9

Alexander
Nik clears his throat as we leave our last class of the day.
“What is it?” I ask, glaring at him. It’s so obvious when he wants to say something but doesn’t have the balls to bring it up.
“Is it true?”
I know exactly what he’s talking about. The rumor already spreading faster than wildfire that I’m dating Natalya Gurin. “Is what true?”
“You and Gurin,” he clarifies.
I smirk at him. “We’re not dating, she’s just my little pet,” I reply, shaking my head. “Do you really think I’d date her?”
He shrugs noncommittally as we walk toward our lockers. “I never know what you’re going to do, Alexander.”
I laugh at that as I find my locker and open it, shoving my books inside.
“It’s just weird that you kissed her, is all,” Nik muses.
I clench my jaw and glare at him. “Weird? Are you questioning me, Krushev?”
He shakes his head, holding his hands up in surrender. “No, I just reckoned you hated her.”
“I do.”
“Then why would you kiss her?” he asks.
“Because I can, and it shows how much power I have over her. She can’t do anything about it.”
He nods, brow furrowed slightly as if he still doesn’t get it. I don’t need to explain myself to him.
“On another note,” he says, leaning against the locker beside mine. “What are we going to do about Rizzo? Damien told me what happened in torture with Luigi.”
Fuck’s sake.
Damien could have kept his mouth shut, but I know it would have gotten out eventually. I crack my neck. If someone disrespects me like that, I’m expected to teach them a lesson. After all, I wasn’t given the crown for being a fucking pussy who allows others to walk over me.
However, there’s something different about Rizzo. On this occasion, I’m not sure it’s wise to make an enemy of him for it. Rizzo is tough. I saw it in his eyes when I hit him. Someone like him is better as an ally than an enemy.
“Nothing other than befriend him.” I shrug when Nik looks at me like I’ve just told him I’m going to shoot up the entire fucking cafeteria with an AK47. “He didn’t snitch and I respect the kid. He can take a hit.”
“You’re really causing a stir for the first week back, aren’t you?” he asks.
Rosa approaches us, smiling. “Hey babe,” she says, wrapping her arms around Nikolai’s neck and pulling him in for a kiss.
He kisses her back, but then pushes her to one side. “Hey, can’t you see we’re in the middle of a conversation?”
A flash of hurt enters her eyes, but she’s fucking asking for it being with Nikolai. Their relationship is the most toxic one at SA. He’s never treated her right for the four years they’ve been dating, and yet she constantly crawls back to him, clearly insecure.
“Yeah,” she says, bowing her head. “I’m sorry.”
Pathetic.
“Shall I leave you two alone?” I ask, glancing between them. “After all, I’ve got a Bianchi to hunt down.”
“Nah, I’ve got to see this.” Nik shoots Rosa an irritated glare. “I’ll see you later.”
That’s his way of saying he doesn’t want her to tag along, oblivious to the tears in her eyes. I’m not sure why he dates her to be honest, as half the time it’s as if she pisses him off just by being herself. Rosa isn’t that bad, although her overly happy attitude can be a drag at times. Once we’re out of earshot, he groans.
“That girl is doing my head in.”
“Why don’t you just call it off, then?”
He raises a brow. “And give up the fucking amazing blow jobs she gives me? Nah, I’ll put up with her shit just for that.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “You can be a real ass, Nik.”
“Yeah, what’s your point?”
I roll my eyes and continue down the corridor, as I know I can’t really talk. After all, I’ve treated girls just as badly as Nik, if not worse. Forcing Natalya onto her knees to suck my dick might have been the worst of them all, to be honest. And yet it was the most satisfying experience of my life, watching her eye dilate as she took every inch into the back of her throat.
I shift my tightening pants and turn the corner toward the gym, where Bianchi seems to spend a lot of time hanging out. Up to now, he’s proved to be a bit of a loner who loves to keep to himself. That will all change from today, as I could use a kid like him on my side.
The gym is empty except for Bianchi, who is shooting hoops on the far side. I lean against the wall and watch, while Nik follows my lead. He’s like a shadow at times and it can get annoying, but I ignore him and push off the wall, clapping as Rizzo makes his second shot since we walked in and scores again.
He turns around the moment he hears me clapping and his eyes narrow. “What do you want?” he asks.
I approach him, raising an eyebrow. “To thank you for not being a fucking snitch to Luigi.”
He just gives me a nod and grabs his ball off the floor, tucking it under his arm. “No problem, I’m not a snitch.”
“Right, well, I thought you might want to hang out with us tonight at the ruins. A few of us are having some beers.”
He tilts his head and glares at me warily. “I thought you were here to try to beat me up again.” His eyes dart to Nik, who is still resting against the wall, watching.
I hold a hand out to him. “Truce?”
There’s a few moments of silence until he nods and takes my hand, shaking it firmly. “Truce.”
I smile and nod Nik over. “This is Nik. He can be an asshole most of the time, but he’s alright when you get to know him.”
Rizzo nods at him. “Cool, so how long have you been attending this shithole?”
I chuckle at that. “Since I was thirteen. I was moved from Mexico suddenly and sent here by my father.”
Rizzo’s jaw clenches. “I know the feeling. My father just shipped us over from Italy.”
Nik sighs. “I’ve been here since I was eight years old. Count yourself lucky.” He glares at Rizzo. “Especially you, you only have less than a full year to endure.”
I meet Rizzo’s gaze. “At least you can speak English. My English was shit when I arrived.”
Nik nods. “It was pretty fucking awful, and yet somehow you put yourself on top from day one.”
I shrug. “Mexican stubbornness, I guess. I would not be bossed around by gringos.”
Rizzo laughs at that. “Fair enough. Any tips?”
I put my arm over his shoulder. “Yeah, stay with us and you’ll be fine.”
The kid tenses a little but is quick to relax, nodding. “Sure thing.”
I remove my arm from him and nudge him in the ribs. “I’m starving.”
“Me too,” Nik says, running a hand across the back of his neck. “Let’s head to dinner.”
Rizzo glances at the basketball on the floor as if wondering whether to abandon his workout for food.
“You going to come, Bianchi?” I ask.
“Sure.” He grabs his rucksack off the floor and shoulders it. “Lead the way.”
I feel satisfied that it was so easy to get Rizzo Bianchi onto my side, as I need guys like him on my team.
After all, there are always assholes trying to claim the crown from me.
Boys who think they’re men, challenging me and my place at the top. Rizzo is the first kid who I wouldn’t have bet against actually succeeding, so best to have him on my side.