Chapter 5

Liam shot up from the couch.

"Why are you leaving?"

I didn't answer.

Just turned and walked away.

Halfway down the hall, a hand clamped around my arm.

Liam pulled me close.

His voice was a low, angry hiss.

"Are you seriously throwing a fit right now? Because I took a shot for Sophie?"

"If I don't look out for her, these guys will get her trashed. You know how they are."

I looked him dead in the eye.

"And what about you?"

He blinked.

"What exactly do you want with her?"

A split second of blank panic flashed across his face.

My mind raced back to Freshman year.

Everyone knew Sophie's deal.

Drop-dead gorgeous.

Scholarship kid from the wrong side of the tracks.

Fresh meat.

She drew all the creeps.

Some sketchy townies cornered her after school once.

I was the one who grabbed security and saved her.

After that, I made sure she always had a ride.

My car. Liam's car.

I sat in the back with her every single day.

Talked her ear off so she wouldn't feel like a charity case.

Liam just smiled.

Barely said a word.

I thought they weren't even close.

Until Valentine's Day.

I walked into an empty hallway.

Saw Liam toss a heart-shaped box right into the trash.

Some guy had bought it for Sophie.

"Back off. She doesn't need your garbage." Liam barked.

The guy's face turned bright red.

"You're not even her boyfriend, man. Back off."

Liam stepped right into his space.

"Who says I'm not? As of today, she's mine."