Trapped By My Possessive Adoptive Brother

years

etic fields of Blackwood Academy, tearing dry, brown leaves fro

primary uniform-a thicker wool skirt and a heavy navy blazer. Her bright blonde hair

dug the toe of her expensive leather shoe into the dirt, kickin

ok resting on his knees and a high-end fountain pen in his hand. The cold metal of the pen pressed firmly against his skin. His long fingers flew across the pages with terrifying speed, filling in

d at him. The resentment burned

had asked to go to a sleepover at a classmate's house. Hartley had vetoed it instantly, telling their father that the clas

her. She hated him. She hated

nley pulled her leg back and kicked

predictable arc, caught by a sudden gust of wind. It sailed far past

ac

of stone hitting flesh ec

the metal ladder, let out a high-pitched scream. He clutched his forehea

cold shock of panic. Her hands flew to her mouth. S

sty, angry red welt was already swelling above his left eyebro

head!" Ricky screamed, s

against her ribs. "I didn't throw it! I kicked it,

heavier. He lunged forward and shoved her hard in the chest with both hands. "Sorry d

d. She barely kept her balance. The fear vanished, replaced instantly by her expl

push me!" she yelled back, stepp

pierced through his i

His eyes locked onto the scene: Ricky's hands

is fountain pen with a sharp click, letting it drop onto the metal bleacher. He s

up the distance across the grass with terrifying speed

lank, intense look in his gray-blue eyes made Ricky's bravado f

e didn't look at Ricky. He turned his ba

brother was here. He was going to destroy Ricky for pushing her.

voice was a low, vibrating growl. It was

him, her brain struggling to process the tone. H

d, her bottom lip trembling. "He

t Ricky. The look was so empty, so devoid of

nds on her?" Har

rting around for a teacher. "She.

back at Ricky. "She hit you. She will be punished for that. But you pushed her. I will re

rrified the eight-year-old boy. Ricky turned and ran toward t

t the tension between Hartley and

pounding with the sickening terror of what could have happened if that rock had hit her instead, or if Ricky had pushed her ha

ommanding. "You will copy the entire 'Safety and Conduct' section

e a physical knife twisting in her gut. He wasn

She didn't wipe them away. She glared up at him, h

rds tearing out of her throat with ra

g wildly behind her, leaving Hartley standing alone in the cold wind, his hands shoved