Empire High Untouchables
Page 26
I just stared at him. Thinking about the paper made me think of crossword puzzles. Which made my eyes tear up.
“No bother. I’d like you to come with me. I’ll fill you in on the car ride.” He gestured to the town car behind him.
“What? No.”
He reached for my hand, but I stepped back.
“Right now, Brooklyn.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“You have ten seconds to get into the car by will.” He glanced down at his watch. “Or I’ll have you put into the car.” He snapped his fingers and two large men stepped out of his town car.
“What?”
“Seven seconds, Brooklyn,” the man said.
“Mr. Pruitt?” Matt asked.
I turned around.
Matt was standing there with his suit jacket in his hand. “What are you doing here?”
Mr. Pruitt? I looked back at the man standing on the front steps of the church. I saw the resemblance now. The fake smile for starters. He was Isabella’s dad.
“None of your business, Matthew,” Mr. Pruitt said. “Run along.” He swished his hand through the air like Matt was a child that should go play ball or something.
“Isabella isn’t here,” Matt said as he joined me by my side. “She wasn’t invited.”
“Oh, I’m well aware,” Mr. Pruitt said. “Two seconds, Brooklyn.”
I felt like my heart was about to beat out of my chest. What did Isabella’s father want with me? My stomach twisted into knots.
“Two seconds for what?” Matt asked.
“Matthew, if you’ll please excuse us, this is a family matter. I’m here to retrieve my daughter from the slums. Times up, Brooklyn.”
The two large men lumbered toward me.
Matt stepped in front of me. “And I told you Isabella isn’t here. This is a funeral. Show some respect.”
“I’m not the one making a scene. You’re doing that all by yourself. And clearly I’m talking about my other daughter. This one. The illegitimate one. Her.” He did that thing with his hand again, this time directed at me.
No. I pushed his suit jacket off my shoulders as I took another step back. There was no way this man with the fake smile was my father. There was no way in hell I was related to Isabella. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“You are. You’re only sixteen. I’m your father. And therefore your legal guardian. Now get in the car.”
“No!” Mrs. Alcaraz yelled as she came running down the steps of the church. “Stay away from her!”
One of the large men grabbed my arm. I tried to move, but he had me locked in place.
“I’ll be waiting in the car,” Mr. Pruitt said and turned around.
“Jim left her in my care,” Mrs. Alcaraz said as she caught up with Mr. Pruitt. “You can’t. Por favor.”
“And you expect me to let you raise my daughter? You can’t even speak proper English.”
“But I signed the papers. You can’t take her. You can’t.” She followed him up to his car. “I promised Jim. You can’t!”
“Well your poor excuse for a lawyer reached out to me. I’m her only living relative. And I’m not signing a damn thing. She’s my daughter. Not yours.”
The man pulled me down the steps.
“Let go of me!” I tried to squirm out of his grip, but the man was too strong. I looked at Matt for help, but the other bodyguard was holding him back.
“Get your hands off of her!” Matt yelled. The bodyguard smashed his elbow into Matt’s back, knocking him down onto the cement steps.
Matt. I tried to get free of the large man’s grip again, but it was useless. He shoved me into the back seat of the town car.
“I won’t let him get away with it, mi amor!” Mrs. Alcaraz yelled as they slammed the door behind me. She put her hands against the glass. “Nunca!”
“Welcome to the family,” Mr. Pruitt said. “You’re welcome, by the way. What a hellhole that was.” He pulled out his cell phone and started scrolling through his emails like this was a normal day for him. Like he hadn’t just turned my life upside down.
I felt like I was going to throw up on the expensive leather seats. I was a Pruitt? A Pruitt?
No.
Never.
Nunca.
* * *
Thank you for reading Empire High Untouchables! I have good news and bad news:
The bad news is that Book 2 doesn’t come out until October.
But the good news is that you can find out what Matt was thinking when he first met Brooklyn! CLICK HERE to get your free copy of Matt’s point-of-view in Matthew Caldwell - The Untouchable.
The Untouchables. That’s what everyone called us. The nickname had followed us around since we were kids. I wasn’t sure who started it, but the premise behind it was simple. My friends and I could get away with murder. Literally. That’s what happens when your parents own the two biggest companies in Manhattan.
We were untouchable. And I was…sick of it. I was sick of the lies and the secrets. I was sick of the pedestal we had to stand on. And I was sick of the girls throwing themselves at my feet like I was some sort of god. I was tired of being untouchable. Especially when all I wanted was someone who would never belong in my world…
CLICK HERE to get your free copy!
Temptation
Matthew Caldwell isn’t the only Untouchable with his own story! When James Hunter grows up, he gives up his billionaire lifestyle in NYC to become a professor. But he never expected to be teaching such a beautiful student. He has to resist her. He needs to walk away. Penny deserves better than a man with his demons. But she’s daring him to cross the line. And he’s never been one to resist temptation.
*Temptation does NOT contain any spoilers about Matt & Brooklyn!*
CLICK HERE to keep reading about the Untouchables!
Shy student Penny Taylor always follows the rules. At least, that’s how it appears to her classmates. But she has one illicit secret – she’s fallen hard for her professor. And she’s pretty sure he’s fallen for her too.
Everyone loves Professor Hunter. He’s tall, dark, and handsome. And completely unobtainable. But it’s the secrets hiding behind his deep brown eyes that allures Penny. Secrets darker than she could ever imagine.
James Hunter gave up his billionaire lifestyle in NYC last year to become a professor. The easiest new rule to follow: don’t fraternize with the students. It’s easy to follow because he’s become quite the recluse in his new town – the only way he knows how to keep his secrets buried.
But he never expected to be teaching such a beautiful student. He has to resist her. He needs to walk away. Penny deserves better than a man with his demons. But she’s daring him to cross the line. And he’s never been one to resist temptation.
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A Note From Ivy
Welcome to Empire High! I had so much fun going back to high school in this book. I hope you were able to relate to first loves, first heartaches, new friends, and loss. In a lot of ways I’m still that 16-year-old girl, just wanting to be accepted by my peers. Even though this story is fictional, every book I write has some of my own experiences throughout the pages. The truth - I had my fair share of mean girls at my high school. Didn’t we all? Another truth - my uncle was indeed the janitor at my high school.
I’ve always felt like I didn’t quite fit. Until I started writing. I dedicated this book to my Facebook group, The Ivy Smoaksters, because you guys make me feel accepted. It doesn’t matter if I wear pajamas all day while I’m writing or high heels when I’m quarantined and have nowhere to go. You’ve read my books so you understand my heart. You support me despite my quirks and I support you too. I feel like our group is one big family! And I’m so grateful that you’re on this journey with me.
I hope you’re ready to stay at Empire High for a while. Because Brooklyn’s story if far from over!
P.S. Screw Isabella. Am I right?
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Ivy Smoak
Wilmington, DE
www.IvySmoak.com
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