Page 33 of Lessons in Cruelty

But Riversiders don’t snitch, fucking ever.

“Kids can play rough sometimes,” I say breezily.

His smile is too smug. Too fucking self-assured. “Especially when there’s no one around to supervise.”

Something about the way he says it makes me think he already knows.

About the woods.

About our games.

About everything.

“You’re not alone anymore, Miss Lee.”

He gives me a lingering scan, the corner of his mouth curling up terribly seductively. Or maybe it’s just the sight of those two men clutching each other so passionately that’s turned me into such a horndog.

“If you ever need to talk, my office hours are very flexible.”

I scoff before I can stop myself, and for a split second, something dark crosses his face.

“Wounds need the proper care to heal, or they’ll scar.” He takes hold of my wrist, digging his thumb right into the bruise Kai left there.

I gasp at the flare of pain, ripping my arm free.

Professor Rooke’s eyes are gleaming now. “Don’t let him leave you scarred, Haven.”

Chapter 10

Haven

I wince when I accidentally slam my car door. Jeez, I’ve got to be more careful. The state this thing’s in, it wouldn’t surprise me if the fender falls off.

Auto repairs are definitely not in my budget. Not that I even have a budget. You only need to plan your money if you actually have some.

The faint hum of Pie Palace’s white neon sign greets me as I walk around to the front of the building. The parking lot is still pretty empty, but it’ll start filling up in an hour or two. Our Monday night BOGO burger special brings in a lot of business.

I tug at the hem of my outfit—a faded mustard-yellow smock made from cheap polyester.

It’s not that I care what I look like, I just wish the thing didn’t itch so much.

Not like anyone from AHC is likely to see me in it. The diner is so close to Riverside, no one from the upper suburbs would dare eat here for fear of catching e-coli…or poverty.

I’m working behind the counter tonight, which I love because it means I can keep a flipped-open textbook hidden just out of sight to study from when I’m not serving customers.

I’ve had the weekend to recover from my first week at college, although most of it I spent here. Monday mornings are so quiet though, I opted to spend the day working on my assignments and getting up to speed with the study material for each of my classes.

The only thing I’m stuck on is Professor Rooke’s Lessons in Cruelty course.

My Activity Log is still empty, and the art piece is due tomorrow…but I’m all out of ideas.

You’d swear I was a virgin to cruelty.

“Coffee and pie.”

I take my pen out of my mouth and blink up at the guy sitting opposite me. I was so zoned in on my Urban Studies textbook I didn’t notice him walking in.

As soon as I see his face, it feels like someone’s dragging my polyester dress up my back.