Chapter 2 He Forced Me to My Knees

The second he said that, my blood ran cold. "What did you just say? Mr. Hanson handed that folder directly to you!"

Leo let out a mocking laugh, a nasty smirk tugging at his lips. "That folder has everyone's admission slips in it. Do you really think I'd carry something that important around with me? I didn't want to lose it, so I locked it in the safe at my family's apartment across from school."

He leaned in closer, clearly enjoying the way the color drained from my face. "And I'm the only person who knows the combination. So, search me all you want. It won't do you any good."

My mind went blank.

The apartment was more than a mile from the tattoo shop. We still had to get there, open the safe, grab the folder, and somehow make it back to the exam center.

There was no way we had enough time.

"Leo, please." Before I even realized what I was doing, I dropped to my knees in front of him.

At that moment, I didn't care about my pride anymore.

I grovelled until my forehead nearly touched the floor. "I'm begging you, please open up the safe. Everyone has spent years working toward this. You can't destroy their shot at college over something like this!"

Sweat trickled down my face, and my scraped palm was still bleeding.

The two guys who had come with me were just as desperate.

"Leo, whatever beef you have with Kai, deal with it after the test," one of them pleaded. "Please, just get us the tickets."

Leo stared down at me.

Instead of showing even the slightest bit of guilt, he looked thrilled.

He pulled out his phone and started taking pictures of me on my knees, one after another.

Only after he'd taken enough did he finally let out a sigh. "Okay, then. Since you're willing to humiliate yourself like this, I'll help you guys out."

He turned to the tattoo artist. "Hold off on the legs. I'll go with them."

My head snapped up.

For the first time, it felt like we actually had a chance.

I jumped to my feet without even bothering to wipe the blood from my hand and reached for him. "Come on! If we get a taxi right now, we can still make it!"

Leo had barely gotten to his feet when he suddenly sucked in a sharp breath and dropped right back into the chair.

"Nope." He slapped a hand against his freshly tattooed calf. "Can't do it. They just finished the base color. If I pull my jeans over this now, it'll ruin the whole thing."

He gestured toward the protective wrap over his leg. "The artist said I need to leave it alone for at least thirty minutes."

Then, he spread his hands in an innocent shrug. "I guess I can't walk now."

I looked at the clock, realizing we only had twenty minutes left.

By then, I was certain he was doing it on purpose.

"Leo! What the hell do you want from us?" My voice cracked as I yelled. "Are you seriously going to ruin forty-two people's futures just because you can?"

Leo dug a finger into his ear as if my shouting was nothing more than an annoyance. "God, would you quit screaming?"

He rolled his eyes, then looked at me as though he'd just come up with a perfectly reasonable solution. "Fine. I'll go get the folder, but I can't walk."

He pointed at me. "You carry me, Kai."

Then, he pointed at the two guys behind me. "And you two, hold my legs up. One on each side. Keep them perfectly level. If you mess up my new tattoos, none of you can afford to pay me back."

The tattoo shop went dead silent.

The two guys behind me were shaking with rage, their fists clenched tight. "Leo, you've got to be kidding me!"

Leo gave a cold snort and picked up his phone again. "You don't want to carry me? Fine. Then I'll stay here and finish my tattoos. I don't need the SATs that badly anyway."

He glanced at us with a smug look. "You're the ones running out of time."

"I'll carry you!" I forced the words out through clenched teeth. I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, then turned around and crouched in front of him.

Every muscle in my body was throbbing with humiliation and rage. "Get on."