“Then we keep her, I guess.” Beretta’s grin is wide, teasing. “But so far, the only one we’d consider isn’t up for grabs.” He laughs, and both their eyes lift to Ransom’s as they climb from the table, and only a second before the bell rings. “And by the looks of it, that girl is in trouble.”

I frown and they smile wider, both walking away.

I glide forward on the seat, pushing to my feet as I grab my bag, but when I turn to Ransom, and he hasn’t moved, I pause.

A deep glower stains his forehead and his eyes pin mine.

“What?”

He licks his lips, looking off a moment and back in the next.

“If you think I’ll be fucking anyone who isn’t you, you’re wrong.” He rises to his feet, placing himself in front of me, his hand burying in my hair, right here in the middle of the dining hall, without a care. Without pause, though there is a slight shake to his hands.

My stomach flips, a strange tingling sensation spreading along my face.

He kisses me, and not gently either, but short and harshly, and when he pulls back, he adds simply, “And if you think you will be, you’re very fucking wrong.”

I don’t know what my face looks like, but he laughs, wraps his arm around my shoulder and leads us to cooking class.

At my seat, he nudges my knees apart, stepping between them with his hands in my hair.

His eyes tighten suddenly, falling to the floor. “What are you doing after school?”

I shrug and say, “Nothing.”

“I want to take you with me.”

Suspicious, my mouth curls into a grin. “Where to?”

He licks his lips, his gaze snaps to mine. “To see my sister.”

I freeze, my throat growing thick.

“What?” My question is nearly inaudible.

Ransom stands tall, waiting, but all I can manage is a nod, and slowly, he nods back.

He turns and walks away, but he doesn’t go back to his seat.

He slips out the door.

The others watch him go, both making their way to me, scowls in place.

“He wants me to go with him after school,” I share, slightly panicked. “To see his sister.”

Shock wrinkles their foreheads, but it’s quickly followed by soft smiles.

Beretta taps on the desk. “In case you were wondering, that’s fucking huge.”

My brows cave and they chuckle.

Class begins, but I can’t focus, forcing Arsen to carry us today.

All I can think about is Ransom and what this means.

Stepping inside the tall white building, we’re greeted by a middle-aged woman who must recognize Ransom.

Her eyes soften, and she sets a small clipboard down in front of us.

Ransom grabs a pen and the woman looks to me.

“Hi, can I help you?” She smiles welcomingly.

I stiffen and Ransom's eyes snap up.