Lovely.

I opened my mouth. I had no idea what I was going to say, but Mason’s hand rested over my arm. He pressed it down. I’d been lifting it, but I hadn’t even known. Sebastian saw that gesture, too.

He laughed now. “Maybe I should feel sorry for the two of you.” He looked at Logan and back to me. His gaze stayed on me, falling to my mouth. His eyes narrowed, lingering there. “Neither of you really matter. I mean, it’s all about Mason, isn’t it? He’s the star wide receiver. You two came here, following him. And what for?” He pointed to my arm where Mason was still touching me. “To be told what to do by him? My, my. That must be so much fun for you both.”

His sarcasm was evident.

I gritted my teeth.

Mason shook his head. “It won’t work.”

“What won’t?”

“We’re not normal,” Mason continued. He was calm now. He was in control.

Sebastian didn’t like that. I could tell as his mouth pressed into a thin line, the ends stretching tight.

Mason continued, “You can’t try to bait them to see what they might say back to you. That’s what you’re doing—pressing some buttons that maybe others have. But it’s not true. I don’t tell Sam what to do. My brother isn’t jealous of me. You’re looking for a reaction because you’ll know that’s a weakness we have in our family, but you’re underestimating the bond we share.”

“What? You mean, you aren’t a dictator? You don’t control your girlfriend?”

I wanted to defend myself, but I wanted to defend Mason, too. His hold was keeping me contained—for now.

Logan started laughing. All attention went to him, and he was shaking his head. He pointed at Mason and to Sebastian, still laughing. “Honestly, have you not done your homework? Do you not know anything about us? If anything, Mason’s jealous of me. Sorry, Sam.” Logan flashed me a grin, but it was strained, too. He wasn’t completely enjoying this, even though he sounded like it. “I love her. We’re family, but my brother’s going to enjoy only that one vagina for the rest of his life.”

“Logan!” I snapped. “You want to piss me off, too?”

He waved at me, dismissing me. “See? You hear that? She’s so uptight just because I mentioned her vagina. I’m sure it’s amazing, Sam, but you have to give some sympathy to Mason. It’s like he’s in pussy prison. Everyone knows the two of you are going to get married, and he’s in the prime of his life. He should be partaking in ass morning, noon, and night with a couple of afternoon delights, if you know what I mean.”

“Logan,” Mason murmured, “if you could get to the point.”

“The point is pussy prison.” He swung his head to Sebastian, and his grin widened. “My brother’s wrong.”

Sebastian’s shoulders lifted and rolled back. He was getting ready for something.

Logan kept going as he brought one arm across his chest, stretching his shoulder. “I don’t think you’re here to throw bait at us, see what we bite on, and find a weakness in us. I think you came here, knowing where Sam’s first class was, and you wanted to threaten her, maybe see if we’d be here, too, maybe see what might happen after that.” He gestured to the onlookers who only doubled in numbers. “There are a lot of witnesses. No one can have a go at you…” His voice trailed off for a moment.

I frowned.

Sebastian shifted onto his heels.

Logan continued, “I don’t think you’re here for anything in particular. I think you just showed up to see what would happen, and you’re safe. No one can hurt anyone.” Anyone was code for, No one could hurt Sebastian. “Maybe that’s why you’re alone. Maybe you didn’t want one of your guys taking a swing at us. Payback.”

Payback?

Logan shrugged. Somehow, as he did so, he was a step closer to Sebastian. “All I know is that you’ve got something planned, but here’s my warning to you. Don’t do whatever you’re thinking. Walk away. It can end today, but if it doesn’t, if you do whatever you’re planning on doing, things will end badly for you. Two words—pussy prison. That’s where you’re going to end up—in prison—and you’re going to be someone’s pussy. That’s the only ending I foresee for you unless you listen to me right here and now. End whatever you’re planning.”

Prison…

A shiver went down my back. I hadn’t thought it would get that ugly, but Logan was right. There had been an attempted hit-and-run. A house was burned down. And those had been the opening acts.

Shit got real.

I sucked in my breath. My hand flattened against my stomach—no, that was Mason’s arm. I moved closer to him, edging forward, as Logan was talking. Mason held me back.

I moved back a step, and he glanced down at me. There was a question in his depths. Was I okay?

I nodded, feeling my pulse skyrocket, as Logan’s voice kept repeating, “Prison,” in my mind.

“You think that’s where this is going?”

Logan craned his head to the side. “We’ve been on campus for two days, and both days, we’ve run into you. I don’t think it’s a coincidence, and I think you’re stupid to pretend that they were.”

“What are you saying?”

“Nothing.” Logan looked around to the crowd. “Just telling you that we have no delusions where this is going and that we’re not underestimating you.” He glanced to Mason. “Though, I agree with my brother. I think you’re underestimating us.”

Logan is stalling.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. So was Mason. That was why his anger subsided. They were waiting for something. I studied Sebastian, and I noticed he was, too. No one was making a move against the other. The crowd grew more restless. They were like me, waiting for the fun to happen—not that it was fun. If this was a preview of what was to come throughout my entire freshman year, this was going to give me a heart attack by the end of the year.

“Okay.” Summer stepped forward, standing between Logan and Sebastian. “I don’t really know what’s going on or even who this dude is.” She jerked a thumb at Sebastian. “But I can tell that nothing’s going to happen. Whatever pissing show this confrontation was supposed to fulfill, it has to stop. If you all keep talking, someone will eventually snap—oh…” Her eyes got big.