Page 159 of River of Deceit

“I know no such thing,” Pandora declares. “Come on. Do you actually care what Zayden thinks?”

No, I really don’t. I’m still pissed that he’d distracted me so badly I didn’t realize Franklin was choking to death.

Shit.

I wasn’t close to Franklin—hell, I barely knew him—but he’d been a chill guy. After the final hell week task, he’d even thanked me so profusely for introducing him to Sandra.

I’d mostly written Franklin off until he’d stood his ground against the attackers—and now we’re planning his fucking memorial services instead of having River and Asch teach him how to defend himself properly.

My anger bubbles up all over again. That this happened at all, that it happened while I was there, that nobody did anything to stop it, that Brock and Tate were such fucking idiots that they really thought nothing of forcing somebody to consume an allergen.

It’s not the first time it’s happened though.

Last year, they’d made one of the pledges drink almost an entire gallon of milk, despite him being lactose intolerant. Or maybe because of it? Everybody had laughed and howled while the pledge locked himself in the bathroom, making horrible noises.

I hadn’t cared then. I’d only put a stop to the hazing when they’d tried to make Asch drink even after he’d already thrown up once.

Honestly, I don’t know if I care now.

The only reason I’m angry is because River is hurting, and since when do I care about River’s feelings?

Brock still hasn’t come back to the fraternity, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he transfers out of the school entirely by the end of the semester. I did give his and Tate’s information to Franklin’s parents, and I offered to support them in whatever they chose to do afterward.

If they sue Tate and Brock, whatever.

If they come after the fraternity, we’re going to have problems. Better that I stay close to them and gather what information I can from them.

“Why are you here?” I ask, stroking the side of her face. “Nobody else giving you what you need?”

Pandora giggles. “Yeah. Asch said he was in class, and River ignored my text. If you see him, tell him the whole hot-and-cold thing is getting old.”

“So what I’m hearing is that I’m your last pick?” I ask, getting even closer to her. She doesn’t back up at all—rather, she closes the remaining distance, pressing her body against mine.

“Not last,” Pandora promises, wrapping her arms around my neck. “The best. Well, it’s a three-way tie, but it hasn’t been just you and me for a while, and while I love what Asch and River do to me…”

Neither of them are as rough with her as I am.

Asch might have cut her up, but it was tame.Artistic.

I can already feel the first stirrings of my cock.

A hard, rough fuck would be a great way to work out all these strange emotions.

I grab her ass and squeeze. “Then maybe I need to remind you why you’re supposed to be afraid of me.”

Pandora laughs. “Blaze, I wasneverafraid of you.”

She really wasn’t, and that should grate, but now I’m amused all over again. I can take her apart and put her back together and she’ll thank me, not because she’s scared, but because she had a good time.

I pull her into a rough kiss, and she kisses me back eagerly, her teeth sliding against my lips while I drag my tongue along hers.

Fuck.

“Your room—” I suggest, but Pandora shakes her head.

“Yours is right here,” she answers. “Asch fucked me in there last time. You remember? You haven’t had me in it yet.”

She jumps, and I let out a startled gasp as she wraps her legs around my waist. I have to grip her ass to keep her from slipping down.