Chapter 26 #2
I’m sitting in math taking our last chance to work on our notes before exams start when my phone vibrates in my pocket, and I discreetly pull it out to see what Avery needs. My stomach drops.
It’s done. I’ll collect my diamond when you get home.
I try to shake off the unease that settles deep in my gut, but it grows roots.
He’s getting more and more short with me.
I’ve pissed Matteo off and, now, he’s addressing me only as the Jackal would.
Old fears creep up my spine and bury themselves into my brain like shards of glass.
I remind myself that this is necessary, that separating myself from the Jackal is the first step to finding freedom and safety, but it’s like losing some fucked up security blanket at the same time ridding myself of the monster under the bed.
He’s evil, he’s twisted and psychotic, and for a long time he was the only source of comfort I had.
He’s looked out for me since I was nine years old.
He’s abused me, broken me, snapped bones, and destroyed me.
He’s had my back in every single situation I’ve been in as the Wolf.
I can’t think of Matteo without thinking about the Jackal.
I sigh and then startle when I feel a hand tuck into mine.
The teacher is still droning on and on about the interpretation of exponential models.
Harley hasn’t looked away once, his pen moving rapidly as he takes notes, and yet he’s noticed I’m freaking the hell out.
He holds my hand, his fingers threaded through mine, and his thumb rubs over my skin.
Swallowing, I squeeze gently, and he squeezes back before I move my hand and get back to taking my own notes. Fuck, maybe I am as bad as Annabelle says. Kissing Blaise one night then swooning over Harley holding my hand the next.
When the class finishes, I clear my throat and say, “We need to eat all of our meals in the dining hall together today. All of us. I… had something taken care of and we need to be there to see it.”
Harley just nods and takes his phone out. When my phone pings I know he told the others to join us.
I don’t know how to act now that he’s casually, discreetly, touching me.
When we head to the dining hall he moves me to walk in front of him, so I don’t get bowled over by the stream of students bustling around us, and rests his hand on my lower back.
The heat of his palm burns through my blazer and shirt down to my skin, and it feels like a brand.
He grabs us both lunch and then scares off the sophomores in our seats with a single look. Before I sit down I look around the tables to find that Joey isn’t here yet. Good. I want Avery to see his reaction.
Ash arrives next and he leaves a seat between us for Avery.
He quirks an eyebrow at Harley who only shrugs in response.
I dig into my food so I won’t be forced to speak to them.
Avery and Blaise come in together, laughing and joking, and when they sit with us, Avery murmurs quietly into my ear, “Today?”
I nod and she seems to pull herself to sit straighter and more regally. Ash watches us both but doesn’t comment. We’re nearly finished when the door flings open with such force that it bounces off the wall.
I don’t look up. I know who it is and what’s eating his ass.
Avery’s leg tenses against mine and she hisses, “Fuck, here he comes. He looks livid, Lips. He looks like Father does right before he backhands me, fuck .”
Swearing is never a good sign from Avery.
Her eyes are wide and I can see the tremble in her fingers as she picks up her knife and fork from where she dropped them.
I try to set a good example and start in on my own plate of pasta, steady and sure.
It tastes like ash on my tongue but I need to look convincing for her.
“Remember what I said. He's effectively neutered. Don't engage with him.”
Harley and Blaise share a look. Ash gives me a hard look of his own and hisses under his breath at me, “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
He’s panicking. I feel bad that I didn’t give him more warning and I don't have time to answer him now. Joey slams his palms onto the table in front of me so hard the china and silverware rattle dangerously. Silence falls over the dining hall. Some of the freshmen around us begin to collect their things and leave, eager to get away from Joey’s wrathful presence.
There isn’t a person in the school who doesn’t know what he’s capable of.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Acid drips from his words but I'm not afraid of this asshole, I’ve survived worse than him.
I am worse than him in all the ways that count, and now I have him on a very short leash.
I slowly put down my knife and fork before crossing my arms over my chest. When I meet his gaze, the manic look in his eyes is wildly present.
His tight control has slipped and now the drug addict is clearly visible for the world to see.
“Let me tell you how this is going to go from here onwards, Joseph.
You will not speak to me, your siblings, your cousin, or Morrison.
You will not speak about us. You won't plot, or scheme, or belittle. You will not raise a hand. You’re going to pretend we don't exist. If you come across one of us in the halls, you will avert your gaze and walk the fuck away. Am I clear?”
Joey’s breath is heaving out of his chest like he's running a marathon, his eyes wild and darting around the room.
Withdrawals are a bitch. I watched my mom go through this a hundred times so I know just how much his skin is crawling.
I know just how frayed his nerves are. Fuck him. I hope it burns.
“The Jackal sends his regards,” I say, making sure my tone is even, low, placid. Then I pick my fork back up and dig into my lunch.
The room is holding its breath.
Joey roars and turns on his heel, shoving a couple of juniors on his way out as whispers start all around us.
“What the fuck just happened?” Blaise says, and I look up to see all three boys gaping at me. Avery looks smug as fuck, but I know she's dying to spill to them how I did it. I give them the watered-down version.
“Joey likes three things. I couldn't touch his money—that will take more time than we have. I couldn't kill him without risking Ash. That left his addiction.”
“Holy shit. You cut him off. You cut him off?!” Blaise yells.
“There isn’t a dealer in the state that will sell to him now.”
Ash and Harley share a look while Blaise gapes at me.
“How the fuck does a Mounty have that much pull?”
I smirk at them but Harley’s mind is already working. He’s too smart. He’s book smart and street smart, common sense and imaginative thinking all in one devastating package. “Fuck. You used a favor.”
I nod slowly, staring straight into his eyes and ignoring the looks around us. He lets out the breath he was holding and rubs his neck.
I pitch my voice low so no one around us can hear.
“I used one to save you. One to get Senior out of the way until graduation.
Now I've used another to cut Joey off. I don't regret it and I'd do it again. We’re all getting out of this alive, even if I have to call in every favor I have. That's why I have them.”
Avery's hand slips into mine. Ash is blinking at me like I've sprouted fucking wings, and Blaise is frowning at us.
I tuck back into my food, ignoring them until they’re forced to find something else to talk about.