“What the hell?”

“Let’s get one thing straight,” he snarls, cornering me until my spine meets a row of coats. “Your whore mother marrying my father changes nothing between us.”

I almost want to laugh, because I don’t like this new arrangement any more than he does.

However, it’s comical just how much it’s ruffling his feathers.

“Awe, what’s the matter, Trenton?” I taunt. “Afraid I’ll—”

Words die in my throat when one hand slams across my mouth and the other one hovers over my throat, threatening to squeeze. “I’m not afraid of anything, Stray.”

He utters the last word with so much venom I nearly wince. Out of all the cruel nicknames Knox has given me over the years, this one hurts the most.

Because it’s the truth.

Ever since my dad died, I've felt lost and abandoned.

Like a kitten who lost its way and will never find home because they don’t belong anywhere.

He leans in close, his ruthless stare burning a hole right through me. “But you should be.”

A shiver runs down my spine, not only because of his threatening words and the hostility they’re laced with…but the lethal way he’s looking at me.

As if he’s contemplating the best method to kill me and dispose of my body afterward.

I’ve heard all the rumors going around school.

His mom was murdered when he was thirteen…

And his dad sent him to a mental institution for a year while he covered it up.

Because Knox was the one who did it.

People weren’t terrified of him just because he was a bully who got off on terrorizing others.

They were terrified because he was a legitimate psychopath who was capable of homicide.

Until now, I wasn’t sure I believed any of the gossip.

At six foot three he towers over my five-four frame, but I force myself to peer up and look him right in the eyes. “Go to hell.”

Deep down I’m petrified of the lunatic, but I refuse to let him see that.

My breath hitches when he presses his body against mine and the hand looming over my throat constricts. “I live there.”

Live? More like ruled because as far as I’m concerned, he’s the devil.

My retort falls by the wayside, though, when he leans in and his mouth brushes mine.

I’m about to ask what the fuck he’s doing, but a sharp sting shoots through my flesh when his teeth clamp down on my bottom lip and I taste a hint of copper.

I try to pull away, but that only makes the pain worse.

Thinking quick, I knee him in the balls.

With an aggravated grunt, he finally releases his hold.

I expect him to be pissed so I brace myself, preparing for another attack, but to my surprise there’s a trace of amusement in his expression.