"If you're not going to listen, you can walk out of my lecture right now and never return," Professor Richman booms across the auditorium, a ripple of tension following his words.
I hold Letty's eyes for two more seconds before turning toward the front, nodding at the professor who's throwing his hate stare in my direction and pick up my pen, ready to get to work.
"I will not tolerate any more interruptions."
"Hard ass," I mutter to myself, and I soon realize that I was wrong. No one snickers around me, and when I glance up every single person is focused on the front of class. Nope, this is nothing like high school.
I look at Letty once more. Allow myself a few seconds to really take her in and register all the differences in her.
She knows I'm looking, her breathing hitches under my inspection but she doesn't stop what she's doing or turn to look at me again.
I tell myself that I don't care what's happened to her, but I know deep down that I do.
Because if she's hurting, then I want to be the one who's delivered that pain.
This class, I swear, is the longest of my life.
I force myself to listen and take notes because hell knows I'm already behind in my other three and I need to be on top of my classes before the season starts. These few weeks before our first game are going to fly and then once we start, I can only imagine how full on it's going to be. Especially as I have no doubt that Luca will be continuing to ride my ass. My foot bounces against the floor in excitement. Bring it on, asshole. I'm ready for you.
As our professor brings the class to a close with a detailed description of yet another assignment I need to embark on, I don't move. Unlike the rest of the auditorium who jump into action and begin moving toward the door at lightning speed.
I sit back and watch Letty as she packs her things away.
"Excuse me," she says abruptly as she stands.
Her eyes hold mine before I release her stare in favor of getting a close up look at her body.
She's wearing a pair of leggings under a floral dress and a leather jacket. I can't deny that she looks hot, she's Letty Hunter, she always looks fucking hot. But it's unmistakable that she's damn near half the woman she used to be.
My fists clench as I consider the possibility of someone hurting her at Columbia and that being the reason she's here.
Did some motherfucker ruin her dream of graduating from the college she spent her whole life dreaming about?
"Kane," she barks, getting exasperated, but still, I don't move. "Fine, whatever."
She spins and is about to make her way down the row of now empty seats at her back when I reach for her arm.
I stand as she fights to slip her wrist from my grip but I hold tighter.
"Ow, that hurts," she complains.
I pull her back and she stumbles, falling into my body.
Every single one of my muscles tenses at her touch and the blood racing through my veins turns to lava.
"You think I care, Princess?"
"Let go of me," she demands, her voice low and husky as she once again attempts to pull herself free.
"Why are you here?"
Her eyes lift from my chest until her dark ones collide with my blue angry ones.
"Why are you here? Last I heard you failed to graduate."
A laugh falls from my lips as I lower my head down a little to her. To anyone around us, it might look intimate, like I want to kiss her. The reality is very different.
"Princess," I growl and her lips twist in anger. She hates that nickname, always has. It's the exact reason I still insist on using it. "There is a lot you don't know about me."
"Letty, is this asshole bothering you?" a familiar voice asks from behind me.
"No, he's not," I answer for her, knowing that the two goons from earlier are burning holes in the back of my head.
"We weren't talking to you, asshole."
"I'm fine. Thank you," Letty says, her eyes not once leaving mine. "I know how to handle this asshole."
My chest grows tight as my anger burns hotter within me.
I lower my face down, regretfully ripping my eyes from her until my lips are right next to her ear.
A shudder rips through her as my breath cascades over her exposed skin, I feel it all the way down her arm.
"That is where you are very, very wrong, Princess."
"Threaten me all you like. You can't break what’s already broken."
With that, she pulls her arm free. My shock from her words allowing her to do it easily and she takes off through the small gap in the chairs.
"You need to watch who you make enemies of around here," one of the guys warns. "Stay away from Letty. Hell, stay away from all of us."
I spin around to respond but the pair of them are already at the bottom of the stairs and making their escape.
6
Letty
The second my wrist slips from his grasp, my legs can't carry me away fast enough.
I don't look back as I flee from the lecture hall and I don't come to a stop again until I run into a very solid chest.
A familiar scent surrounds me as strong hands clamp down on my upper arms to steady me.
"Whoa, Letty are you okay?"
A sob bubbles up my throat as his concerned deep voice hits my ears and I only just about manage to contain it.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Can we just get out of here please?"
"Uh… sure. Let me take th—" His words trail off as he reaches for the books in my arms, but I don't need to look behind me to find out what's captured his attention. I feel it. I feel him.
"Legend," Luca spits as if his name tastes bitter on his tongue.
He looks down at me and then back to Kane once more. His jaw is set while anger and confusion battles in his eyes.
He has no reason to know there's anything between Kane and me. I never told him for a very good reason.
They already hate each other enough.
I didn't need Luca going after Kane and risking the career he was building for me. Because I knew he would in a heartbeat if he knew the truth.
"Luca, let's just go, please?"
"Y-yeah, sure. Come on."
He turns, putting his back to Kane and wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me tight into his body, a move that I'm sure pisses Kane the fuck off.
I've never been Kane's but for some fucked-up reasons he can't stand anyone else having me. Well, one person aside.
I blow out a relieved breath as Luca quickly navigates us out of the building and away from Kane's hateful stare full of wicked promises and the pain he's planning to inflict.
What he doesn't realize is that I've already suffered the worst kind of pain because of him and anything else will be like child's play compared to the past year of my life.
"What the hell was that?" Luca asks, coming to a stop once we're safely away from him, the building, and anyone else who might be interested in listening.
"Not here. Don't you have practice?"
"I've got an hour," he says softly, lifting his hand so his fingers tuck under my chin to stop me from hiding from him, which he knows I'm desperate to do. "Wanna show me your dorm?" he asks, giving me a cheeky wink.