Grey glanced over his shoulder. At the other end of the long room, the repellant Alaric Konig and his minions, Lachlan McCoy and that redheaded douchebag Martin Stromberg, rounded on a sophomore. Grey couldn’t remember the sophomore’s name, but then again, Grey didn’t want to remember his name.

“Nice uniform,” Alaric said, his blond hair carefully styled in a strange wave on his head. “I’m pretty sure that’s the one I donated to Goodwill last year.”

Martin snickered. “Yeah. And those shoes are the ones I donated.”

Nice one, Martin. Real original.

“Leave me alone,” the sophomore boy said. “I’m just trying to study.”

“Right, because otherwise they’ll take your scholarship away.” Alaric walked closer to the sophomore’s table and flipped his book shut. “Uh-oh. How’re you going to study now?”

Grey groaned softly. He didn’t have to get involved; he knew that. But letting those assholes get away with this would really annoy him. He sighed and rose from the table, walking over just as the sophomore got up from his chair, puffing up his chest, strutting with a wannabe alpha-male swagger.

Grey rolled his eyes. Yeah, kid. Like your skinny ass could take on those two. Still, you had to admire that kind of spirit.

He felt the tone of the room shift as he walked closer and the four students noticed his presence. Grey had that kind of effect—because he was 6'4" and 220 pounds of muscle, most dudes didn’t want to mess with him. They could tell he could handle himself. And if you found him on your side, well, you tended to feel a whole lot better about your situation.

“What do you want?” Alaric asked, but Grey saw his eyes touch on Lachlan and Martin, reassuring himself that there were three of them.

“See that book over there?” Grey said, pointing back to his table. “I really want to get back to it. So if you could leave this kid alone and just mosey on out of here, I’d really appreciate it. Don’t you have some hair product or other to buy?”

“Think you’re funny?” Alaric asked, tossing his head so his gelled hair bounced a tad. “This doesn’t concern you, okay? I’m talking to Scholarship Boy here.”

Wide-eyed, the sophomore was watching them like they were on TV.

“See, now that’s the kind of thing I need you to stop,” Grey said, stepping closer. He smiled a little, but his eyes were cold, remote.

Alaric pulled himself to his full height, which was still three inches shorter than Grey. Even counting his hair. Grey Emerson wasn’t the least bit worried. He was, however, getting pretty irritated.

Jaya