,” I tell her, realizing she’s afraid that he’s still one of us. “I just told that to Royer to try to get him to stop.”

“I didn’t,” he promises. She holds out for one moment longer, then bursts into tears, lunging for him. My heart aches as I see her curl into him, jealousy stabbing like a knife. I’d told Royer she was mine, but I know it isn’t true. I don’t deserve her.

“We got Rat and Andrea,” Grayson says to me. “Blocked them on the way down the road. It’s why it took us so long to get up here. We had to hike the rest of the way.”

“Good.” I get out before the cop behind me wrenches my arms and drags me back. I catch Reagan’s eye, knowing whatever apologies, excuses, or bullshit I want to give her is never going to happen. I meant what I said: I’m never going to hurt Reagan Lake again.

28

Reagan

“I brought you some clean clothes.” I look up and see Grayson in the hospital room doorway, holding a paper bag.