Chapter 16
Casey
God, I was so nervous. Tonight was our scouting mission to La Maison Rouge, and I was having a hard time keeping still.
All morning during class, I fidgeted, played all day with my pencil, and tapped my heel repeatedly on my chair leg.
By the time lunch came around, I was so on edge that when Lee went to grab my tray of food, I noted that he held a white milk rather than chocolate.
Winking at me from the seat he took at my side, he slid the tray my way and took a long sip of his soda.
On my left, Vail was quietly talking with Haldon, who was sitting on his other side.
While across from us, Shaw, who was barely eating anything and was repeatedly scanning the room, was watchful of every person that walked in and out.
More often than not, he looked to the Jackals table, wary of Hunter.
With Vail being back in school, that meant Hunter’s suspension was over, too.
And all day, he’d been watching us all with narrowed eyes, occasionally casting me looks of pure loathing.
I had been wondering what he’d heard from last week?
Gossip spread like wildfire in this school, and by now, I was thinking most of the student body was aware of my situation with the boys.
It was all I heard when I walked into the building this morning, followed by the catcalls, mostly from girls, calling me a whore, groupie, and gangbanger.
“Babe, chill.” Lee slid a hand up my back and massaged the nape of my neck.
“I’m just a little nervous,” I murmured, knowing that honesty was always the best way to go. They could all read me like a book, so there was no point in denying that my nerves were getting the better of me.
“Oh yeah? I couldn’t tell. I honestly thought you were practicing playing the drums.” He chuckled, and I rolled my eyes at him.
“It’ll be fine, Casey. Just do what we say, don’t draw attention to yourself, and if Shaw can work his magic, then we’ll know for sure about the missing girls tonight.
Once we have proof, the Spades will figure out how to move forward. ”
“I still think that Nylah’s dad-”
“I know, but keep in mind, he’s just one man. That’s not enough to make a difference. Most of the force is corrupt, so we have to be careful about who we turn to.”
I knew what he was saying, and I hated it. Even with that smaller MC helping us, It still wasn’t enough to take on the Beasts and the Faceless.
Down the table, I could see Meredith worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.
She was hardly eating, choosing instead to play with her food and not saying a word to anyone.
I knew she felt terrible for stepping down, but I couldn’t blame her.
She had a little girl, and with Haldon being so involved in this case, what if something happened to both of them, and it left Amelie parentless?
It made more sense that I went in her stead.
I just wished she didn’t look so guilty about it.
Shaw reacted suddenly, lurching up from the table, his hand flying beneath his hoodie, and his sparkling blue eyes were locked on to the cafeteria entrance.
There was a small commotion from the double doors leading in, and the rest of us twisted in our seats, ready to spring into action, but all I could see were a couple I didn’t recognize.
They stood together, clearly together , and the first thing I thought was that, damn, they’d make some hot babies one day.
The guy had golden blond hair and the greenest eyes I’d ever seen.
Even from here, they stood out. The girl reminded me a lot of Nylah, only that she was blonde, pale, and with cinnamon coloured eyes.
The second thing I deduced was that they did not belong here.
The guy was wearing the type of jeans you’d see boys on The Hill flaunting.
However, his expensive clothing clashed with the hardcore ink that appeared to be covering his body, just judging by the way it snaked from under the collar of his shirt, down his arms all the way to his fingers.
The girl seemed too innocent. Nice, but not someone who had been through the kind of shit kids in Harley have had to endure.
Lastly, they were searching for someone, based on how they were scanning the room carefully.
The boy suddenly walked forward, his hand reaching back to hold his girl’s as he led the way in, scrutinizing every person he met with a look full of cocky judgment. I could tell he was a prick right away.
Beside me, Vail tensed up, and Shaw, who was leaning over the table, one hand still under his shirt, no doubt holding onto the handle of his knife, was waiting for any sign that he needed to strike.
Lee reached out and pulled me into his lap, twisting his body sideways so that I’m partially concealed.
What does he think is going to happen? That a fight might break out?
As I peered over his shoulder, I suddenly got the sense that it just might be a possibility.
This couple, the guy, in particular, was asking for trouble just waltzing in here like he owned the place.
“I’m looking for Vail St. James?” The guy had stopped in front of the jock table, addressing Peter, who sat near the end closest to him. He’s smart, because if anyone in this school would know who the “go-to” people were, it was the football team.
Peter glanced our way, but instead of answering, said, “Who the fuck are you?”
Instead of answering, the new guy just looked toward our table, having caught Peter’s slip, and headed directly in our direction.
“Stupid motherfucker…” Vail muttered under his breath, obviously pissed off that Peter had given us away.
Though it was unintentional, we didn’t know who this guy was.
“No one rise. No one looks away from him for a second. If he makes any movement to grab anything other than his girl, we take him around the back of the school, keep it quiet, and dispose of him quickly.”
Then, the quiet tension in the room abruptly ended and blew the fuck up instead.
As the couple passed the Jackals on their way to us, I saw Hunter reaching out to grab the girl’s ass, which caused her to jump a little and cast what I thought was meant to be a look of disgust, but she just reminded me of an angry bunny.
Her halting so suddenly, jerked on the hand of the guy she was clearly with, who looked around, his head whipping back and forth between her and Hunter.
“What did he do?” he asked his girl. He sounded composed, yet I sensed some sort of silky, underlying danger coating every molecule of that calm.
“Nothing,” she answered much too quickly.
Oh my god, this girl was the worst liar in the world. Her eyes went wide, her expression of disgust quickly morphing to one that made her look panicked.
“Did he touch you?” he asked, that same eerie facade still in place.
“Aren’t we here to talk to-”
“Did you fucking touch her?” He looked at Hunter, turning away so I couldn’t see his face. Hunter, however, I could see as plain as day, and the douche just grinned up at this strange boy, lazily lounging back in his chair.
“Your bitch is full of it. Why would I waste my time on that truffle when I’m rolling in hot pussy here?” He reached over and gave Celeste’s leg a rub, his hand sliding up the inside of her thigh to stroke her over her jeans. She smirked, satisfied with his attention, and sneered at the new girl.
The blond guy tossed his head back, laughing like a psycho for a moment, before he suddenly shoved Hunter aside, reared back, and punched Celeste right in her face.
She went flying, her chair tipping over backwards, but he wasn't done yet.
In a flash, he spun to where Hunter was gathering himself and kicked the leg of the chair so that it flipped.
Hunter fell to the floor, and this guy stepped on his throat while his girl screamed at him to stop.
“Intervene,” Vail said the moment the Jackals rose, his mask in place.
Immediately, all the members of Vendetta were on their feet and raced towards the chaos.
I ran, grabbing the girlfriend, who was still shouting at everyone to stop, and pulled her aside and out of harm’s way.
I could hear Celeste wailing from where she sat on the floor, the blood spouting from her broken nose visible from here.
The jocks got up and blocked the doorway, preventing teachers and security from storming in here.
Vendetta pushed back Hunter’s group to keep them away from the newcomer, who still stood there with his heel pressing into his throat.
The new guy nodded to Celeste and said loudly, “Not so hot now, huh?”
Hunter gasped and flailed, clawing up this crazies leg as he fought to free himself, and managed to slide out from beneath the heel on his throat.
But as he rose, Vail suddenly stepped forward, blocking the new guy from Hunter, and spoke in a calm, assured sort of way.
“Look, it’s our first day back. Whatever this freak wants, it’s nothing to do with you.
Count your losses and move the fuck on. I promise everyone will forget about it, yeah? ”
Hunter’s face was red, a vein bulging in his neck as he glared at the blond who was standing like a cocky, confident ass behind Vail, and nodded to his men.
Jackals and Vendetta separated, and Celeste’s skank squad helped her to her feet, guiding her through the crowd to get to the washrooms. Teachers and security broke in, and Vail turned to the shit disturber.
“Who the fuck are you, and what do you want?”
“I might just be the man of your dreams if you can help me out,” The cocky prick responded, not sounding at all perturbed by the chaos he’d brought upon us. The girl I was holding onto facepalmed and repeatedly apologized for whatever the guy was about to say.