Page 52 of Broken by my Bully (Lessons in Cruelty Dark Academia #1)

I was about to shove Haven against the fucking wall and force her to tell me exactly what the fuck Rooke was doing to her. And then do the same things to her, too, just to even the playing field.

“He’s using you,” I grate out, voice low enough not to carry to the nosy fuck lurking just outside my periphery. Haven’s gaze darts to the side, but I guess she doesn’t consider our third wheel a threat, because she barely lowers her voice.

“Like you used me every day of your fucking life?” Her eyes glitter with the same look she used to get right before she’d bite me hard enough to draw blood.

“We used each other ,” I growl.

She leans closer, voice dropping to a whisper only I can hear as she strokes her hand down my chest. “Sure, Kai. Whatever lets you sleep at night.”

I watch her go with my jaw dropped, because fuck . What a bitch.

“Dude.”

Coming in here like she fucking owns shares.

“ Dude .”

She’s gonna learn her place, one way or the fucking?—

“Kai, dude!”

“Jesus, what?” I swing to face the senior who’d been trying to get my attention.

He grins. “You wanna get blazed or what, bro?”

This guy.

I nod, if a tad reluctantly, because yeah I want to get fucked up, but after that wild ride with Haven, my dick’s so hard I’m just about ready to pull any of these sorority girls aside and stick it in them.

Half wouldn’t even complain.

Rumor around campus the past three years is that I have a girlfriend at Cambridge. We’re so in love, we still think a long-distance relationship could work. And I guess no one’s really questioning that logic, because I haven’t been with anyone since I started college.

“Didn’t get your name,” I say, shoving a hand in my pocket to keep my dick down, in case the guy thinks I’ve got a hard on for him.

“Kruger.”

I hold out my other hand. “Kai.”

Kruger laughs as we slip into the backyard. “Yeah, man, I know. You don’t exactly keep a low profile.”

Whatever the fuck that’s supposed to mean.

“Damn fire hazard out here,” I say as we enter the gazebo.

I’ve never seen so many fairy lights and dreamcatchers in one place. Haven’s gonna fucking love it here.

Pity she’s not staying.

The sweet smell of weed blows over me as Kruger lights a joint he pulled out of his pocket. He hits it a few times and then passes it to me.

“So what’s your deal with that chick, bro? You got the hots for her or something?”

“Who, Haven?” I guess I shouldn’t have immediately guessed it was her. He could have been talking about Melissa, or Hillary, or any of the other sorority girls at the meeting. But I guess he saw enough.

“Yeah. She’s cute.”

“Fuck, no, I’m not into her.” I take another hard tug before handing the joint back. “Don’t have syphilis on my bingo card.”

“For real? Not really picking up slut vibes from her.”

“Half the football team railed her.”

“No shit, bro. Always the quiet ones, huh?” Kruger lets out a wheezy, high-pitched laugh. “When was this?”

My hands are clenched into fists, and I can’t seem to force them to relax. No wonder my voice struggles past clenched teeth.

“A while ago.”

Feels like yesterday.

“Meh.” He waves a hand like he’s swatting a fly. “Old news is dead news. Probably just a rumor, anyway.” He laughs and jabs me in the ribs with his elbow. Lucky for him he’s stoned, or I’d have decked him. “Pics, or it didn’t happen, amiright?”

“I saw the pics,” I grate out.

“Yeah?” Kruger considers this for a moment, a philosophical light in his eyes.

Fuck, I’m about to punch this guy, and it’s not even his fucking fault.

It’s all Haven.

Always has been, always will be.

“I mean, sure, our boys fuck,” Kruger says, thankfully snapping me out of the very bloody, very messy image in my head.

“But they don’t exactly go around broadcasting that shit.

You know what a fucking prude the dean is.

She hears there’s been gang bangs and shit happening, she’ll suspend everyone.

” He blows out a stream of smoke. “She needs to get laid, man.”

He’s right.

About the dean. About everything.

The only reason we get away with murder is that we keep it under wraps. And the faculty members that know about the shit we get up to are usually involved themselves, so it’s in their best interest to keep that shit quiet.

“You’re right,” I murmur, waving away the joint when he wants to hand me the last few drags. “Old news is dead news.”

“Sure thing.” He pinches the roach and takes a tiny sip from it before crushing it out under his foot.

I take out the eye drops that live in my pants pocket, handing him the bottle when I’m done dosing myself. He hands it back with a smile, wiping away his artificial tears with a knuckle.

“Hey, man, nice hanging with you. Let me know if you ever want to spark up a jay again.”

I nod, watching him go with narrowed eyes.

It’s not just that I’m stoned.

I am .

But I’ve also struck on an idea, thanks to Kruger.

Old news might be dead news, but thank God for the motherfucking zombie apocalypse.

I had every intention of walking straight back to my frat house. Grabbing a shower, wolfing down whatever I could find in the fridge, then passing out in bed. But I’m so fucking thirsty, I have to stop at the GAZ kitchen to grab some water.

And then I spot a jar of cookies on the counter, just sitting out there for anyone to take. So, I take.

And then I pour myself a glass of milk, because cookies and milk.

That’s around when Haven walks past, her arms loaded with random shit.

Right.

She’s moving in tonight.

Burrowing her claws even deeper.

I sidle over to the kitchen drawers, keeping my eyes locked where Haven disappeared up the stairs. My hand fumbles with the handle before I slide open the drawer and slip my hand inside.

Poor little thing.

Moving all that shit by herself.

Someone should help her.