Seven
Bianca
T hankfully, Hail didn’t come back that night.
I managed to get my homework done before falling asleep.
I didn’t bother with dinner, so when my stomach gave a growl while I strolled through the courtyard this morning, I winced.
I hadn’t eaten in nearly twenty-four hours. Hunger pangs shot through me.
I knew the cafeteria served some elaborate breakfast, but I opted for a vending machine. Quickly, I chose a breakfast bar and bent to retrieve it when I felt a hand on my ass. I snapped up, ready to punch someone, until I saw it was Hail. He smirked at me, an eyebrow raised.
“Hello, rat,” he greeted me.
I grunted a response.
He snatched my breakfast bar out of my hand. “What’s this?”
“Breakfast?” I made to reach for it, but he dangled it over my head. “Hail, please? I haven’t eaten. I’m shaking.”
“Aww,” he teased, nothing joyful in the gesture. Only cruelty oozed from him. “Kiss me, and I’ll give it to you.”
Frustrated, I leaned into him, but he pulled away a fraction.
“Make it good,” his voice held a darkness to it, and something told me he’d put me to the ground in front of a hundred students while smiling.
I shifted toward him again and pressed my lips to his.
He lowered my breakfast bar and wrapped his arms around me, his tongue sweeping into my mouth.
It may have even been a nice kiss if I didn’t think he was a disgusting pig.
He deepened it to an embarrassing level, holding me close, before he bit my bottom lip, making me yelp softly, the tang of blood in my mouth.
“So you remember,” he murmured, stepping back.
Prick.
“How could I forget?” I answered back, the taste of copper still in my mouth.
“Where’s your ring?” The question came out of nowhere.
I stared at him, openmouthed, before answering, “My room.”
“Why the fuck isn’t it on your finger, Bianca?” He gripped my arm tightly, making me cry out.
A few students glanced at us, but not long enough to offer me any help. Of course. Hail was a lord. And from what I’d gathered, they did what they wanted.
He shook me hard. “Go get it. If I see it off your hand again, I’ll break your fucking fingers.”
“Hey, there, Ivanov,” a deep voice called out.
That accent. Hail stopped shaking me and looked to the newcomer.
Dominic De Santis.
His navy blazer hung open. His red tie was barely tied. He looked like a beautiful disaster standing in front of us in his uniform and messy, dark hair.
“What the fuck do you want, De Santis?” Hail growled, his hold still tight on my arm.
“Looked like you were about to break the new girl.” Dominic’s gaze swept over me, no sign of giving a shit in them.
Maybe he hadn’t come to help.
“What I do with my fiancée is none of your fucking business.” Hail yanked me to him.
I grunted and stared at the ground.
“Ah, so this is the beauty who’s blowing up our world,” Dominic said. “Heard the Lord of the Dance was marrying.”
“Fuck you, De Santis,” Hail snapped.
I bit my bottom lip to keep my laughter from escaping. Lord of the Dance. I cast a quick look at Dominic to see a smirk on his lips, a dark eyebrow lifted as he stared back at me.
“What happened to Stella? She on the market again?”
“You know she isn’t,” Hail spat.
“Well, if you’re marrying a D’Angelou, I figured Stella would be up for grabs. I heard the lords’ ladies were trashy, but I’m willing to test the theory. Unless you want me to break in your future wife for you.”
Hail released me and shoved Dominic in the chest. Dominic barely budged. I took a step back, not wanting to be involved in their fight.
“Careful, Ivanov,” Dominic growled. “You know I don’t fuck around. If you want to go to war with me, then do it, pussy. But don’t push me by defending a piece of ass from the gutters who anyone here could fuck for twenty bucks. Do it over something worth it.”
I glared at Dominic. He was just as much a prick as Hail. Any redeeming thoughts I may have had about him went out the window as those words fell from his lips. Dominic winked at me, making me grind my teeth.
“What the fuck is going on?”
Two others joined Dominic. Vincent Valentino and Levin Seeley. The rest of the kings.
“Nothing.” Hail sneered.
“Aw, what’s the matter?” the one I assumed was Levin asked, his blue eyes narrowed at Hail. “Your pansy ass bitches not here to fight with you?”
“Fuck you, Seeley. We can go to war just as easily without them. They just clean up my messes.”
Vincent snorted. “Because you’re sloppy like your father.”
Hail’s nostrils flared.
Vincent’s dark eyes moved to me, sending a flurry of butterflies through my stomach. “Who’s this? I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”
Hail glanced over at me. “Someone else you don’t fuck with, Valentino.”
The kings laughed.
“I say, I fuck with whoever I want.” Vincent chuckled, his eyes locked on me. “Even if it is your whore. We all know I’ve tasted Stella’s dank pussy.”
Hail flew at Vincent, his right hook grazing off Vincent’s cheek. In a whirlwind of movement, Vincent advanced on Hail.
“Chill! Fucking chill!” A guy grabbed Hail and dragged him back while another got between him and Vincent. The third guy stood in front of me, like he was shielding me.
“Looks like your boys saved the day.” Levin chuckled softly.
“They didn’t save shit,” Vincent growled. “You want to go to war, Ivanov? We can fucking do it.”
I glanced fearfully among the guys. Hail’s cheeks were red, his chest heaving, as one of his friends held him back.
“Fuck with what’s mine, and I’ll tear you apart one by one,” Hail threatened, jerking out of the hold he was under. “Don’t fucking force my hand. You know what you’d be up against.”
Dominic smiled like they were having an easy conversation. “Is that a fact, Ivanov?”
“It’s my fucking promise,” Hail spat, storming over to me and grabbing my arm.
The kings stared at me. Something crossed Dominic’s face as our gazes locked.
“Come at me again and see what the fuck happens.”
“Guard what’s important to you, Ivanov.” Dominic’s eyes were still focused on mine. “Because I’m coming for all of it.”
With a sharp jerk, Hail pulled me away, but not before Vincent called out, “Enjoy her while you can, Ivanov.”
Fear iced over my blood. I cast a final peek over my shoulder to see the kings staring at me. Not Hail. Not the other three brutes. Me .
And it did nothing to calm me.