The Bad Wolf Read Online Free PDF Page B

Adams jerked Chloe aside to examine her. With what could only be described as an amused sneer, she thrust a hall pass into the girl’s trembling hand. “Go clean up and don’t bother returning if you plan on disrupting class again.”
    Paste hung in clumps and looked like someone had blown snot on the back of her head. Thick tendrils dripped onto the shoulders of her shirt then trickled down her back.
    Ryan didn’t realize he had stood up until Ms. Adams turned to glare at him. “Since you’re so concerned, why don’t you go to the lost and found to find her a clean shirt?”
    The teacher spoke in a somewhat mocking tone. Maybe she still held a grudge over the fight he and her son Josh had gotten into last summer. He’d broken Josh’s arm and had spent the first semester of this year in alternative education classes.
    “Damn it.” His curse caused the boys at his table to fall into a fit of giggles. He thrust his mask into Gary’s hand. “Make sure nothing happens to it.”
    Travis continued to laugh and his eyes sparked with malicious humor.
    In a snarling voice that would send shudders up anyone else’s spine, Ryan said, “I told you to leave her alone.”
    Travis grinned up at him, but there was a wary look to his gaze now. He probably was afraid Ryan would punch him. He said, “How sweet of you to protect the outsider.”
    “Maybe she’ll let you help get her shirt off,” Josh laughed. The rest of the classroom burst into wild laughter, but he ignored it as he pushed through the door in search of Chloe.
    He found the bedraggled girl outside, just around the corner of the building. Her back was pressed against the bricks and her face was hidden behind trembling hands. “Why does everyone hate me?”
    Her hair looked like a failed attempt at dreadlocks. If she hadn’t been so upset, it might have been hilarious. Who was he kidding? It was still comical in a black, sadistic way. At least he thought so until she removed her hands from her face. The grin twisting his lips immediately died.
    Chloe’s eyes were red and puffy from crying. Her face was blotchy and her bottom lip quivered. She looked as though she might break into more tears any second.
    “Just leave me alone, okay?”
    Ryan sighed. He’d love to walk away from this. Instead, he dug his car keys out of his pocket then gripped her arm. “Come with me.”
    “Wait!” Fear radiated from her brown eyes. She didn’t trust him and he supposed he hadn’t given her much reason to at this point.
    He showed her the keys. “I’ll drive you home.”
    She shrank away from him. Her eyes stared at his outstretched hand as though she expected him to strike her. She even cringed when he grasped her arm.
    “You want to go back to class like that?” He realized his grip might be a little rough so he let go.
    “No,” Chloe hung her head .
    “Then come on,” he said in a gruff, inpatient voice. Crying females were not something he liked to deal with. It made him feel absolutely useless.
    She locked her legs and gazed up at him with wide, worried eyes.
    His patience had begun to ebb away. “What?”
    Chloe blinked rapidly and looked anywhere but at him. “I don’t trust you.”
    “Suit yourself. School’s out in about thirty minutes anyway.” He narrowed his eyes on her. When she clapped her hand over her mouth to silence a sob, he said, “Can’t you just call your parents?”
    She shook her head. “Mom’s in Fort Collins and won’t be back until after track practice.”
    Ryan shoved his hands into his pockets. He didn’t know how to make her feel better or cease her crying. And man, did he wish she’d stop.
    He led her through the parking lot to his Jeep. When she realized he had led her to his car, she stiffened. “ Won’t I get in trouble for leaving?”
    She looked concerned and he suspected she wasn’t as worried about leaving as much as leaving with him. He unlocked the door then cast a sideways glance at her. “Sometimes you