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“Everyone got this?” I ask. “Even the teachers? The headmaster?”
She bites her lip before giving a single nod.
My hands are shaking so badly the phone clatters onto the table. I feel the eyes of the entire school on my back, and I curl into myself to be as small and inconspicuous as possible.
But it’s too late. There’s an elephant-sized gang bang video hanging over my head with a flashing, neon arrow pointing at me. No matter where I hide, it will follow.
I rise from my chair so fast it falls behind me with a deafening clatter. My body stumbles into the table, which I grip for support to keep me upright.
Prisha reaches her hand toward me. “Willow…”
My lunch tray and bookbag lie forgotten as I make a mad dash for the closest door, and I slam my shoulder against it to fling it open. Barreling through without stopping, I run toward an unknown destination.
All I know is I need to escape.
It’s too much all at once.
This is my breaking point.
I thought I’d shed all my tears after Mom’s death, but as it turns out, I’m an endless well of despair.
Chapter 13
Alek
My eyes trace the long lines of Willow’s legs as she runs from the dining hall. The door closes behind her with a loud thud, plunging the room into a ringing silence.
She is strong, and seeing her brought to tears tells me something is wrong. I’m the only one allowed to make her cry.
Whoever is responsible for her pain will pay. Willow belongs to me, and I have a responsibility to seek revenge against those who aim to destroy her.
Instinct pulls me from my chair, bringing me to my feet. I take a step to go after her, but the insufferable giggles that erupt from Johanna and Irina bring me pause.
I turn, slowly, zeroing in on Johanna. “What did you do?”
My tone shuts them both up, and while Irina has the courtesy of looking away in shame, Johanna’s devilish grin remains.
“You haven’t seen it?” she asks with false sweetness. “I sent it to the entire school.”
My fists clench as I speak through gritted teeth. “Sent what?”
“I think you should watch it. Maybe then you’ll realize your silly interest in the American is undeserved. She’s beneath you, Aleksandr.”
All I see is red. I lunge at Johanna, grabbing her hair in my fist and dragging her from the chair. Chaos erupts behind me, with Irina screaming for me to stop and Konstantin trying to calm her. Dozens of chairs scrape against the floor as students rush over to watch the scene unfold.
They’re about to get a show.
Johanna is crawling on the ground, struggling to regain her footing as I keep a firm grip on her hair. My shoe comes down on her stomach, which pushes the air out of her lungs, and she grabs onto my leg, clawing at me to let her go as her feet kick. Towering over her, I pin her with a look that makes her freeze in fear.
She should be afraid of me.
Johanna will never understand my darkness. She is a spoiled, wannabe princess who has never known struggle or pain.
But that changes now.
“I want you to tell me what you’ve done,” I say, digging my heel deeper into her stomach. Her eyes bug out.
“A-Alek,” she says in a choked voice. “P-Please…”
