Wreck Me (Corrupt Legacy Series #2)

In my bedroom, I button up my white shirt and slide my arms into the uniform jacket. Dabbing my red lipstick on, I check my appearance one more time in the mirror. The school’s crest, a golden eagle, is embroidered on my black jacket, the pleated black skirt is just above my knees, and white tights complement the look required of me. My mannerisms, my speech, and my appearance have to be perfect. That has been instilled in me since I can remember. Nothing can slip through my well-crafted facade.

Senior year at Eagleton School. I got this.

Closing my door, I pluck an apple from the basket on the kitchen counter.

“What about a regular breakfast?” Bailey asks.

I offer her a small smile. The first day of school always makes me jittery. It’s all the stares I get, the pressure of having to look perfect. I love my friend for her concern, but I can’t seem to stop. When I am nervous, it makes my stomach so queasy that I can’t put a thing in me. Or in general. I shove that thought right away. It’s not helpful.

The campus brims with students getting ready for the first day, infusing life into the gray, almost gothic-looking place.

Every step reminds me I am being watched and that I have to be careful not to gather any more attention.

Kaden leans against the hallway wall, hands tucked in his pants, while Blake tries to cheer him up. He wears his pain like a badge of honor behind a cold exterior.

I approach him and adjust Kaden’s tie.

“Thank you.”

What he doesn’t say rings louder. He doesn’t care about appearances, but I do.

Side by side, we stroll toward the school building in a four-person formation, presenting our unshakable unity while everyone steals glances at us.

I wrap my arm around Kaden’s elbow. “We got this.”

The Family crest is engraved on the black hardwood door at the school’s entrance: an eagle with spread wings, its claws holding a globe. This is ironic to me because all they have done is clip our wings.

An engine roars, pulling me out of my thoughts. I whip my head to where the sound came from. All four of us watch as a car speeds through the gates. Tires screech on the pavement before the car comes to an abrupt halt.

“Nice car,” Blake says, looking appreciatively at the green Mustang.

I roll my eyes. Surely, behind the wheel is someone who seeks attention, while I would do anything to relinquish it.

The door opens, and a collective gasp follows.

Like in slow motion, he gets out, revealing himself.

My curiosity piques at the new student. First, I see his white sneakers. My eyes involuntarily travel up to those powerful legs and trim waist beneath the school uniform. The top button on his shirt is undone, showing a patch of toned chest. His presence reeks of a rebel. Yet, I can’t stop perusing him. Then my eyes lock on his face, and I expel a stuttering breath.

His features are chiseled and sculpted to perfection. From his defined lips to his straight nose, every feature is gorgeous. There’s a certain air surrounding him. He oozes that “I don’t give a fuck” bad boy attitude. I’d like to be unimpressed, but I am slightly jealous of him. To be carefree and not give a damn about rules must be liberating.

He wears sunglasses, and he smirks, loving the attention. He sweeps his shaded eyes around, and I feel them land on me. Even from a distance, I can see a line digging between his brows.

For a moment, time suspends as something shifts and realigns inside of me, some invisible cord tethering me to him. What a surreal experience.

He yanks his sunglasses off and my heart dips and flips, behaving so out of the ordinary. His brown eyes suck me in. Their intensity sends ripples of shock through my body.

Suddenly, it’s too much, too fast. I avert my gaze, getting myself quickly under control.

He screams trouble. He’s late and flashy, and I dislike him tremendously. I sense with every fiber of my being that I should stay away from him. And I will.

“Abi,” Blake says my name in an amused tone.

“Yes? What?”

“Put your tongue back in.”

I glare at Blake, and it’s Bailey who says, “He’s a new student. His name is Dane Donovan, and he’s a prodigy race car driver.”