Page 217 of Wicked Brutal

I lift my brows. “I heard you.”

“Then come here.”

I look at the space between us. Then back at him. “I can hear you fine from here.”

A kid passing behind Victor slows. His friend almost walks into him.

Victor’s jaw flexes. “Now.”

Danny looks at me again. “Sit?”

“Fuck off.”

“Stay?” Kaid adds, “Roll over?”

X looks thoughtful. “Ryan doesn’t know roll over.”

Iz shakes his head. “Poorly trained.”

I’m trying not to laugh. Ally is trying not to laugh. That’s worse. Her lips press together and she looks down at the Celeste envelope.

Victor doesn’t notice. He looks at her. “Give me a moment.”

“Of course.” Perfect. Sweet. No question. Victor turns away from her and starts walking toward us.

Danny watches him come. Then his eyebrows go up. “Oh, shit.”

Kaid glances at him. “What?”

“He retrieves.”

X loses it first — just one sharp laugh.

Iz looks at me. “You owe him a treat.”

“Didn’t bring any.”

“Poor ownership.”

“I’m going to put all four of you in the lake.”

Danny looks at Victor. “Scratch behind the ears first. See if he kicks.”

The kid who slowed down nearby laughs. Loud enough. His friend elbows him. Too late. Victor hears.

The atrium starts changing. One phone lifts — not directly pointed at us yet, just higher. A couple students near the stairs stop pretending to leave. The classroom door closest to us opens and two students step out, see Victor walking toward the Elite Five, and stop. Because Ally’s ring was gossip. Interesting. Worth a GlossX post. This? Victor Tremblay just called Ryan Harrington across the hallway like a dog. Ryan told him no. Now Victor’s coming to him. That’s entertainment.

Behind Victor, Bella moves again. One step. Then another. Closer to Ally. Her phone stays in her hand, her face stays bored, but her eyes lift to Ally. Checking. I catch it. So does Iz this time.

His expression changes — tiny. Then he mutters, “Don’t.”

I glance at him. “You saw that.”

“I saw the devil’s favorite mistress move.”

“Toward Ally.”

“She’s probably hoping to harvest her soul.”