The Revenge You Seek: A Dark College Bully Romance (Maddison Kings University Book 1)

by Tracy Lorraine

  "Great. Let's go," Luca forces out through clenched teeth.

  He wanted me alone. Interesting.

  The reason I never told him about my mega crush is the fact he friend-zoned me in our first few weeks of friendship by telling me how refreshing it was to have a girl wanting to be his friend and not using it as a ploy to get more.

  We were only sophomores at the time but even then, Luca was up to all sorts and the girls around us were all more than willing to bend to his needs.

  From that moment on, I couldn't tell him how I really felt. It was bad enough I even felt it when he thought our friendship was just that.

  I smile at both of them, hoping to shatter the sudden tension between the twins.

  "Be careful with these two," Colt announces from behind us as we make our way out of the lecture hall with all the others. "The stories I've heard."

  "Colt," Luca warns, turning to face him and walking backward for a few steps.

  "Don't worry," I shoot over my shoulder. "I know how to handle the Dunn twins." I wink at him as he howls with laughter.

  "You two are in so much trouble," he muses as he turns left out of the room and we go right.

  Leon takes my books from me once more and Luca threads his fingers through mine. I still for a beat. While the move isn't unusual, Luca has always been very affectionate. It only takes a second for his warmth to race up my arm and to settle the last bit of unease that's still knotting my stomach.

  "Two Americanos and a skinny vanilla latte with an extra shot. Three cupcakes with the sprinkles on top."

  I swoon at the fact Luca remembers my order. "How'd you—"

  He turns to me, his wide smile and the sparkle in his eyes making my words trail off. The familiarity of his face, the feeling of comfort and safety he brings me causes a lump to form in my throat.

  "I didn't forget anything about my best girl." He throws his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close.

  Burying my nose in his hard chest, I breathe him in. His woodsy scent mixes with his laundry detergent and it settles me in a way I didn't know I needed.

  Leon's stare burns into my back as I snuggle with his brother and I force myself to pull away so he doesn't feel like the third wheel.

  "Dunn," the server calls, and Leon rushes ahead to grab our order while Luca leads me to a booth at the back of the coffee shop.

  As we walk past each table, I become more and more aware of the attention on the twins. I know their reps, they've had their football god status since before I moved to Rosewood and met them in high school, but I had forgotten just how hero-worshiped they were, and this right now is off the charts.

  Girls openly stare, their eyes shamelessly dropping down the guys' bodies as they mentally strip them naked. Guys jealousy shines through their expressions, especially those who are here with their girlfriends who are now paying them zero attention. Then there are the girls whose attention is firmly on me. I can almost read their thoughts—hell, I heard enough of them back in high school.

  What do they see in her?

  She's not even that pretty.

  They're too good for her.

  The only difference here from high school is that no one knows I'm just trailer park trash seeing as I moved from the hellhole that is Harrow Creek before meeting the boys.

  Tipping my chin up, I straighten my spine and plaster on as much confidence as I can find.

  They can all think what they like about me, they can come up with whatever bitchy comments they want. It's no skin off my back.

  "Good to see you've lost your appeal," I mutter, dropping into the bench opposite both of them and wrapping my hands around my warm mug when Leon passes it over.

  "We walk around practically unnoticed," Luca deadpans.

  "You thought high school was bad," Leon mutters, he was always the one who hated the attention whereas Luca used it to his advantage to get whatever he wanted. "It was nothing."

  "So I see. So, how's things? Catch me up on everything," I say, needing to dive into their celebrity status lifestyles rather than thinking about my train wreck of a life.

  "Really?" Luca asks, raising a brow and causing my stomach to drop into my feet. "I think the bigger question is how come you’re here and why we had no idea about it?"

  Releasing my mug, I wrap my arms around myself and drop my eyes to the table.

  "T-things just didn't work out at Columbia," I mutter, really not wanting to talk about it.

  "The last time we talked, you said it was everything you expected it to be and more. What happened?"

  Kane fucking Legend happened.

  I shake that thought from my head like I do every time he pops up.

  He's had his time ruining my life. It's over.

  "I just…" I sigh. "I lost my way a bit, ended up dropping out and finally had to fess up and come clean to Mom."

  Leon laughs sadly. "I bet that went down well."

  The Dunn twins are well aware of what it's like to live with a pushy parent. One of the things that bonded the three of us over the years.

  "Like a lead balloon. Even worse because I dropped out months before I finally showed my face."

  "Why hide?" Leon's brows draw together as Luca stares at me with concern darkening his eyes.

  "I had some health issues. It's nothing."

  "Shit, are you okay?"

  Fucking hell, Letty. Stop making this worse for yourself.

  "Yeah, yeah. Everything is good. Honestly. I'm here and I'm ready to start over and make the best of it."

  They both smile at me, and I reach for my coffee once more, bringing the mug to my lips and taking a sip.

  "Enough about me, tell me all about the lives of two of the hottest Kings of Maddison."

  "Okay… how'd you do that?" Ella whispers after both Luca and Leon walk me to my psych class after our coffee break.

  "Do what?" I ask, following her into the room and finding ourselves seats about halfway back.

  "It's your first day and the Dunn twins just walked you to class. You got a diamond-encrusted vag or something?"

  I snort a laugh as a few others pause on their way to their seats at her words.

  "Shush," I chastise.

  "Girl, if it's true, you know all these guys need to know about it."

  I pull out my books and a couple of pens as Professor Collins sets up at the front before turning to her.

  "No, I don’t have diamonds anywhere but my necklace. I've been friends with them for years."

  "Girl, I knew there was a reason we should be friends." She winks at me. "I've been trying to get West and Brax to hook me up but they're useless."

  "You want to be friends so I can set you up with one of the Dunns?"

  "Or both." She shrugs, her face deadly serious before she leans in. "I've heard that they tag team sometimes. Can you imagine? Both of their undivided attention." She fans herself as she obviously pictures herself in the middle of a Dunn sandwich. "Oh and, I think you're pretty cool too."

  "Of course you do." I laugh.

  It's weird, I might have only met her very briefly this morning but that was enough.

  "We're all going out for dinner tonight to welcome you to the dorm. The others are dying to meet you." She smiles at me, proving that there's no bitterness behind her words.

  "I'm sorry for ignoring you all."

  "Girl, don't sweat it. We got ya back, don't worry."

  "Thank you," I mouth as the professor demands everyone's attention to begin the class.

  The time flies as I scribble my notes down as fast as I can, my hand aching all over again and before I know it, he's finished explaining our first assignment and bringing his class to a close.

  "Jesus, this semester is going to be hard," Ella muses as we both pack up.

  "At least we've got each other."

  "I like the way you think. You done for the day?"

  "Yep, I'm gonna head to the store, grab some supplies then get started on this assignment, I think."
<
br />   "I've got a couple of hours. You want company?"

  After dumping our stuff in our rooms, Ella takes me to her favorite store, and I stock up on everything I'm going to need before we head back so she can go to class.

  I make myself some lunch before being brave and setting up my laptop at the kitchen table to get started on my assignments. My time for hiding is over, it's time to get back to life and once again become a fully immersed college student.

  "Holy shit, she is alive. I thought Zayn was lying about his beautiful older sister," a deep rumbling voice says, dragging me from my research a few hours later.

  I spin and look at the two guys who have joined me.

  "Zayn would never have called me beautiful," I say as a greeting.

  "That's true. I think his actual words were: messy, pain in the ass, and my personal favorite, I'm glad I don't have to live with her again," he says, mimicking my brother's voice.

  "Now that is more like it. Hey, I'm Letty. Sorry about—"

  "You're all good. We're just glad you emerged. I'm West, this ugly motherfucker is Braxton—"

  "Brax, please," he begs. "Only my mother calls me by my full name and you are way too hot to be her."

  My cheeks heat as he runs his eyes over my curves.

  "T-thanks, I think."

  "Ignore him. He hasn’t gotten laid for weeeeks."

  "Okay, do we really need to go there right now?"

  "Always, bro. Our girl here needs to know you get pissy when you don't get the pussy."

  I laugh at their easy banter, closing down my laptop and resting forward on my elbows as they move toward the fridge.

  "Ella says we're going out," Brax says, pulling out two bottles of water and throwing one to West.

  "Apparently so."

  "She'll be here in a bit. Violet and Micah too. They were all in the same class."

  "So," West says, sliding into the chair next to me. "What do we need to know that your brother hasn’t already told us about you?"

  My heart races at all the things that not even my brother would share about my life before I drag my thoughts away from my past.

  "Uhhh…"

  "How about the Dunns love her," Ella announces as she appears in the doorway flanked by two others. Violet and Micah, I assume.

  "Um… how didn't we know this?" Brax asks.

  "Because you're not cool enough to spend any time with them, asshole," Violet barks, walking around Ella. "Ignore these assholes, they think they're something special because they're on the team but what they don't tell you is that they have no chance of making first string or talking to the likes of the Dunns."

  "Vi, girl. That stings," West says, holding his hand over his heart.

  "Yeah, get over it. Truth hurts." She smiles up at him as he pulls her into his chest and kisses the top of her head.

  "Whatever, Titch."

  "Right, well. Are we ready to go? I need tacos like… yesterday."

  "Yes. Let's go."

  "You've never had tacos like these, Letty. You are in for a world of pleasure," Brax says excitedly.

  "More than she would be if she were in your bed, that's for sure," West deadpans.

  "Lies and we all know it."

  "Whatever." Violet pushes him toward the door.

  "Hey, I'm Micah," the third guy says when I catch up to him.

  "Hey, Letty."

  "You need a sensible conversation, I'm your boy."

  "Good to know."

  Micah and I trail behind the others and with each step I take, my smile gets wider.

  Things really are going to be okay.

  3

  Kane

  "Whoa, look who decided to show their face. Classes started this morning, you know," Devin barks as I join him and the twins in their kitchen.

  "Fuck off," I grunt. "I was busy."

  "Our old man taking liberties again?"

  "Something like that," I mutter. "One for me?" I ask, nodding at the beer in Devin's hand.

  "Sure thing, man."

  He pulls one from the refrigerator and throws it over. I catch it easily and knock the top off.

  "Behind before you've even started. Not the best start to your college career, Legend."

  "Whatever, nerd." I rub my hand on Ellis's head and jump up on the counter. "So, what have I missed?"

  "They wouldn't know. Both were so fucking hungover they missed classes."

  "And you're giving me shit?" I balk at Devin and Ezra.

  "Was worth it though, right?" Ezra says, looking at Devin with a smirk.

  "Hell yeah, she was a filthy bitch."

  "Christ, I'm gonna unpack."

  I leave them behind to relive their previous night's antics and I'm not surprised to hear another set of footsteps behind me as I jog up the stairs to the bedroom I know is mine.

  "You ready for this?" Ellis asks me and when I look over my shoulder, I find him leaning back against the doorframe with his arms folded over his chest.

  "Of course, man." His brow rises suspiciously. "I earned this just as much as you did."

  "I know, I know," he says, holding his hands up in defeat. "I'm not saying you're an idiot or anything."

  "Right, so what are you saying?"

  "That you're about to piss a lot of people off."

  I can't help but laugh. "Yeah, that's half the fun. The Panthers have no clue what's about to hit them."

  "Coach is gonna be pissed you missed today."

  "Probably. He'll get over it."

  Turning away from him, I open my bag and start pulling my clothes out, ready to find homes for them.

  "How was your first day seeing as you were the only one who made it?"

  "It was good. Different."

  "Most places are, compared to Harrow Creek High," I mutter, thinking of the jungle we've all thankfully left behind.

  Ellis and Ezra have only just graduated, whereas I've been out of that shithole for over a year now after retaking my senior year.

  I should have been here a year ago, but life got in the way in the form of my brother getting a one-way ticket to juvie for a year and I had other things aside than my own future to think about.

  But a year later, and I'm ready to take Maddison Kings by storm, or more importantly, their championship winning football team.

  A smile curls at my lips as I think about the reactions I'm going to get tomorrow when I walk into the locker rooms to join the team.

  As far as I know, Coach Butler hasn't announced my impending arrival.

  I can almost picture the look on the Dunns faces in my mind and it sends a thrill shooting down my spine.

  Those fuckers walked all over the Harriers every single game we played in high school. Not to mention they took a certain golden-skinned beauty under their wing after she left Harrow Creek.

  Anger burns through me as I think about her and how we left things at that party last year. It was never my intention to let her go like I did. But the second the sirens started and the sound of everyone fleeing from the house filtered down to us, I had no choice but to run with them.

  If I knew what was going to unfold, I might have done things a little differently.

  I sigh, dropping to the end of my bed as I think about leaving Kyle behind in our home in Rosewood to follow my dream of college football.

  He's eighteen now, more than capable of looking after himself but without any other family, it's my job to worry about him.

  Thanks to his stint in juvie, he's retaking his senior year as well. He's already secured his place playing for the Rosewood Bears and has even scored vice-captain.

  I can only hope I can get my new ball career off to such a flying start. I think it might be wishful thinking.

  "You okay?" Ellis asks, startling me. I'd totally forgotten he was watching me.

  "Yeah, just worried about Kyle."

  "He'll be fine. Plus, he's got his girl with him, right?"

  "Yeah," I say with a laugh, thinking of Baby Hunter.

>   Trust my fucking brother to fall in love with the sister of the girl who's ruined my life. I know I've done plenty of bad things in my twenty years, but fuck karma, she really is a bitch.

  "He's a good kid, he'll be fine," Ellis says as if they're not the same age.

  "He is," I agree. Juvie wasn't his fault.

  Okay, so yeah, his pockets were full of blow and he was found with a drugged girl in his arms. But neither were his fault.

  My fists curl as I think of the one responsible for everything that night.

  "You want my notes from our business class earlier?"

  "You mind?" I ask, glad to have something else to think about than everything we've left behind.

  "Get yourself sorted then come find me. I can't help with the others though, you'll need some other sucker for that."

  I think about the other class that I missed today. When it became apparent that I wasn't going to make it this morning, I sent an apology email to my professors spouting some bullshit about food poisoning and my sincere apologies. I have no idea if they bought it, and I don't really give a shit, to be honest. One has replied with his presentation and information on the first assignment but I have yet to hear from the others. Probably not a good sign.

  I make quick work of putting my clothes away before dropping my books to my desk and plugging my charger in by the side of the queen-sized bed.

  The room isn't much. It's the smallest of all the ones in this house but I can't complain seeing as I don't actually have to pay for it, well not with actual money anyway.

  I glance around the small room. The walls are dark gray, the dresser, bedframe, nightstand, and small desk are all black and there's a cracked mirror in the corner, I'm hoping that the bad luck that came with that left with the room's previous resident because hell knows I've had enough bad luck to last a lifetime.

  With a notebook and a pen in hand, I leave my room behind and go in search of Ellis. He's probably the only Harris brother that deserves his place here at MKU but thanks to who their father is, both Devin and Ezra have found themselves here, along with me, although their intentions for this experience vary hugely from mine.

  I want a future. A chance.

  They're having their puppet strings pulled by their father.