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Now his glare is back. And fixated on me. I tremble but clench my tummy to hold strong under his scowl.
Lucian moves in front of me, breaking Cristo’s glower on me, and I hate that I’m grateful for the reprieve.
Cristo makes an impatient gesture with his hand. “Get the fuck out of my way. Don’t act like you need to protect her fromme. I’m not the one who embarrassed her in front of the whole school.”
A wave of vindication swells inside me.So he has heard about it.
Lucian’s shoulders bunch and he growls at hissef.
I slap him in the back, because, I meancome on, how dare he get mad at the truth. This whole mess is his fault. His tight back muscles twitch from my slap. He slides over a bit but still blocks me from Cristo’s view.
I smack him in the flank, but he doesn’t move.
“He’s an asshole,” resumes Cristo to me.
His voice softens. “In case you didn’t already know, now you do. You don’t have to like him, Star. Hate him for all I care—”
“Oh, I do,” I whisper harshly, leaning around Lucian’s bulk to speak to Cristo.
“Don’t interrupt me,” he warns, but his voice only firms up a touch.
His focus returns to Lucian. “I can’t believe I have to bring you back in front of me like a wet-behind-the-ears boy. How can you be myconsilierif you can’t handle high school drama properly?”
Lucian stiffens beside me, and I cackle in glee inside.Yeah, how is that, you prick?
“Fucking apologize already,” Cristo demands impatiently. “Apologize and deal with this, Lucian.”
I cross my arms over my chest and tap my foot. I can’t wait to see this apology. Hell yeah. I’m aching for it because I’m going to shoot it down so fast he’ll get whiplash.
Lucian licks his lips, and says, “I will fucking deal with her, Cristo. I’ll apologize as I see fit. When I see fit. You won’t hear from either of us again. She’s under my protection and I’ll handle this the way I think best.”
My eyes bug out of my head.
Oh, wow.
In my clan, no one would dare talk to myseflike that, other than his brothers. And from what Tatum has told me, only behind closed doors. Not in front of any outsiders like me. Of course, these Popescus are barbaric, so I shouldn’t be surprised by this total lack of etiquette.
Unfazed by the challenge, Cristo looks at him dubiously, his lips pinched to one side. “Yeah, you think you can do that? From where I’m sitting, all I see are a bunch of Fs and a nice girl you’ve reduced to tears.”
Preach, brother, preach.
Lucian glowers at him.
“Am I lying? Tell me if I’m fucking wrong, Lucian? Oh, and while you’re at it, tell me how you’re gonna make this right.”
“I’ll fucking handle it,” he snaps. “She’ll help me and you won’t see another bad grade again.”
I suppress a snort of derision and step to the side to watch Cristo’s reprimand. While Lucian isn’t squirming nearly as much as I’d like, I can still vindictively enjoy the show.
“You betterfucking handle itbecause this is your last chance. Don’t let me hear another word of nonsense and don’t let me see another bad grade.”
He leans forward, looking like a bad-dude predator ready to tear into the flesh of his own kin. “Believe me, you do not want me involved. You need to take care of this so you can get your head back in the game with business. Clan business. And as I’ve said before, your graduation is clan business, so for fuck’s sake, just fix it.”
He turns his attention on me and reprimands me. “You should’ve come to me earlier, Star.”
I wince at his chastisement, but he waves my discomfort away magnanimously. “Never mind, you have a second chance to make it right. But next time you have a problem, you make sure to come to me.”
Lucian grabs my upper arm. I gasp and swat at his hand, but his grip is too strong. Dragging my struggling form behind him, he contradicts his boss. “Nah-ah, she’s under my protection. She doesn’t come to you for anything. I will handle her and any issues that come up. Me. Only me.”
