My Mafia classmate

chapter 4 rumors

By morning, the whole of Blackwood Elite Academy knew.

Elara Hart is Aziel DeLuca's girl.

She heard it in the bathroom. She heard it in the hallway. She saw it in the group chats. Someone had taken a photo of them in the library, with his arm around her chair, and posted it.

She wanted to disappear.

In first period chemistry, no one sat next to her. The girls stared at her with jealousy and hate. The boys stared with curiosity.

Then the door opened. Late, as always, Aziel walked in. Every head turned. He didn't look at the teacher. He walked straight to Elara's desk, pulled the empty chair next to her, and sat down.

"What are you doing?" Elara whispered in panic. "This is not your class."

"Now it is," he said calmly, putting his bag down. "I changed my schedule. My father approved it."

The chemistry teacher, Mr. Lee, looked nervous. "Mr. DeLuca, you are supposed to be in Advanced Physics..."

"I like chemistry now," Aziel said, looking directly at Elara. "It's... interesting."

The whole class gasped.

Elara wanted to die of embarrassment. "You can't just change your schedule because of me!"

"Why not?" he said, low enough for only her to hear. "You are my tutor. I need to keep an eye on you. Some girls in this school can be mean to new girls. I won't let them touch you."

"I don't need your protection."

"Yes, you do," he said. "Whether you like it or not, you made a deal with me. You are under DeLuca protection now. That means nobody can bully you, except me."

He smiled. A real smile this time, not a cruel one. It was handsome and dangerous.

Elara felt her heart beat strangely. She hated him. She really did. So why was she not pushing him away?

After class, a senior girl named Vanessa, the queen of Blackwood, blocked her path.

"Listen, nerd," Vanessa hissed. "Aziel is mine. Stay away from him or I will destroy you like we did in middle school."

Elara's old fear came back. But before she could answer, a hand grabbed Vanessa's wrist.

It was Aziel.

"Touch her," he said in a voice so cold it made Vanessa shiver, "and I will destroy your family."

He let go and pulled Elara away, his hand holding hers tightly.

"Don't ever let them talk to you like that again," he whispered to her. "You are not that weak girl anymore. Understand?"

Elara looked up at him, shocked. For the first time, she wondered if the Mafia Classmate was actually protecting her.