King of Denial : An Academy Bully Romance (Boys of Almadale Book 3)

by Jacie Lennon

  “You did. Thank you,” I reply, trying to subtly shift and make his hand slide off my leg but he clenches firmer.

  “This dress hugs you in all the right places. It was hard to take my eyes off of you.” His mouth is right by my ear, his hot breath leaving a sticky feeling on my skin.

  He barely looked at me tonight, too busy talking with his friends and eyeing other girls. It’s almost laughable what he accused Bodhi of doing when he does it with everyone who has boobs and a vagina. We are possessions to him, toys. Not humans with thoughts and feelings.

  His free hand comes up and tangles in the hair on the side of my head, and he pulls, baring my neck to him. He lays a trail of kisses from my ear to my collarbone.

  I want to puke.

  I hate when he touches me.

  I hate that he controls me and my life.

  I hate, I hate, I hate.

  He tugs the strap of my dress down one shoulder, kissing the patch of skin it covered.

  The limo comes to a stop, and the engine cuts off. I want to cry from relief. Seth leans back, and I right my strap and then clear my throat.

  “I think I’ll go home. I’m tired, and I would like to sleep in my own bed for the short time I can. Don’t you think it will add a little suspense to the wedding?”

  “Do you think I’m stupid?” he asks, and I tense. His driver opens the door, but he doesn’t make any move to get out. “Get inside. You are mine tonight. And if you want to be technical about it, every night after this, you also belong to me.” He steps out of the car and shuts his door.

  I quickly pull my phone out, my heart beating a mile a minute as I ping my location to my sister. I hope that’s all it takes for her to know something is wrong. I hope she isn’t somewhere far away.

  I’ve already poked the beast, and he isn’t going to be gentle with me. Sometimes, he is, almost like he’s a different person, like he wants me to believe he cares. But the majority of the time, he’s the same old Seth, taking, taking, taking, and never giving anything back. I’m not sure that he ever learned how to. I think this is something that his father has ingrained in him since he was little. A cycle of abuse, and I have to get out. I can’t marry him anymore. I can’t resign myself to this existence for the rest of my life.

  The driver comes around and opens my door. Seth is already walking into the house, not even waiting for me.

  What a gentleman.

  I glance back down at my phone. No reply from Linna, but I can see that she read it. Hopefully, that means she’s dropping everything to come running. I slip my phone back in my clutch as Seth looks back, and I quickly step out of the car and follow him. Dutiful little fiancée—exactly what he expects.

  But I’m getting out tonight. I’m a legal adult now. I can run and not be pulled home by my parents. I’ll live with Linna and attempt to make some sort of life for myself. I can start over. I can be happy again, I hope.

  As soon as I’m inside the house, I slip off my shoes, my feet screaming at me as I rub the aches out of them. Seth has disappeared, probably upstairs to his bedroom.

  What would happen if I didn’t go up there? I wonder.

  I’ve never slept over at his house before, but my parents didn’t have a problem with it tonight since we are so close to the wedding. It’s two weeks; they are overjoyed, and I’m suffocating. I feel the shackles growing tighter, and it hurts in my chest, to the point that I sometimes struggle to breathe.

  “Trixie? Pick up the pace. Let’s go,” Seth says from the top of the stairs.

  I blow out a long breath. Looks like I’m not getting out of it tonight. My wish that he would be too drunk doesn’t seem to be coming true.

  “I’ll be right there. I left my purse in the car, so I’ve got to run back out and get it,” I call up to him, and I hear footsteps coming down.

  “Let the driver bring it in. You don’t need it anyway,” he says, his voice growing gruffer. He’s getting more irritated.

  Shit.

  I throw my purse down on the table, not able to carry it with me now since I lied about it.

  What am I going to do about Linna? What if she texts me back and I don’t see it?

  I trudge toward the bottom of the stairs and lift one aching foot to step up.

  Can I crawl at a turtle’s speed and stretch this night out?

  “Fuck, did you die or something? Get your ass up here.” Seth isn’t playing around anymore.

  I squeeze my hands into fists, letting my fingernails dig into my skin as a distraction. I stare up at the second floor, not seeing Seth standing there.

  I hear my phone vibrate, and my feet move of their own accord, crossing swiftly to the table. I wrench my phone from my purse.

  Unknown Number: OMW. ETA 10 minutes.

  I took Linna’s advice and memorized her number but never saved it in my phone. But my heart leaps as I know it’s her. My mind races. We are in a gated community, so she won’t be able to come in. I’ll have to go to her. I’m not dressed for this at all. I can’t get to my bag since the driver is bringing it in and putting it in Seth’s room for me, so that’s out. I’m going to have to go in this dress.

  “Hey, Seth. I’m going to grab a snack. Do you want anything?” I yell up, trying to buy myself some time.

  If he thinks I’m in the kitchen, I might have enough time to get out to the main road before he realizes I’m no longer in the house.

  “Yeah, make me a snack too, woman,” he yells back before chuckling.

  Pig.

  “Okay,” I say back.

  Then, with a final glance up at the top of the stairs, I stuff my phone in my clutch, slowly open the door, and make a run for it.

  The small rocks in the pavement outside the large prison—I mean, house—cut into my bare feet, but I can’t make a getaway in heels. What an impractical shoe. I tried to wear flats tonight, but Seth insisted on the four-inch stilettos. He claimed it made my ass look better. I think he should spend less time worrying about how my ass looks and more time fixing the fact that he is one.

  I am out of breath by the time I reach the large gate. There is a small pedestrian walkway through as long as you have the code, and I thank my lucky stars that it’s the same as the code to get into the main gate. I’m not sure what I would have done if it wasn’t.

  I’m standing on the main road, shifting from foot to foot.

  “Where are you, Linna? Come on, come on.”

  I feel sick, and my stomach is churning. My throat is dry, and I can feel my pulse everywhere. Lights appear, highlighting me, and then continue on.

  “Fuck.” I want to cry.

  More headlights. They drive by.

  Finally, when I’m sure that Seth has noticed my disappearance and is about to catch me, a small four-door car pulls up with Linna’s somber face staring at me through the open window.

  Oh, thank God.

  30

  Trixie

  “Oh, thank God,” I say, opening the door and sliding in. “Go, go,” I urge.

  She takes off, and I lay my head back against the headrest. I can feel her gaze on me every so often, but she doesn’t ask any questions, for which I’m thankful. We drive for about fifteen minutes in silence. I’m collecting my thoughts, and she lets me.

  We pull up outside a house, and I finally turn to her.

  “Why do you still live around here?”

  I wait while she chews on her bottom lip.

  “So that I could be there for you. I didn’t want to leave you behind. I was out, but I still wanted to be able to protect you. I’m sorry that it’s gotten this far.”

  “It’s not your fault. I thought I could do it. I thought it was my duty as a Northcutt—to take what life threw at me. But tonight, I couldn’t. I think about a future with Seth, one that our parents are forcing me into, and life turns dull and gray. I would rather be by myself than be a pawn between families.”

  Linna reaches over and pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. Her face is a m
yriad of emotions, highlighted by the faint streetlight as we sit in the darkness. She makes no move to get out, so I don’t either.

  “I want you to think about what you are doing. Dad let me go because he had a backup, but I don’t think he will let you leave that easily.”

  “I’ve thought about this for three years. Of finally being free. I can’t marry Seth.” Just his name makes me want to vomit.

  “I don’t know everything that Dad is involved in, but I know it’s money trouble.”

  “I’ve gathered as much,” I say, shaking my head. “He’s willing to sell me for alliances.”

  “Speaking of money trouble,” Linna says with a sigh. “I don’t have a lot of money. And if you are planning on living with me, then you will have to figure out a way to make your own. I live with a few girls, and we all pay rent.”

  “It’s no issue,” I say even though I have no idea how I’m going to make money. To almost be out of high school with no job prospects isn’t very comforting. “Maybe I can get a job where you work?”

  Linna doesn’t look at me as she runs one hand along her steering wheel before clearing her throat.

  “Linna?”

  “Yeah, about that. I don’t know if you are cut out for where I work.”

  My mind whirls with the implications of that statement.

  Where could my sister work that I wouldn’t be able to?

  She has a high school diploma, so it’s not a degree thing. And hopefully, I can figure something out with getting my own diploma.

  “Did you go to college or something?” I ask, and she scoffs.

  “Did you not hear me when I said I don’t have a lot of money?”

  She has a point.

  “Okay. Well then, what do you do that I wouldn’t be able to do?”

  “I’m a stripper, B, and I don’t want that life for you.” She finally looks at me, stilling her hand.

  My heart thumps loudly in my chest. This is what she’s had to do. Strip to make ends meet.

  “Why didn’t you ever tell me? You’ve always told me you found a good job.”

  “It is a good job. It pays the bills, but it’s not what I want you to resign yourself to. You are bright—”

  “You’re bright too, Linna.”

  “Be that as it may, I didn’t have a choice. You do.”

  “No, I made my choice when I called you to pick me up.”

  “You know we can’t stay here, right?” She rests her elbow on the console between us and blows out a long breath.

  “Yeah. We’ve got to go—and soon.”

  “I don’t have a ton. What do you need?” Linna asks.

  I spread my arms out. “What you see is all I have. I can’t get any of my stuff without risking getting caught. I’ll borrow some of your clothes until I can find my own way to pay for things.”

  “Okay, I’ve got some contacts at the club that can get me set up somewhere else. But I want you to apply at restaurants and groceries before even attempting to work with me. It’s not the same kind of money, but it doesn’t come with a stigma.”

  “Okay,” I agree, nodding my head.

  My heart is racing. I’m doing this. I’m getting out. I’m leaving everything behind, and I’m starting over.

  “I know someone who knows a guy that can make you another identity.”

  “Change my name?”

  “Yes, and we probably need to dye your hair to take it a step further. You are on the run now.”

  “Fuck,” I say, not even realizing the word came out of my mouth. I reach up and rub my eyes, no doubt smearing makeup everywhere. There’s so much more to this than I expected. My adrenaline catches up to me, and I start shaking. I want to cry.

  “Hey, hey. Don’t cry,” Linna says, leaning awkwardly over the console to wrap me in her arms. “It’s you and me again, B. Like old times,” she murmurs into my hair, and it makes me cry harder.

  Just like old times.

  We sit like that for a while until my crying is under control. Linna repeatedly brushes her hand down my hair in comfort, and I take some shuddering breaths.

  “Okay,” I say, sitting back and running a finger underneath both eyes. “Let’s go inside and figure out what the next step is.”

  “My roommates are some of my coworkers,” Linna says, opening her door. “You’ll like them; they are good people. And they can keep their mouths shut.”

  I nod, not knowing what else to say. I pull the door handle and push, stepping one foot out as I try to wrangle my dress around me.

  The sound of an engine revving gets my attention, and I glance to the end of the street. My eyes widen.

  “What in the—” Linna says, glaring at the car that’s now speeding toward us.

  “Fuck,” I groan, gathering the rest of my dress as I panic.

  I glance around, not knowing what to do, and Linna takes control.

  “Go around the side of the house. Give me your phone,” she says, holding her hand out, and I throw her my entire purse. “Now, go. Run.”

  I want to hug her or touch her one last time, but I don’t. I take off in the direction she told me and try to keep my dress above my knees, so I don’t trip.

  Why did I think they wouldn’t come for me? How did I think that escape could ever be in my future?

  My body slams into something, and I take a second to catch my breath.

  A fence.

  I grab the top of it, my dress dropping and creating a challenge for me to lift one knee to climb over. I hear a rip, and then my leg is free. I finally vault over the fence. The hair on the back of my neck prickles when the next sound I hear is a growl.

  I ran away from one enemy to possibly be mauled to death by a dog. I turn, holding my hand out.

  “Good boy, or girl, or whatever you are. Good dog,” I croon in a singsong voice.

  The dog is still growling, and I back up and then dart across the lawn. A bark and a nip at my heels have me screeching before I can think better of it.

  Great, Trixie, just alert them to where you are.

  I hit the opposite fence and jump up, the dog launching itself into the air behind me. I shut my eyes as I push over with my feet. Any moment now, I expect to feel teeth cut into my lower half, but then I’m lying on the ground with a dog’s snout pushed through the chain-link, slobber dripping from his jowls.

  I can’t breathe. But I have to keep going. I roll over, scraping my knees as I try to get my legs underneath me. My hands have rocks embedded in them since there was asphalt on the other side of the fence. I’ve reached another road, and I look back to get my bearings.

  I take off in the opposite direction from Linna’s house and send up prayers that no one will see me, or find me, or take me back to that sad excuse for a life I was living.

  When I’m another street over and no cars appear behind me, I slow down, sucking in air. My chest is burning, and I can feel tears streaming down my cheeks. Something I didn’t notice until I stopped running.

  What do I do now?

  I am out here, on my own, in a torn prom dress—no purse, phone, or shoes—and it’s late. My adrenaline is dropping, and I realize what a vulnerable situation I’m in right now.

  What am I going to do? I don’t even know where I am, having never been to Linna’s house before.

  My feet are scraped up and smarting with each step I take. I know I look like a mess, hobbling down the road in a dirty dress.

  A car approaches behind me, and I freeze. They don’t slow down, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

  At this point, I need to wait it out and then return to Linna’s. We will have to leave tonight for sure. There’s no getting around it.

  I keep walking until I come to a small convenience store. A bench is out in front, and I sink wearily into it. I glance around, making sure the light isn’t shining directly on me as I try to melt into the shadows and wait.

  The door to the store swings open about fifteen minutes later, and an older lady raises one eye
brow at me.

  “No loitering. A otra parte,” she bellows before shutting the door again.

  I want to cry. I have to get back up. I have to go back.

  Surely, they will be gone by now, not having found me.

  I’m not sure where I am to even get back.

  I stand and pull the door open, steeling myself to talk to the rude woman and try to figure out where I am.

  “Excuse me?” I peek my head in, and she glances over at me before returning her attention to the small TV behind the counter.

  “We’re closed. Ya te dije,” she barks, and I frown.

  “But the door is open,” I say, opening it further.

  “Don’t you have a smart mouth?” she says, not taking her eyes from the screen.

  “I’m trying to get back to my sister’s house,” I say, holding my hands out in a plea, and she finally looks back at me.

  “You running from something?” She raises one eyebrow again. The damn thing nearly hits her hairline; it’s so far up her forehead.

  “Yeah, an ex,” I say with a nod, and she humphs, muttering something in Spanish.

  “Men are good for nothing. You’d do well to stay away from them.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I say, figuring it can’t hurt to lay it on thick.

  “I had a man like that once, liked to play, but he was the only one having fun, if you catch my drift.”

  I nod again.

  “Oh, don’t stand there, looking so pitiful. Pobre cosa. Come tell me who your sister is. I know most of the people who live around here.”

  I step inside, letting the door slam closed behind me. I walk toward the counter, half-afraid that she’s going to change her mind and kick me out.

  “Come on.” She waves me over. “Now, who is your sister?”

  “Her name is Belinda—Linna. Linna Northcutt. At least, I think she still goes by Northcutt.”

  “You don’t know?”

  “It’s a long story,” I say with a sigh.

  “Ya veo,” she says, muting the TV, and I stare at her. “I know your sister.”

  I breathe a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God.”

  “She lives over on Palm Street. You need to head out of here and go up three streets and over one. You looking to be a stripper?” She looks me up and down, but I don’t get the sense that she’s judging, merely curious.