Forever Golden: Dark High School Bully Romance (Kings of Cypress Prep Book 3)

by Rachel Jonas

  “Say no more,” he says with a laugh. “Order’s up for table twelve.”

  “On it.” I grab the burger and fries he’s just plated and head across the diner.

  No sooner than I deliver the meal, the chime over the door rings and I have a new customer to greet.

  “Good morning, Sir. Have a seat wherever you’d like. I’ll be right with you,” I say with a smile. The customer, on the other hand, is stoic and only tips his hat before settling into a corner booth.

  I eye him on my way to cash someone out, then I’m standing at the newcomer’s side, waiting to take his order.

  His cologne’s strong, but not cheap, and his shoes look like they cost him an arm, a leg, and maybe even an ear.

  “Can I start you with something to drink?” I ask, getting some pretty intense vibes from this guy and he has yet to say a single word.

  “Just coffee today,” he answers, the depth of his voice sending a chill down my spine.

  “Sounds good. Would you like a slice of pie or anything to go with it?”

  He peers up with the brim of his hat still casting a shadow over his eyes, an odd grin on his face.

  “No thanks. The coffee will be all.”

  Feeling creeped out, I offer a smile and head back to the counter to grab a mug. I keep my eyes trained on him the entire time I pour. So intensely that I nearly overflow it and burn my hand. After grabbing a tray, I walk the order back to him.

  “Thank you,” he says in that unearthly deep voice of his, and again, I only nod before hightailing it back to the other side of the counter.

  “Everything going okay now that Mike’s back?” Dusty asks, drawing my attention from the stranger briefly when I flash a look toward the kitchen.

  “It’s… strange, but not as bad as I thought,” I explain.

  “I’ve seen less of Scar these days, so I figured she’d been with him mostly after school.”

  I nod, confirming Dusty’s assumption. “Yeah, who would’ve ever imagined he’d actually keep his word for once?”

  Dusty peers up when I glance at him again, still dividing my attention between him and the stranger.

  “No signs of him being back on the booze?”

  I shake my head. “Surprisingly, no. From what I can tell, he goes to work, then spends the rest of his afternoon and evening looking after Scar. He’s even been to all my games so far.”

  The look of shock on Dusty’s face now says it all. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  “My thoughts precisely,” I answer with a laugh, but then I spot a hand in the air. It’s the weird guy, beckoning me toward his table.

  “That’s my cue.”

  I push off from the counter and grab the coffee pot on my way over. Chances are, he just wants a refill.

  “More coffee?” I force that smile again when asking.

  The man meets my gaze and he’s wearing that same hard look that makes me want to run the other way.

  “Actually, I’m all set for the day, but I wanted to give you a tip before I go,” he answers, but instead of sliding cash into my hand, he grabs my wrist tight, jerking me closer to his rail-thin body.

  A gasp leaves my mouth, but a stern look renders me silent.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he warns, seeming to notice how I’ve brought the scalding hot pot of coffee closer to him. I’m completely willing to dump the entire thing in this asshole’s lap if he doesn’t let go.

  “What do you want?” My voice quivers, but I hope he doesn’t take that as a sign of weakness. After all, I am armed with a pot of hot liquid that could change his life in all the worst ways.

  He smirks.

  “You are a skittish one, aren’t you? Vin had you pegged, I guess.”

  At the mention of that name, my heart bottoms out, making me weak in the knees.

  “Relax. I just need to ask you a few questions.”

  He pauses and glances around to see if we’ve garnered any unwanted attention. Satisfied that no one seems aware, he continues.

  “Vin’s curious who you’ve been talking to. He got word that there’s been an agent asking around about him, poking his nose where it doesn’t belong. And I’m sure you can guess, that kind of activity isn’t good for business,” he explains, eyeing me closer. “And it probably isn’t good for you either. Or Scarlett.”

  “Leave my sister out of this,” I warn, feeling my grip tighten around the handle.

  “Just tell me who you talked to and what you said, and I’ll be on my merry way.” He flashes a wicked smile that does nothing to settle my nerves, and his nails dig deeper into my flesh.

  “I haven’t spoken to anyone. Whatever he heard, it’s got nothing to do with me,” I lie.

  Those beady eyes of his stay trained on mine, boring into me like two drills, and then the smile’s back.

  “Okay,” he says far too casually. “Suit yourself.”

  I hold my breath when he reaches into his pocket, only feeling mildly relieved when the only thing he whips out is a phone. I watch as he scrolls through until finding what he’s looking for. When he turns the screen toward me, it’s a pic of Scar walking down the hallway at school. Alone, with no clue that she was even vulnerable. The sight of it leaves me shaken.

  “Even where you think we aren’t, we are,” he teases, his grin widening. “Doesn’t matter what you do, your sister is never out of reach,” he adds, letting out a dark chuckle that nauseates me.

  Staring at him, hearing those words, I forget to breathe.

  “Just a little something you should keep in mind,” he croons.

  “I’ve done exactly what Vin asked.” I speak quietly, trying not to shout and alert anyone.

  Clearly, the last thing I need to do right now is cause more trouble for myself.

  “He wanted me to break his son’s heart, I’ve done that. We’ve been broken up for a week now. What more does he want from me?”

  Oh, God. Don’t you dare cry.

  I beat back my emotions and stare squarely in this man’s eyes, making him think I feel nothing.

  “Maybe so,” he answers, “But the implied part of that deal was that you’d also keep your mouth shut.”

  “And I have! I go to school, I work, and I’m home. I don’t go anywhere else, and I’ve talked to no one!”

  Despite seeing me get worked up, the man gives a casual shrug.

  “Well, that isn’t for either of us to decide, now is it? So, if I were you, I’d make real sure I keep my nose clean. Because as I’m sure you know, our mutual friend is not a man of second chances.”

  His stare deepens and my entire body’s shaking, but just like that, he lets go and flashes another smile. When he stands, towering over me, he tips his hat and leaves me with a few parting words.

  “See you soon.”

  With long strides, he makes it to the door. I keep my eyes trained on him until he’s gone, finally breathing when he leaves the lot driving an indistinct black car. He’s gone too fast to get his license plate number, so I have nothing to even identify who he was. All I can think to do is send Roby one final text.

  Blue: Vin’s onto you.

  Chapter 43

  WEST

  West: You said we could message if we needed help, so I guess that’s what this is.

  QweenPandora: Well, well, what a pleasant surprise. You’re right, I did offer, so what can I do for you?

  I stare at my phone, eyeing the outside of Dusty’s diner down the street. I’ve been sitting in an adjacent parking lot for ten minutes now, contemplating my next move.

  As soon as I got the call from Southside about Vin’s guy stopping in to threaten her, I hopped in the car and drove here. Only, she gave specific instructions for me not to show up, for obvious reasons.

  But how the fuck can I stay away when I know she’s terrified right now? When I know she needs me? It doesn’t help that this is all my dickhead father’s doing.

  I breathe deep and peer down at the message again, kno
wing it’s time to make a move.

  West: I know this goes against who you are and what you do, but… I need you to hold any pics your followers might send of me and Blue, and any pics that giveaway my location. This might not make much sense, but can you do that?

  I hit send and wait, thinking I’m probably making a mistake saying so much, but the response that comes in changes my mind about that.

  QweenPandora: What makes you think I haven’t been doing that already?

  After that question, my notifications sound off when image after image flood in—one of me sneaking into the locker room to see Southside, one of me driving Ricky’s car the night I visited, and even one of me sitting in this parking lot, looking like the stalker Southside’s accused me of being.

  Clearly, Pandora’s been covering for us a couple weeks now without us having any clue.

  QweenPandora: Not sure why you two are faking it, but I’m pretty sure it has something to do with our common enemy. So, I’ve been happy to play along, feed the people the drama they love, even though it’s been a complete lie ;)

  I’m completely floored, at a loss for words, so I say the one thing I can think of. Something simple.

  West: Thanks for this. Haven’t had many people in our corner lately.

  QweenPandora: My pleasure. And if there’s anything else I can do, don’t be shy. The faster we rid ourselves of you-know-who, the better off we’ll all be. Which reminds me, I’ve become somewhat of a freelance photographer myself recently. Give me a few hours. I’ll send over a few pics that might be of interest to you.

  West: Noted. I’ll be in touch.

  With that, I park behind the tire shop where I’ve been camped out, then dart across traffic to Dusty’s, trusting that whatever incriminating evidence Pandora receives will never see the light of day.

  Bursting through the door of the diner, I search from corner to corner until I spot Southside. She’s clearing a table near the back wall and I rush past the three patrons finishing their meals.

  “West, what are you doing here? Someone will see you!” she tries to whisper.

  Her eyes say something completely different than the words that just left her mouth. They say she’s glad I’m here regardless of what fucking rules we’re breaking right now.

  She passes a quick look toward her uncle where he’s working the grill, then I have her attention again.

  “What are you doing here?” she repeats, but I ignore her question to ask one of my own.

  “Are you hurt?”

  She breathes deep and answers with a sigh. “Just my wrist.”

  That response has me taking her hand gently to get a better look. She’s bruised right where that motherfucker grabbed her. I’ve been looking for someone to take out all my pent-up rage on, and whoever this asshole is, he would’ve made a perfect candidate.

  She eases her hand out of mine and I don’t miss the panicked look in her eyes. “West, you can’t be here. We can’t risk—”

  “I took care of it.”

  When I cut her off, she’s quiet, but still not convinced.

  “Take a look at this.”

  I pull my phone from my pocket, open the thread with Pandora, and hand it over. Southside scrolls and I don’t need to say a word because the proof speaks for itself. The images Pandora’s already received and withheld on our behalf mean she’s on our side.

  “She knows,” Southside says under her breath, taking it all in just like I had a moment ago.

  “And she’s protecting us,” I add with a nod. “She gave us an invitation to DM her, so I took her up on that and this is what she sent back.”

  Southside’s speechless, but I’m aware of being on borrowed time. “Will your uncle let you take a break?”

  She glances toward Dusty again and it isn’t surprising that he’s already watching us. Pretty sure my name is mud in this place, seeing as how the last impression I left on the guy was that I defiled his niece in a sex tape that has since gone viral. So, I can only imagine what he’s thinking right now.

  “It’s slow. He won’t mind,” she answers.

  We slip into a booth and it’s been weeks since we’ve been together in public. I reach for her hands across the table, and she meets my gaze.

  “Are you okay?”

  The question has her tearing up, on the verge of crying like she’d done when I first got her call little more than half an hour ago.

  “I’ll live.”

  That answer isn’t nearly good enough. Actually, it has me even more enraged than I already was. All because it serves as proof that Vin’s winning and we’re all miserable as hell because of it.

  “We can’t keep doing this. I know we had a plan, but something has to give. If that asshole stopping in here tells us anything, it’s that nothing we do will ever be enough. Vin will trample anything—or anyone—standing between him and what he wants. We’re sitting ducks,” I point out. “He can do whatever the fuck he wants, and our best option so far has been to look like we’re marching to the beat of his damn drum. I’m fucking sick of it.”

  She doesn’t speak, because she knows I’m right.

  “I can’t just… not do anything,” I conclude. “We’re sitting around, waiting for a smoking gun we’re not even sure exists. Meanwhile, he’s tightening his plans, gaining power, gathering allies to vouch for his scheming ass, and soon there won’t be a damn thing we can do about it.”

  When I finish speaking, I’m practically panting, thinking about how deep we’re in over our heads. Ricky made an offer weeks ago and it’s been going through my mind a lot lately. It’s made me wonder if the only way to save the lives of those around me is for Vin’s to end. He’s gone off the deep end and it feels like we’re fighting a losing battle. One that now calls for us to do something drastic.

  “You’re leaving?” Southside asks, peering up when I stand.

  “I’ve got something to take care of, but I’ll call when it’s done.”

  Concern marks her expression. “West.”

  I turn when my name’s called and she’s on her feet now, stepping closer. She takes my hand and my gaze shifts there as our fingers lace together.

  “Promise me you’re not about to do anything dangerous.”

  I’ve never lied to this girl. Not since she’s been mine. Not since I admitted to loving her. And as easy as it would be to tell her what she wants to hear right now, dishonesty doesn’t feel like an option.

  She’s trembling when I kiss her forehead, letting my hand linger on her cheek. “I’ll call.”

  With that, I leave and head back toward my car, but my phone’s already in hand. I’m dialing a number that’s been in my call log more than I ever imagined it would be. A few seconds later, Ricky answers and I know exactly why my first instinct was to call him in particular.

  Because if there’s anyone who’s going to match my anger, be down to fuck Vin’s shit up as much as I am, it’s Ricky Ruiz.

  “What’s up?”

  “We’ve got a problem. It’s about Blue.”

  “The pier. Fifteen minutes.”

  Chapter 44

  RICKY

  Typically, news of a bruised wrist isn’t enough to have me grabbing heat and storming into my uncle’s office, but it was tonight. I’ve got no clue who showed up at Blue’s job earlier, throwing around threats and shit, but I sure as hell intend to find out.

  As Paul stares me down from across his desk, I don’t think I’ve ever trusted him less.

  “To what do I owe the pleasure, nephew?”

  “I need to know about the cargo.”

  He eyes me, smirking and shit. “That so? Because when I came to you with this offer several months ago, you wanted nothing to do with it. Why the sudden change of heart?”

  I shrug but give nothing away. “I wasn’t interested then, but I am now.”

  He doesn’t speak right away, just gives me the same look Pop used to when he thought I was up to something.

  “Okay, I�
��m intrigued. Are you interested in upping your game? Or just sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong? Because if you want in, that can be arranged, but you must understand there’s a process.”

  “What kind of process?”

  His eyes flash toward the ceiling while searching for the right words.

  “Consider it a period of being vetted, if you will—proving yourself to me, my colleagues. What you’re talking about is big boy stuff,” he adds with a laugh.

  I hold his gaze. “Fine. Tell me what I have to do.”

  He has no clue getting deeper involved with whatever he’s dragged our family into is the last fucking thing I want. But if it’ll get him to tell me more—like where these girls are kept, or how the business is run—I’ll string him along. All I know is Vin’s gotta be stopped. I’ve never snitched in my entire life, but if feeding Roby intel is the only way to protect Blue and Scar, guess that’s what I’ll have to do.

  “You’re amusing. You know that?”

  He smiles after asking, but I can’t read him.

  “There’s no way in hell I’d let you get your hands in this part of the business. The company you’ve kept lately makes you a liability. Why do you think I pressed to get you back home when you went to rescue that Riley girl after that video leaked?” he asks. “Because people were talking about you playing the role of Captain Save-A-Hoe while your ass should’ve been working. You made yourself look weak, like you’d put pussy before business.”

  He laughs again and if he weren’t my damn uncle, I’d punch him right in his shit.

  “Face it, Ricky, you’ve gotten distracted. Big time,” he adds. “And I’m not the only one who sees it.”

  My jaw’s tense, but I’m focused. It’s time for a change of plans.

  “Okay, since we’re talking candid, why don’t we talk about you becoming Vin’s bitch.” When that dumb-ass smirk is wiped off his face, I’m smiling myself now. “Yeah, and after doing a little research, imagine my surprise when I discovered that motherfucker’s family.”

  Well, look at that. I must’ve struck a nerve, because his ass is getting real uncomfortable over there in that chair.