Page 24 of The Ruthless Note

“Why don't you take a hike straight off a cliff?”

She’s pushing back, but I’m tired of this conversation. Without another word, I wrap my fingers around her desk and drag it out of formation.

The chair legs creak on the ground, grabbing the attention of the teacher and all the other groups huddled in to discuss the project.

Cadence grips her desk as if she thinks I’ll tip her over. Her face is fire-red. When I keep dragging her across the classroom, she shrieks and lifts her feet to keep from getting pinned between the chair and the ground.

I move her all the way over to my chair before I release her desk and fall into my seat. She’s sitting so close, I can smell her fragrant shampoo and see the bits of sweat dotting her forehead.

I’m annoyed as hell that I keep noticing even the small things. Like the tiny mole on the side of her neck. Or the way her blouse falls over the band of her skirt.

Damn it.

I swear she’s all up in my head and I need an exorcist to get her out.

“We have our group member,” I announce, stretching my legs out as if I’m not keenly aware of Cadence’s hand that’s brushing against mine.

She sits straight up, her shoulders hiked to her ears and her bold gaze pointed at the wall. Her heaving chest betrays the true breadth of her anger, but she’s not making a scene.

“That’s right.” I splay my fingers over her chin and turn her to face me. “Be a good little girl.”

“Touch me again and I swear your head will go rolling down the hallway like a basketball,” she growls.

I laugh quietly. Does she know how frail she is? How small? Yet she’s so earnest. Means every freaking word. I can’t lie. I love when she challenges me. Watching her fight makes me feel alive.

And that’s just as alarming as the way my heart softens for her.

I drop my head on the desk and feign a yawn. Dryly, I tell my brothers, “Cadence will be doing my part of this assignment.”

Ifeelmore than see her body bristling.

Sol glances toward me briefly, but his eyes shift to Brahms quickly after. “Ignore him. We’re all going to work together.”

“I wouldliketo ignore him, but he insists on being a pain in the—”

“Finish that sentence at your own risk,” I warn.

“Bite me.”

I turn my head around. My gaze slides lazily down to her lips, ripe for the taking, the pulse that’s throbbing in her delicate neck, and lands on her chest. I can just make the imprint of her bra beneath the white fabric.

“Should I?” I whisper. “You like it a little rough,Cadey?”

Her nostrils flare and she leans back.

“It’s Cadence, right?” Sol breaks in, giving me a stern eye. He turns to Cadence. “You’re new here.”

“Yeah, I'm new,” she mumbles darkly.

“I heard you live around the southside?”

She looks at him suspiciously.

“I used to live there too with my family.”

“Really? Where?” There’s a note of interest in Brahms’ voice.

“Deacon Street.”