CHAPTER 86
ZION
The locker room was clearing out, and guys were shoving each other around in that playful, testosterone-fueled way after a rough workout.
A few slapped me on the back or threw out comments like,
*"You're the man,"* and,
*"You showed her who’s boss,"* as if they were trying to earn my favour. But their words barely registered.
A knot tightened in my stomach as I replayed what had happened in class. I should’ve felt victorious, but instead, there was this nagging doubt.
*Was she hurt? Did I take it too far?*
I shook my head, forcing the questions out of my mind.
*No.* I clenched my fists, my jaw tightened. She deserved it—all of it. After everything she’d done... everything she’d taken from my family...
She had it coming. And this was just the beginning.
I slammed my locker door shut, the sound echoing through the nearly empty room. Turning around, I caught sight of Ethan lingering nearby.
Of all people, he was the last one I expected to still be here.
He was usually the first out the door, preferring his own space over the camaraderie of the locker room. Yet here he was, leaning against the row of lockers with a look on his face that I didn't like. It was the kind of look that said he had something to say, something he knew would piss me off.
“Royal,” he called out casually, almost too casually.
I didn’t bother replying, just stared at him, waiting for whatever bullshit he was about to spew. He crossed his arms, that smug, knowing grin spreading across his face as he walked toward me.
Ronald and Clark closed in, circling Ethan like predators sensing weakness. I stayed where I was, my gaze never leaving him, watching as he assessed the situation, clearly calculating his next move.
“What the hell are you staring at, Ethan?” Ronald sneered, stepping forward, his voice laced with contempt.
“You’d think he had a thing for our boy Zion,” Clark added with a mocking grin.
“The way he’s eyeing him up.”
Ethan shot a venomous look at Clark. “Shut the fuck up,” he warned, his voice cold.
“Ro, Clark let me handle this,” I growled, my voice cutting through the tension.
Slowly, I take my hands out of my pockets, clasping them behind my back, keeping my stance casual but ready.
My gaze locked on Ethan as he leaned casually against the lockers, a smirk playing at the edges of his lips. His posture was relaxed, but the glint in his eyes told me he wasn’t just passing time.
"What do you want, Wilde?"
His smirk widened, as though he found my frustration entertaining.
“I want to know what your deal is with the new girl,” he said, his voice smooth, annoyingly casual. He tilted his head, as if he was genuinely puzzled, though I knew better.
“She’s your stepsister, right? But you’re acting like she’s more than that. I saw what went down today... pretty brutal. You had your girls all over her, bullying her...."
"And why does that matter to you?"
"Let’s just say I’m intrigued. What is it about her that’s got you so obsessed, Royal?"
His words hung in the air, laced with mock curiosity, and his eyes gleamed with the kind of amusement that made my blood boil.
It was as if he was baiting me, looking for a crack in my resolve to exploit. His calm demeanour only made it worse—it was infuriating, the way he made everything feel like a game.
I didn’t even bother to hide my irritation.
“None of your fucking business, Ethan,” I replied, my voice flat, laced with boredom.
“Oh, but I want to make it my business,” he said, his tone slick and smooth, the kind that made my skin crawl.
“The girls were pretty rough with her. Seems like she could use someone in her corner. You know... a friend. Wiping away her tears... being there when things get tough. And”
My jaw tightened, fists clenching at my sides. I could feel the anger simmering beneath my skin, ready to erupt. He was pushing buttons, testing me, and I hated where this conversation was heading.
“And?” I growled, knowing there was more.
“And...” He leaned in, his smirk widening as he dropped his voice, dragging the words out like he was savouring each one.
“If she’s such a burden to you, maybe—" He paused, letting the silence stretch painfully long before finishing,
“Maybe I could take her out of your hands.”
My blood ran cold for a moment, then hot with fury. It took everything I had not to react, not to just hit him right there. But the fire in my chest was rising, my breathing getting heavier as I glared at him.
"Enough of your bullshit. Stick your nose in my business, and I’ll make you regret it in ways you won’t forget! I snarled, my voice tearing through the tension like a whip.
"UNDERSTAND!"
Ethan didn’t answer right away. Instead, he casually pushed himself off the lockers he’d been leaning against, a smug smirk playing on his lips. He shot a look over his shoulder at Clark and Ronald, who were watching, ready to jump in if needed.
As he strolled toward me, his confidence oozed from every step, like he knew something I didn’t. Something I wouldn’t like. My jaw tightened, and I crossed my arms, bracing for whatever game he was about to play.
He stopped just inches away, that smug grin etched across his face, his eyes glinting with a challenge I didn’t ask for.
"I’m *making* it my business,” he said, his tone dripping with arrogance.
Before I could think twice, I grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him closer, my grip iron-tight. My eyes bored into his, my voice a deadly whisper.
I stepped in close, my voice cold as steel.
“You’re treading on thin fucking ice. Keep pushing, and I’ll make you regret it in ways you can't even imagine. Stay the hell away from my business, or I’ll make sure you never forget what happens when you cross me.”
The grin faltered for a split second, but I didn’t loosen my hold, the tension between us crackling like a live wire.
Then he smirked
“Calm down, Zion,” he said, his voice maddeningly calm as he glanced down at my fist gripping his shirt. His smugness didn’t waver, even as his eyes flicked back up to meet mine, full of mock amusement.
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