55. Queenie
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
QUEENIE
RECOMMENDED LISTENING ‘NUMB/ENCORE’ BY JAY-Z, LINKIN PARK
I look up in stunned surprise. My mouth drops open. I forget to breathe for a moment.
Noah’s here. He’s here . And his cricket bat is on Professor Washington’s throat. Digging into it.
Two more figures join him. They’re holding cricket bats too, like maces, on their shoulders. It’s Fox and Ares.
Grateful, terrible tears fill my eyes. Thank you , I mouth to him. He is still looking at Washington with murder in his eyes.
Washington glares balefully at me. “You fucking —”
“Before you say another word, mister,” Calvin calls out in a cold, cool voice. “You should know I’m the Head Legal Counsel for the De Rossi corporation and I’m recording every single thing going on here.”
He holds up his phone higher and says, “Say, cheese.”
I laugh weakly. “Thank you, Calvin. Your pie is on me.”
Noah pushes the cricket bat deeper into his throat.
Washington gasps, turns an ugly shade of purple as he tries to dislodge it.
Jace and Simon flank Ares and Fox on either side. They have no weapons, but they are strapping teenage boys with brute strength on their side. Mischa stands next to Jace, resolute like a tiny avenging angel.
Having them around gives me strength. Feeds me courage. Fills me with hope.
I kneel down and look Washington in the eye. Because I can see him, clearly, for what he is. A weak, horrible excuse for a man. A nothing man. He cannot destroy me.
“Kutte. Ulloo ke patthe. You bastard. Suar ki aulaad—” My voice gets stronger with each word I recite from the Jab We Met monologue. “Did you really think you could get away with it forever? Did you really think you could silence me, silence all of us forever? You’re nothing,” I say softly. “You’re less than nothing.”
I pat the papers he’s clutched in one ugly fist. “And very soon the whole world is going to know it too. I’d suggest enjoying your last moments of anonymity, Professor. You’re going to be very, very infamous now.”
“Fuck—”
“One more word and I’ll bash your head in till your skull cracks.” Noah is lethal. Homicidal. His eyes are completely obsidian, starless pricks of light. “Just one more, Washington.”
I shake my head. “Noah, no! Don’t.”
“A better punishment would be for me to record his sworn statement, son,” Calvin says. “The University is going to have no choice but to terminate his employment then. And that’s what we want, right?”
Noah looks in disbelief at his dad. Then he smiles. Like the sun coming out from an eclipse. “Yes. that’s what we want. Thanks, Dad.”
Exquisite pain lashes at my whole chest when I see Noah’s smile. I welcome it. Embrace it.
If this is love, then I belong to it forever. It can have me. The end.
Washington pushes the bat away when Noah eases off the pressure. He sits up wheezing and choking and coughing. He’s red-rimmed and drool falls of his mouth.
It’s weird but I feel pity when I see him now. Reduced to this state by his own hand.
“This is for Dolly and me, you bastard,” I whisper.
Then I wipe my hands off the apron and get up. Untying it as I do so.
I face the gang. “What are you…how did you…how did you get here so fast?”
“Jace texted that you needed us in the group chat,” Ares answers.
I turn hopeful, pleading eyes to the only man who matters. The only person, really.
“I got your voicemail,” Noah says shortly. “And I’m in the group chat too.” His lovely eyes are curiously, carefully blank.
I don’t blame him, of course.
“But…you…you’re all standing here.” I gesture helplessly at the circle. “This was supposed to be my moment, you know. This was my showdown,” I tell them.
“Don’t you know?” Jace slings a friendly arm around my waist. I can’t stop looking at Noah. “We are the Justice League to your Batman. You can take down the bad guy by yourself, but we’re always going to be there to help you.”
“You’ve got it wrong, mate,” Noah says casually. “She’s Catwoman. And a hell of a one, at that.”
I sniffle once.
Calvin joins the group. He squeezes Noah’s shoulder once. Hard. A wordless message passes between father and son. Then Noah nods. Calvin smiles.
He kneels down where Washington is starting to crawl away. “Where do you think you’re going, good sir? We have lots to talk about.”
“We’ll make sure he doesn’t go anywhere.” Fox and Ares heft the asshole up while the professor starts cursing a blue streak. Jace and Simon follow them to a secluded booth at the back.
“I’ll make coffee,” Mischa says briskly. “We’re going to need it.” And disappears.
Leaving Noah and me, alone. In the middle of a crowd. Just like the first time we met.