The Raven King (All for the Game, #2)

by Nora Sakavic

"I distinctly remember saying I would watch your back. Give me one good reason why you'd make that difficult for me."

Who am I supposed to call?" "Nicky, Coach, the suicide hotline, I don't care." "I'm remembering why I don't like you." "I'm surprised you forgot in the first place."

Neil thought about Renee's bruised knuckles, Dan's fierce spirit, and Allison holding her ground on the court a week after Seth's death. He thought about his mother standing unflinching in the face of his father's violent anger and her ruthlessly leaving bodies in their wake. He felt compelled to say, "Some of the strongest people I've known are women."

Neil waited, but Andrew didn't let go. With so many people watching them Neil couldn't lift his shirt. He did the next best thing and dragged one of Andrew's hands under the hem. He pressed Andrew's palm to the ugly scarring across his abdomen.

"Do girls need kid-glove treatment? I thought they were tougher than that." Dan's grin was approving. "Most of us are. Some of us are like boys, though, and have delicate egos." "Hey," Matt protested.

He was their family. They were his. They were worth every cut and bruise and scream.