30. Kai
Thirty
Kai
Pure.
Fucking.
Rage.
That's all I feel when I step into Mary's classroom.
Not annoyance.
Not irritation.
Not even anger.
Rage.
Because my Firecracker is standing behind her desk.
Shaking.
Papers everywhere.
Coffee spilled.
And Joel fucking Jonas is leaning over her desk like he owns the place.
For one horrible second, my brain flashes back to the dance.
To seeing him touching her.
Cornering her.
Making her small.
Except she isn't small.
She's furious.
I know that expression.
Those beautiful green eyes are blazing.
Good.
Because I'd rather see her angry than afraid.
Still.
When I see the red marks forming around her wrist?
Something inside me dies.
And something darker wakes up.
“Firecracker, you good?”
I keep my voice calm.
Because if I let even a fraction of what I'm feeling show—I'll kill him.
No reservations.
Jonas is good as dead.
“Yes, Kai. I'm good.”
I nod.
That's what I need to hear.
She's okay.
He didn't break her.
He didn't win.
Now it's my turn.
I step into the room.
And Jonas suddenly realizes something.
Something important.
He's no longer alone with her.
He's alone with me.
“Now,” I say quietly. “Why is this man in your classroom?”
The slimy bastard starts talking immediately.
“Oh, come now, Montego—”
“My question wasn't for you.”
His mouth snaps shut.
Mary tells me everything.
The permits.
The proposition.
The dinner invitation.
The overnight stay.
My jaw clenches so hard I hear my teeth grind.
“He offered to reinstate the permits if I'd sleep with him.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Jonas sputters.
“That's not what I—”
I close my eyes.
Just for a second.
Because if I don't?
I'll hit him.
And this time I won't stop.
When I open them again, there's nothing left inside me.
No anger.
No shouting.
No emotion.
Just ice.
“Ego was right.”
Jonas frowns.
“What?”
I smile.
A terrible smile.
“My brother said I should've hit you harder the first time.”
From the hallway comes a familiar voice.
“Oh, this is gonna be good.”
And there he is.
Ego.
Of course, he followed me.
Probably to pick up Sabrina, but still.
I don't even turn around.
Because all I see is Jonas.
All I think about is those bruises already forming on Mary's wrist.
“Look, Montego, this is all a misunderstanding—”
“No.”
He blinks.
“No?”
“No misunderstanding.”
I take another step.
He's backing up now.
Good.
Fear looks excellent on him.
“See, Joel, I've had a lot of free time lately.”
His face tightens.
“And while you were busy harassing teachers and threatening women who aren’t interested in slimy motherfuckers like you, I've been busy.”
Another step.
“I’ve been following the money.”
His complexion changes.
Not much.
But enough.
Interesting.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“Sure you do.”
I laugh.
Low.
Mean.
Because suddenly this is fun.
“You know what I learned this week?”
Nothing.
He says nothing.
Good.
“I learned you've been taking kickbacks.”
Still nothing.
“I learned you've been steering construction bids.”
His eyes flick toward the door.
Toward escape.
Too late.
“I learned you've been delaying permits.”
Sweat appears on his forehead.
And now I know.
He knows.
Good.
“The FBI has everything they need to indict you.”
His face goes white.
Completely white.
“There are recordings.”
I take another step.
“Financial records.”
Another.
“Wire transfers.”
Another.
“Meetings.”
Another.
“Shell companies.”
By now he's almost pressed against the wall.
“I don't believe you.”
“That's okay. The feds do.”
I grin.
“But here's the funny part.”
His breathing quickens.
“Federal prison isn't the scariest thing about all this.”
“What?”
“See, the real boogeyman is your friend, or rather, your friends, plural.”
His eyes widen.
“What friends?”
I laugh.
Actually laugh.
“The Sarkisians.”
Now he stops breathing.
Really stops.
And suddenly I know something else.
He never understood.
He thought he was using them.
Idiot.
“You thought you were taking advantage of some foreign mobsters who didn’t know better.”
I shake my head.
“You stupid fuck. They were using you, Jonas. The whole time. Laundering their dirty money through your contracts.”
He swallows.
Hard.
“I don't—”
“Racketeering.”
Another step.
“Illegal gambling.”
Another.
“Human trafficking.”
His knees almost buckle.
“And you know the really bad news?”
“What?”
I lean down.
Smile.
“You fucked with their timeline. And now the Vor knows why.”
The blood drains from his face.
“No.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“He doesn't know.”
“He does. See, I had a nice chat with his son. And Arben wasn’t too happy with what I told him about you.”
I shouldn’t be grinning now—this man is good as dead—but I am.
Because he put his fucking hands on my woman, and he deserves what’s coming.
“No, no, I don’t believe you!”
“Arben knows you delayed projects, but he couldn’t prove it before. Now he can.”
I tilt my head.
“He knows you got greedy.”
“He knows you embarrassed yourself over a woman who publicly refused you—as is every woman’s right, you piece of shit!”
And then I deliver the kill shot.
“But his dad you need to be afraid of. The Vor is pissed. Jonas.”
He actually stumbles.
Like physically falters.
Because for the first time in his spoiled little life?
He realizes money won't save him.
Congressman uncle won't save him.
Town council won't save him.
Nothing will.
“Please—”
I hold up a hand.
“No.”
He shuts up immediately.
“See, that's your problem, Joel.”
I point toward Mary.
“You spent your whole life thinking you were entitled to anything you wanted. You made people do your bidding by using your clout, making them afraid of you.”
My voice drops.
“But you should've been afraid of her.”
He looks confused.
I smile.
“Because Mary had the balls to say no. She stood up to you. And she was never alone.”
I glance back at Mary.
My beautiful Firecracker.
Still standing.
Still strong.
Still refusing to bend.
And Christ.
I love this woman.
I really fucking do.
“So here's what's gonna happen.”
I point to the door.
“You're leaving.”
“Montego—”
“You're leaving.”
“Ego!” I call.
My brother appears instantly.
Grinning like Christmas came early.
“Escort Mr. Jonas out.”
Ego cracks his knuckles.
“With pleasure.”
Jonas looks between us.
Panic everywhere.
And for the first time since this whole nightmare began, I feel calm.
Because he touched my girl.
He threatened my girl.
And even with the head start I’m giving him, it won’t matter.
Because now the whole world is coming for him.
Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.