The Execution: A Reverse Harem High School Bully Romance (Breakbattle Academy Book 3)

by Ruby Vincent

  “Gentlemen, take your places on the mat.”

  I looked away from them and focused on Zach. We circled each other like sharks eyeing prey.

  My eyes narrowed. “I know what you did,” I hissed. “Whatever you put in my drink, it’s not enough to take me down.”

  He bared his teeth. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Coach blew his whistle and Zach lunged. We grappled as he tried to get a hold of me.

  “You’re pathetic, Zach.” His face was inches from mine. I could count the beads of sweat collecting on his forehead. “You always were pathetic and you always will be. That’s the real reason you lost your friends.”

  “Argh!” Zach twisted and escaped my hold. Getting behind me, he gripped me around the waist and lifted. “Who do you think you’re talking to, bitch?” he said before throwing me none-too-gently to the mat.

  Coach’s whistle cut through the air. “Unnecessary roughness! Point to Manning.”

  I recovered quickly. Scrambling to my feet, I grabbed his arm and held it fast as I maneuvered the takedown. I made to pin him but he got his arm free and threw it around my neck. I gasped as he squeezed.

  The whistle sounded again. “Illegal hold! Point to Manning.”

  His hold loosened and I yanked free. We scrabbled to opposite sides and faced each other again.

  I laughed. “You’ve given me two points and we just started,” I taunted. “You’re cracking, Zach. You can’t win if you’re getting angry.” I cocked my head. “But you know you won’t win. That’s why you’re resorting to these little bitch tactics.”

  Zach flushed bright red. I had a moment to see his face twist and then he ran at me.

  It was a sweaty, feverish, heart-pounding match. A battle in the true sense of the word. I wrestled hard, but correctly. No illegal holds or unsportsmanlike conduct. The same couldn’t be said for Zach.

  I twisted to avoid him getting his arms around me and the next thing I felt was his hand fisting on the back of my singlet. He yanked. I fell back onto him and we collapsed in a heap.

  “Grasping clothes!” Coach shouted. “Point to Manning.”

  I untangled myself and faced him again, breathing hard. Despite being continually called out by Coach, Zach wasn’t letting reason in. Every taunt I hissed at him made his blood boil until nothing but fury fueled his mind.

  “You never belonged in the Elite Class, Zach.” I inched closer. “You know that. If Adam and I had made it to that test, those two spots would have bumped you right out of the top ten. You know it, and you can’t stand it.”

  “Shut up!”

  “Fields!” Coach warned.

  I didn’t let up. “You always wanted to be the handsome, charming, popular one but how could you be when you’re standing in Adam’s shadow?” I smiled at him. “Don’t think of this loss as a bad thing. Think of it like the world going back to the way it was meant—”

  “I said shut the fuck up!”

  Zach charged me. I couldn’t escape before he bowled me over. I flew back, escaping the edges of the mat. My head struck the unprotected gym floor.

  Coach’s whistle went wild. “That is it! Fields, you’re disqualified!”

  Looking up at him, I saw his mouth fall open as he was snapped out of his rage. “Wha— What? Coach, no!”

  “Out!”

  The roar blew him back and Zach practically ran off the mat. I didn’t see where he went as the boys raced off the stands and surrounded me. A dozen voices demanded to know if I was okay.

  “I’m okay,” I replied. I tapped my helmet. “I didn’t feel a thing.”

  Despite my reassurances, everyone fussed over me when we broke for lunch. I didn’t feel up for food yet, but that didn’t stop Landon from feeding me crackers and juice. I might have fought him more if I didn’t find their worrying so cute.

  “Fields is fucking dead.”

  Plus, their death threats. The guys were vibrating with anger at Zach. The rest of my friends felt the same.

  “What the hell is he doing? Is he trying to lose?” Owen raged. He stared hard at the Elite table where Zach and Rhys sat with their buddies. “Who is that guy? What happened to my friend?”

  “He better not try anything during the soccer match,” Adam said.

  “If he does,” Derek addressed me, “I don’t care what you say. I’m kicking his ass.”

  The whole table nodded.

  Maybe Zach knew the threat hanging over his head because he played clean. He didn’t elbow me, trip me up, or grab me. What he did instead was play hard. The skills you expect of an Elite came through and Zach scored five points to my three in the first ten minutes.

  He messed up flunking the wrestling match. He’s not going to risk it again.

  I chased after him, straining for an opening to get the ball. I darted forward, foot drawn back to make the kick, and Zach dropped out of frame. I went one way as he and the ball went the other. I spun around in time to see the ball sail into my net.

  “Fweet!”

  Coach called time.

  The match was over. Zachary won.

  I trudged off the field as Zach and the other Elites celebrated. The last thing I saw before turning was Cameron punch him on the shoulder.

  “You’re going to win this,” Derek stated. He fell in step with me to the main building.

  “He won the swimming and soccer match,” I said. “Which leaves me the race and the wrestling match by default. Two to two. The basketball game is going to decide it all.”

  “You’re good enough to beat him, Zee.”

  “I guess we’ll find out.”

  A hand gripped mine. I looked down in surprise as Derek laced our fingers together. “You can do this. You will do this. Just remember what we practiced.”

  “Okay.” I rested my head on his shoulder. “I’ll do it. I’ll win.”

  Those sentences became my mantra as my break ended and I walked outside for the last time. This was it. The final test. The final battle.

  The bleachers were packed with students from both campuses. Classes were over for the day and nothing would stop them from witnessing something that has not happened at Breakbattle in years.

  Coach Singh pinned us with a serious look as we stepped up to the center line. “I want a clean game from both of you. Is that understood?”

  I stared at Zach as I said, “Yes, Coach.”

  “You know how this works. Thirty minutes on the clock. The person with the most points wins. Are you ready?”

  Coach threw the ball up. I jumped, fingers straining, and Zach soared over my head and knocked it over to his side. The game was on.

  A long day of running, swimming, and being tossed around caught up to me quicker due to the weakness that sickness caused. My stomach was sore from the retching. Every labored breath I drew was a sharp reminder of that. I ran slower—reacted sluggishly. Zach used that edge to snatch the ball and put eight points on the board.

  “You can do this. You will do this. Remember what we practiced.”

  The ball swished through the net and I dove for it. Derek’s voice in my ear propelled me down the court. I made the shot to applause and boos.

  The school was split. My win was a win for all of the lower Classes, but a slight to the upper classes who wanted us to stay where we belonged. That thought went through my mind as I caught the ball and threw it again.

  I grinned as it fell through the hoop. How’s that for an F?

  Pushing down the fatigue and pain, I played ferociously as Michael, Cole, Landon, and Derek roared from the stands.

  “You got this, Zee!” Cole shouted. “You’re badass!”

  Their spirit kept me going to the final seconds of the game.

  Twelve to twelve.

  We were tied, but I was running out of steam. My lungs burned like hot pokers in my chest. No matter how much air I sucked in, it wasn’t enough.

  My feet were lead weights being dragged down the court. I stumbled after
Zach and stole the ball mid-dribble. I threw it at the hoop, but it bounced off the rim and came flying back.

  Something streaked across my vision. Zach snatched the ball out of the air and took off running. I was right behind him. Hands waving, I covered him as he looked for an opening to shoot.

  I darted in front of him just past the center line. Seeing no way around, he went for it. Zach jumped and tossed the ball over my head.

  I knocked it out of the air and chased it down the court.

  His breath was hot on my neck. My hands closed over the ball and I lifted it above my head. I could see Zach out of the corner of my eye readying to pull the same move I did. I threw. Zach leaped. It sailed over his fingers and bounced through the hoop to deafening screams.

  The buzzer sounded. It was over.

  “Shit!” Zach roared. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

  Furious tears ran down his face. Zach grabbed the ball and flung it as hard as he could. It flew toward the bleachers. A girl screamed as it smashed into her shoulder.

  “Fields!” Singh shouted. “My office! Now!”

  I almost felt sorry for him as Singh, Whittaker, and Argyle descended on him and dragged him outside.

  Then Cole scooped me up and I forgot about Zachary Fields. He punched me in the face, beat me, violated me, and showed not an ounce of remorse afterward. He didn’t want my forgiveness, so he didn’t need my sympathy.

  “I can’t believe I did it,” I breathed.

  “I can.” Cole held me tight. “You’re amazing, Zela Manning,” he whispered in my ear. “I think I’ve met my match.”

  Warmth spread through my already overheated body. I lingered too long on the hug until the others got to me and their congratulations broke us apart.

  Damn, I thought as Cole slipped through the bodies and got away. How am I supposed to tell Landon he might have to share me with two somebodies?

  “Incredible, Zeke,” Owen said.

  “You won the tournament,” cried Justin. “There’s no way you didn’t win. We have to find Adam. He beat Rhys at swimming, track, wrestling, and they tied at soccer. Even if he lost the basketball game, he’s in. You’re both going to be Elite.”

  He put his hands up and I smacked them, grinning ear to ear.

  “I wouldn’t get excited just yet.” The voice brought our cheering to an abrupt end. I dropped Owen’s hands as Cameron shoved Hunter out of the way. “The academic scores aren’t in. You were meant to be an F, Manning. An F is what you’ll always be.”

  Landon launched at him but I threw out my hand, stopping him in his tracks. I didn’t need anyone else to step in. This was between me and Cameron.

  His lips peeled back as I walked up to him. “You’re right. There is still a chance that he beat me on the exams, but it’s not likely. I aced those tests. I know I did. Now Zach is going to get a punishment that has been a long time coming. With that done, all I have left”—I rose on tiptoe until we were close enough our lips almost brushed—“is you.

  “I told you that day in your room that you had helped me make a decision. I was going to find a way to take what you wanted from you. All year I tried to figure out what and now I know.

  “The expansion.”

  Cameron’s sneer twitched. I saw his eyes widen the tiniest fraction. “What?”

  “I’m Elite now,” I whispered. “I have all the access and all of the privileges. I’m the shining face of the school that Whittaker and Argyle show off as the best this place has to offer. I’m going to use that to sabotage every single attempt to spread this insane system to other schools.”

  His face hardened. “You can’t do that. You’re one person.”

  “You know by now that it’s not only me. There are many students against the expansion, and because of the monster you created, they’re recognizing For All as someone on their side.” I pressed my lips against his ear. “I’m afraid your dad and the leaders of the Network will have to make their millions elsewhere.”

  “You don’t know what you’re messing with.”

  I froze as I pulled back.

  “These men are ten times more powerful than a little girl in boys’ clothes.”

  “Someday you’re going to learn, Cameron.” I stepped away and looked him fully in the eye. “You shouldn’t underestimate me.”

  “No,” he replied. Then he flashed me that sweet, charming, heart-stopping smile. “I shouldn’t underestimate you.” He inclined his head. “Congrats on your win, Manning.”

  He waved his friends on and the Elites left the gym. I watched him go with conflicting emotions. What was that? Why did he suddenly change his tune?

  “Zeke.” Owen grasped my shoulder. “Let’s find Adam and celebrate.”

  I looked away from the spot Cameron disappeared from. “I’ll be there in a minute. I have to talk to Derek first.”

  “Okay.” My friends gave me their congratulations again as they followed the other students out of the door. The room finally cleared and it was just me and Derek. He rose from the stands and caught me as I threw myself in his arms.

  “It was all you,” I said as we hugged. “I couldn’t have won without you.”

  “No, Zela. It was you.” He set me back on my feet. “You were always Elite and I mean that as more than some stupid class. I’ve never met anyone as smart, funny, kind or patient as you.”

  I laughed. “Thank you, Derek. You really do say the sweetest things to me.”

  “I mean it.” Derek grasped my chin between his fingers. I blinked as he tilted me up to meet his gaze. “There is no one like you and there never will be. I thought I’d never trust anyone again, but then you bulldozed your way into my life. If I’d known some random kid sitting next to me at lunch would bring me here...”

  An intensity burned in Derek’s eyes that unsettled me. What was going on? Why was he talking like this?

  “That night in the hotel I told you that everything is worth it for that one person drives you insane, but you can’t see yourself without.”

  “Derek,” I began.

  “You’re that person for me, Zela.”

  “Derek, wait—”

  He bent and pressed his lips to mine. The kiss was soft and gentle for the second that it lasted.

  I tore out of his grasp. “Derek, no!” I stumbled away from him as he blinked dazedly.

  Oh no. Oh no. Oh no!

  “You— You can’t kiss me!” I shrieked.

  What the hell did I do!? my mind screamed at me. How did I not see this?!

  “Why not?” Derek looked so hurt it crushed my heart and pulverized it into dust.

  This wasn’t supposed to happen. How did I let this happen?

  “Is it because of Landon and Michael?” He stepped toward me. “Zela, I don’t care about them. All I care about is you. I’ll share you if that’s what you want.”

  “Derek, please,” I begged as tears stung my eyes. “You have to stop.”

  “I want to spend all night reading with you. I want to curl up in bed with you while you snore in my arms.”

  “Derek—”

  “I want you and only you.” He reached for me. “Zela, I love you—”

  “I’m your sister!”

  The scream echoed off the walls, reverberating the truth in our ears.

  He jerked back, eyes huge. “What are you—?”

  “I’m your sister. Your half-sister. You can’t be in love with me.”

  “Zela?” His expression morphed from surprised to worried. “We’re not related. You know that, right?”

  The tears were flowing hot and fast now. This wasn’t how I wanted to do this. None of this was right, but there was no turning back now. “We are related, Derek. My mom refused to tell me a single thing about my father except a name: Jeremy Holt. Then we moved back to Chesterfield and while I was unpacking her suitcase, I found a folder with important papers. I found my birth certificate.”

  A tear flew off my nose as I shook my head. “There never was a Jeremy Ho
lt. He must have been a name my mom made up to stop me asking. A name I never would have been able to track down. Because the name that was written above father was Jonathan Grayson.”

  “No...” he whispered. “That’s not possible. My dad doesn’t have any other kids.”

  “He has me.”

  “No.”

  “Yes, Derek.”

  “No!” He shoved away. A horrible keening noise ripped out of him as he doubled over. “That’s not true! It can’t be true! Why didn’t you tell me?” Derek suddenly turned to me. “Why have you been hanging around me all of this time?!”

  “Because you’re my brother,” I cried. “If it wasn’t for them, I would have known you. I would have grown up with you. We would have gone to Switzerland to see our grandparents together. I wouldn’t have chased a stranger through the mall looking for the family that was only an hour away from me. You’re mine, Derek. The feelings you have are because of the connection we share.”

  Flinching, he shook his head wildly. “No, I can’t— I can’t do this.”

  “I love you too. Just not like that.”

  Derek backed away from me. His eyes darted in his head like a trapped animal. “Stop it. This isn’t happening. This isn’t real.”

  “This is real. You’re my brother. I—”

  Derek ran.

  He shot past me and sped to the door. He threw it open and fled outside before I got the sense to give chase.

  “Derek, please!” I screamed. “Listen to me!”

  He didn’t stop. Derek ran for the main building and I raced after him.

  I just have to explain. I’ve done all of this to get close to him. He’ll understand if he just listens. Everything will go back to the way it was.

  Our feet thundered on the stairs of the dorm building. He was two floors ahead of me but it didn’t matter if he locked himself in his room. I’d stay outside the door all night if that’s what it took. I wasn’t going to lose my brother again.

  I burst through the Elite door. “Derek! Derek, please! I can explain!”

  Derek’s door was closed. He made it inside.