23. Juliet
JULIET
I ’m curled up and so comfortable against the black satin sheets that smell like clean laundry detergent and sexy cologne that when I wake it takes me a moment to realize that the body at my back is not the same one I fell asleep next to.
I should be used to it by now—the way these men slip in and out of their places at my side or back.
The arms curled around my waist are darker than Lex’s and more wiry in muscle too.
The hard cock pressed against my backside is accompanied by the cool feeling of metal at the tip, and that’s all the hint I need to know who traded places with the man who fucked my brains out the night before.
The scent of something spicy invades my senses.
My bladder rebels against the idea of remaining right where I am, comfortable and covered in masculine warmth.
Blinking my eyes open, I spy the open side of the bed in front of me.
I stretch away from the body against me only for those arms to tighten around my middle and drag me straight back into a hard, naked chest.
“No,” Gio mumbles against my back as he nuzzles against my hair.
I slap his arm as my bladder protests once more. “I have to pee,” I snap.
He groans, but eventually releases me. I crawl from the bed and head into the bathroom. Minutes later, I’m back and searching Lex’s room for clothes and Gio is sitting up against the headboard, the black satin sheets pulled up around his waist.
“Where’s Lex?” I ask. “And when did you crawl into bed with me?”
G yawns, stretching his arms up over his head as he does so.
Finding a pair of my own jeans, I yank them up my legs sans underwear and don one of Lex’s video game t-shirts, lifting my hair out of the back of the collar.
The shoebox from the night before is gone, likely returned to the closet, and I have no intention of going in search of it.
“Lex called and said he had a meeting with Viks,” G grumbles, lowering his arms and scratching his neck as he blinks blearily at me. “He’s going to school late and didn’t want you to wake up alone.”
“Is that why you’re naked?” I ask, planting my hands on my hips as I stare him down.
G shrugs. “I don’t like sleeping in a whole bunch of clothes,” he says. “I get hot.”
I raise one brow and then direct my eyes to the clock on the nightstand. “What you are is late,” I say, reading the time. “And so am I.”
“Uh, you’re suspended,” he reminds me. “Or did you forget what happened yesterday?”
I didn’t forget, and though I do assume that one of my punishments will include suspension, I know I’m still supposed to go back to school today to meet with Principal Long in her office. No classes, just more scolding and a full picture of what I’m looking at in terms of consequences.
My dream of getting the fuck out of Silverwood is drifting further and further away with each passing day. There’s no way they’d accept someone like me if I have a record of school suspensions.
The sheets on the bed move as Gio shifts to the side, turning and bending to retrieve a pair of sweats that he yanks onto his feet one at a time.
He stands and I’m greeted by the full moon of his backside.
Tilting my head to the side, I can’t help but admire the muscular ass that he’s sporting.
He turns and catches my gaze with a grin.
“Take a picture, Prep Girl,” he says, heading for the bathroom. “It’ll last longer.”
Thirty minutes later, we’re in G’s Firebird and heading to school. By the time he pulls into the already full student parking lot, it’s halfway through homeroom period. When we head inside, Gio doesn’t turn or head in the direction of the classrooms, but follows me all the way to the front office.
“I don’t need a bodyguard,” I say. Even as the words leave my lips, I’m searching the front hall and peering through the glass into the waiting area of the front desk for any sign of Morpheus. Thankfully, there isn’t any.
G doesn’t respond to my words, merely leans forward and turns the door handle, holding it open for me to enter. I sigh and step inside. Principal Long’s secretary takes one look at me and jerks her thumb over her shoulder.
“She’s waiting for you,” she says. I wince.
The fact that the old bat already knows me well enough to know what I’m here for can’t mean good news—not that I expected there to be any.
I straighten my shoulders and suck in a breath before marching down the short hallway, pausing halfway when I realize Gio isn’t following me.
Instead, he’s standing at the front desk, chatting up the secretary. When he catches me looking his way with a frown, he waves me on and gives no other explanation. Huh. Maybe he just needed a pass to go to class late.
I head back to Principal Long’s office, pausing outside the slightly open door and knocking on the wood. She bids me to enter and I push it in, stepping into the dimly lit room where she sits behind her desk with an older woman with gray-blonde hair in front of her.
“Juliet, this is Mrs. Chambers.”
My brows pinch together and I nod to the other woman.
When I don’t take a seat, waiting for Mrs. Chambers to get up and leave the room, but she doesn’t, realization takes hold.
Principal Long didn’t have another appointment before me—this woman is here for me .
My eyes find the woman with more interest the second time.
She’s pretty, though her make up is a bit cakey.
Sitting down, it’s hard to determine how tall she is, but she holds herself well—back straight and legs crossed at the ankles.
Next to the worn chair she’s perched in is an older Kate Spade bag.
It’s a nice brand. Simple. Luxury. I’d guess it’s secondhand if asked since her clothes aren’t nearly as expensive.
“Please, have a seat,” Principal Long says in a tone that suggests her words are more of an order than a request.
Taking a hesitant step farther into the room, I lower myself to the second worn chair alongside Mrs. Chambers. To say I’m uncomfortable would be an understatement, but I refuse to let it show.
“Mrs. Chambers is here as legal representation,” Principal Long starts, and ice immediately washes down my spine.
“ What? ” Legal representation? For who? Megan?
“It’s my understanding that you are emancipated, is that correct?” Mrs. Chambers asks.
“I don’t need to be.” The words are out of my mouth before she can finish the question. “I’m eighteen and I’m legally capable of taking care of myself.”
She tuts. “Oh, but that’s not always true. You’re still young,” she says. “You have your whole life ahead of you and you shouldn’t have to worry about all of the things that adults need to—paying bills and taxes and whatnot.”
“I’m fine,” I say through gritted teeth.
Mrs. Chambers chuckles. “Oh, we both know that’s not true, dear.”
I swivel my gaze to Long, who looks as pinched and irritated as I feel. Her lips are drawn down in a frown and when she catches my gaze, she sighs. “Mrs. Chambers was asked to come here to check in on your well-being by Mr. Calloway,” she admits. “After yesterday’s debacle?—”
“You mean when the poor girl was attacked,” Mrs. Chambers snaps.
“Mr. Calloway was highly concerned. He believes, and I have to agree with him, that this school is not equipped to handle such situations. Miss Donovan is somewhat of a celebrity at this point due to the effects of her father’s trial, and Mr. Calloway wants to ensure her protection. ”
“Mrs. Chambers.” Principal Long’s smile is all teeth and savage annoyance. “We prioritize the safety of all our students regardless of their circumstances outside of the classroom. I can assure you that we are taking Juliet’s situation into consideration and?—”
“If that were true, then you wouldn’t have allowed those girls to lock her in that bathroom,” Mrs. Chambers interrupts with a scoff. “You’re lucky Mr. Calloway is so partial to this town, otherwise I would’ve convinced him to sue this entire school district.”
“I don’t want to sue anyone and I’m the person who’s—” I start to say, but Mrs. Chambers isn’t done.
“In fact, Mr. Calloway thinks it might be best if Miss Donovan is switched to online school. It’s clear that any attempt at finishing out her senior year at…” The woman turns her eye around the tiny shoebox of an office with obvious disdain. “A public institution will only set her back.”
“You can’t make that decision for me,” I snap. “Neither can he—he’s not my guardian.”
“I think we need to discuss the reason for your visit, Mrs. Chambers,” Principal Long cuts in, and at the perfect moment too because the longer I stare at this uptight bitch with her poorly done makeup and her secondhand bag, the more I want to punch her.
I clench my hands into fists and keep them pinned to my thighs.
“Yes, well, the date for Mr. Calloway’s plea to become Miss Donovan’s guardian has been set for two months out.”
“Two months!” I explode out of my chair, whirling to face the woman. “He has no proof that I need a guardian!” I thought it took months to get in front of a judge, but two months? I sway on my feet, panic overwhelming me.
Mrs. Chambers tuts again and the sound makes me grind my molars. “I disagree,” she says. “I’d say what happened yesterday has made it clear that you need him more than ever, dear.”
I take a step towards her and Principal Long stands from her desk. “All right, well, I appreciate you stopping by to inform us of the situation,” she says, her gaze darting to me even as she leans down and picks up a folder from her desk. “I will fill out the information you requested.”
“See that you do, Ms. Long,” Mrs. Chambers says with a sniff. She bends and retrieves her bag from the floor. “Mr. Calloway has donated more than enough to this entire town for you to understand that this is quite important to him.”
Mrs. Chambers slips by me and out the door, keeping her fucking nose right up in the air like all the cunts from my old school would have.
It’s almost like they have to in order to feel like they’re better than everyone else.
The truth is—we’re all the same. Rich. Poor.
Pretty. Ugly. We all bleed red and we all die in the end.
I close my eyes. Fuck me . This can’t be happening. Two months? My chest squeezes tight.
“Juliet…” Principal Long’s quiet voice draws me out of my internal freak show and I open my eyes, turning to meet her sympathetic gaze.
“Everyone thinks he’s so fucking perfect.” The words croak out of my throat before I can stop them. She blinks as if surprised by them. I shake my head. “He’s not…”
He’s evil, but everyone only ever sees the mask.
Principal Long is around the desk in a heartbeat and for the first time since before my dad was arrested—probably for the first time since I was a child—someone pulls me into their arms for a hug that feels maternal and actually caring.
A savage part of me, a fearful part, urges me to shove her away, to refuse the act of kindness, but I can’t.
I can’t do it anymore.
I’m tired.
I’m fucking scared.
Everything is falling apart and the monster is coming for me.
Long’s arms squeeze me against her breasts and instead of pushing back, I let my head sink down to her shoulder.
I let my arms come up around her. This is inappropriate, I know, to seek comfort from this woman whose authority is supposed to dictate my punishment.
When the hug is over, she’s going to sit me down and I’ll know just how much trouble I’m in, but for right now…
none of that exists and I’m grateful to her for knowing exactly what I need even if she can’t give it to me.