Phoenix Read Online Free PDF Page A

as he
    collapsed against the wall. Riley backed off, wiping a trickle
    of blood from his lips and panting hard. They stared each
    other down for a few tense moments, ignoring the chants of
    fight fight fight! from around them. It all melded into Riley’s
    heartbeat after a second.
    Dominic yelled, probably a curse but it was so incoherent,
    and sprang up off the wall, pushing Riley into the opposite
    side of the hall, slamming him into a door. He grunted and
    arched his back as a doorknob nailed him in the back but he
    breathed around the pain and punched Dominic square in
    the nose to get him off him.
    Dominic fell back onto the ground, clutching his nose in
    defeat. Riley stood shakily, wincing at the shock of pain that
    licked up his back, but he was sickly pleased when blood
    started seeping from between Dominic’s fingers. He hated
    losing his temper, but liked it when people got what they
    deserved.
    Dominic tried to stand but stumbled into a wall, knocking
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    his head hard on the corner. There was a collective oooh
    sound from bystanders, but despite a slight flicker of
    concern, he didn’t pay any attention. Dominic collapsed on
    their center, pawing at his shirt gracelessly and smearing
    blood all over it. The guy made a face of disgust and
    shrugged him off to the wide receiver, who looked
    bewildered and lost as to what to do with him.
    “Fucking deserved it,” he spat, turning and beginning to
    push his way through the congregation, most of whom were
    so shocked they didn’t move or speak at all. They were too
    busy staring at Dominic kneeling on the floor and stumbling
    all over his team like the loser that he was.
    Their fallen fucking hero, Riley thought bitterly.
    He wasn’t watching where he was walking at all, as
    seemed to be a trend today, and slammed hard into someone
    else, a full-body slam where their chests connected and not
    their shoulders. The momentum knocked the other man flat
    on his ass with a surprised grunt. Riley he stumbled back,
    looking down at the ground, where his unfortunate collision
    partner was currently sitting.
    A dark-haired man was scrambling to get up off the floor,
    and bright blue eyes nailed him with a curious, open
    expression. Riley raised his eyebrows and asked, “Are you
    all right?”
    The man laughed good-naturedly and nodded. “Yeah, I
    take tumbles like that all the time, no big deal,” he replied
    with a nod, but then his eyebrows rose as his eyes roved
    over his face. “Are you okay, is the question?”
    Riley laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck
    with his unhurt hand. “Yeah, I’m good. Just got in a fight is
    all,” he explained.
    “Well, way to go! Would hate to see what the other guy
    looks like,” the man said, nudging him with his hand
    playfully before clearing his throat and holding it out rather
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    more professionally than before. “I’m Devon, by the way.”
    Riley gave a dimpled smile and took the offered hand in a
    firm grip, replying simply, “Riley.”
    “Nice to meet you, Riley,” Devon said with a nod, a grin
    spreading across his face as he took his hand back and
    rocked back on his heels. “So, um, I’m new here.”
    “Oh, are you? Well, welcome,” Riley said in a
    good-natured tone. “So are you looking for somewhere in
    particular and that’s why you said that?”
    Devon laughed sheepishly and nodded in thanks. “You
    are very perceptive. Yes, I am so fucking lost. I don’t know
    what building ASP is, and I’ve been wandering buildings for
    like half an hour trying to find this fucking classroom,” he
    explained.
    Riley smirked. “Well, for one, you’re definitely in the
    wrong building. For two, that building is all the way across
    campus, so if you have class in any less than ten minutes,
    you’re fucked,” he explained.
    “It’s fine, my class started half an hour ago, I’m already
    late as shit,” Devon laughed, running his hand through his
    wild hair.