The Saint: An Enemies to Lovers Romance (Haven Grace Prep Book 2)

by Kelsey Clayton

  MY FIST POUNDS HARSHLY on the door, waiting for someone to answer it. If Knox knew I was here, he would probably kill me for it, but I don’t care. He’s not getting away with this. Especially not when I’m the reason he did it.

  Carter opens the door, and his eyes widen when he sees me. “Delaney? What are you doing here?”

  I place my hands on his chest and shove him as hard as I can. It doesn’t do much, but it’s something. “What the fuck is your problem?”

  “Problem?”

  “Don’t play dumb with me, Carter. It doesn’t look good on you.”

  His act is so believable that I almost buy it. “Laney, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You fucking jumped Knox. You got him to think he was waiting for me, and then you and a bunch of your friends ambushed him when he was alone. The only thing I can’t figure out is how you managed to text him from my number when my phone never left my pocket.”

  He keeps his shoulders squared, showing zero remorse for what he’s done. “Whatever happened to Vaughn, he had coming to him for a long-ass time. I tried to tell you, he’s North Haven trash and leaves nothing but shit wherever he goes. You shouldn’t involve yourself with someone like that.”

  “Fuck you,” I growl. “And stay the fuck away from my boyfriend.”

  I can see the second my words hit their intended target because Carter rolls his eyes and shuts the door. I don’t know who the he thinks he is, but I’m not going to stand by while he goes and assaults people under some delusion that I belong to him.

  I’m walking back to my car when my phone vibrates in my pocket. Savannah’s name flashes across the screen.

  “Hey Sav,” I answer. “How’s New York?”

  “Incredible, as expected, but I have a favor to ask. Can you pick me up from the airport tonight? Grayson apparently has a thing and can’t.”

  “Yeah, no problem. Just send me the flight number so I can track it.”

  She sighs in relief. “Thank you so much. Is everything all right? You sound stressed.”

  I get in my car and run my fingers through my hair. “I don’t know. Carter managed to send a text to Knox from my number to get him alone. Then he and a bunch of guys jumped him.”

  “Carter did?” The shock in her voice is evident. She had no idea.

  “Mmhm. I just can’t figure out how he got that text to look like it came from my phone.”

  “Honestly? He probably got Wyatt to help him. That kid can do virtually anything with a computer.” Wyatt. Shit. I didn’t even think about that. “So, you and Knox?”

  Taking a deep breath, I smile involuntarily. “Yeah. Me and Knox.”

  15

  KNOX

  The thunderous sound of people cheering threatens to make my ears bleed. It’s so loud in here I can hardly concentrate, and yet, it’s exhilarating. Despite my injuries from the shitheads who attacked me last night, Cal determined me fit to fight and wouldn’t give me a pass. He said he already had too much money bet on me that he couldn’t afford to lose. Fucking prick.

  From the second this fight started, I could tell my opponent thought he had this in the bag. The bruises on my face and chest made me look weak, but that’s far from the truth. I may be a little sore, sure, but I have more pent-up aggression inside of me than ever before.

  If Carter’s dad wasn’t the district attorney, I’d never let him get away with the shit he pulled. It’s one thing to swing at me. That I can understand and even respect. The one thing I can’t respect, however, is having his friends hold me still so I have no chance to fight back. That’s a pussy move, and one that he should pay for—but I know I’d be the one to go to jail while he gets a slap on the wrist. That’s what privilege and entitlement does for you around here.

  A fist comes flying at my face, but I dodge it just in time. The second one he throws, I catch in my hand and quickly knee him in the stomach. One of the great things about these fights is that there are no rules. You fight until someone stops moving, doing whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen to you. It’s simple, and gritty, and raw.

  The two of us go at it for what feels like hours, and I have to hand it to him—he’s relentless. No matter how hard I swing, he always seems to bounce back. He reminds me of myself, with the drive to win and the frustration to use as fuel to get him there. Unfortunately for him, I’ve got far more experience and much better training. Bottom line, I’m better.

  He gets two good hits to my face before I realize I need to end this. If we go any longer, I’ll risk getting tired—and if I lose this fight, there’s no telling what Cal will do to me. It’s not something I’m willing to find out.

  Using all the strength I have, I sucker punch him in the stomach, then swing my leg to roundhouse kick him in the head. He goes down like a paperweight—heavy, motionless, out cold. The buzzer sounds, and the crowd goes wild, celebrating my win.

  The referee announces my victory, and I climb out of the ring. Grayson hands me a water bottle as I thank him through gasping breaths. I nod to all the people congratulating me as I leave the arena, and the two of us head up to Cal’s office.

  The second we walk in the door, he’s already on the phone. He gives me a bright smile, finishing up his conversation and hanging up. I collapse down on the leather couch. I may be getting blood all over his precious furniture, but after a fight like that, I don’t give a fuck.

  “Vaughn! My boy!” he greets me. “That was some fight out there tonight. You put on a good show.”

  I’m still panting heavily but it’s starting to slow down. “He put up a good defense. That guy would make a good addition to your team. He’s relentless.”

  He nods. “Yeah, it’s too bad he’s gone. Jackson could have made a champion out of that one.”

  “Gone?” My brows furrow. “Where did he go?”

  “Knox, he died. The blow you landed to his head snapped his neck.” His words come out with such carelessness that I almost don’t believe him. “That’s one of the risks you take when you get in the Death Ring.”

  He keeps talking, but the ringing in my ears becomes so loud I can’t hear a word of it. He’s dead. He’s dead, and it’s my fault. I killed him. Within seconds, I’m lunging across the room to the garbage can and emptying the contents of my stomach into it.

  I’m a murderer. A kid with his whole life ahead of him is gone now. I’m a fucking murderer.

  I TOSS AND TURN in my bed, trying to get even a wink of sleep with no luck. Images of the kid I fought tonight plague my mind and refuse to go anywhere. He was a good fighter. Hell, he even seemed like someone I could be friends with. His refusal to quit was something I admired, but it doesn’t matter now. His death is on my hands.

  Looking over at the clock, the numbers stare back at me.

  3:17 a.m.

  I give in and call the only person I can think of to make me feel even the slightest bit better right now. The phone rings four times before finally she answers.

  “Knox?” she asks sleepily. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah,” I lie. “I just can’t sleep.”

  “It’s three in the morning.”

  Ugh, fuck. “You’re right. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have called. Go back to sleep.”

  “No,” she replies in a rush. “It’s fine. I don’t mind.” I can hear her shuffle, probably getting comfortable again with the phone pressed to her ear. “So, what’s going on?”

  “A few things on my mind. That’s all.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  I sigh, knowing I can’t. “No. I just need a distraction. What’d you do tonight?”

  “I went and picked Savannah up from the airport. Apparently, Grayson was busy with something and couldn’t. The two of us grabbed dinner before going home.”

  I hadn’t even considered the fact that Grayson constantly needs to lie to Savannah about what he’s doing when he’s training or at the ring. To be honest, his personal life is nev
er really something I took into account.

  Is that what my life is going to come to? Lying to Delaney while I go potentially kill more people at night? The thought alone is enough to send a chill right through me. I never wanted to get into this mess, and now, all I want is to get the fuck out of it.

  Delaney is calm, patient even. She stays on the phone with me despite sounding half asleep, talking about how Tessa got grounded once again because their dad saw a hickey on her neck, and how her sister Ainsley is going to be coming home in a few weeks for spring break. Listening to her voice, no matter what it’s saying, is like my own personal brand of Xanax. It soothes me, relieving the tension in my chest and making me feel like things are going to be okay.

  We stay on the phone long after she stops talking, and I let the sound of her breathing lull me to sleep.

  THE HARDEST PART OF dealing with something as serious as this is knowing that Zayn can read me like a book, yet still having to lie to him anyway. Since I got to school this morning, he’s watched me like a hawk. I think he first assumed it had something to do with Delaney, but the way I kissed her goodbye before we left today ruled that out. Still, he hasn’t straight up asked, and even when he does, he won’t get the truth.

  “I’m really craving a milkshake,” he tells me. “You down?”

  I nod. “Yeah, that sounds pretty good, actually.”

  A part of me considers texting Delaney and asking if she wants to meet us there, but she was saying something about having a girl’s night with Savannah. Apparently, Laney wants to hear all about her trip to New York so she can decide what college she wants to go to. While a part of me is seriously jealous and wants her with me at all times, I don’t want to be overbearing.

  Zayn and I head out, only to find a man in a very expensive looking suit standing at the curb. There’s something familiar about him that I just can’t put my finger on, but the way he presents himself screams power. I walk up to him hesitantly, looking him over for any visible weapons.

  “Can I help you?”

  He takes off his sunglasses. “Are you Knox?”

  “That depends on who’s asking.” I stand up straight, showing that I’ll take no bullshit.

  The man extends his hand toward me. “Tristan Callahan. I’m Delaney’s father.”

  I look down at his hand but make no move to take it in my own. I’ve heard enough about this piece of shit to know this visit is going to be anything but a pleasant one, and that the chances of Delaney knowing he’s here are slim to none. Zayn scoffs behind me and fails at hiding his amusement.

  “What can I do for you, Tristan?”

  He narrows his eyes at my blatant disrespect. “It’s come to my attention that you and my daughter have become something of an item.”

  “Damn. Word spreads fast around here.”

  “Yes, well, no offense to you, but a relationship between you and Delaney is not one I can support. You may be a delinquent, but you seem smart enough to understand that the two of you are from two completely different upbringings. Under no circumstances do the two of you belong together.”

  I roll my eyes. “It’s a good thing your opinion doesn’t mean shit then, isn’t it? In case you haven’t noticed, your daughter is eighteen years old, and a fully consenting adult.”

  He turns around and reaches into his car, pulling out a briefcase. “I didn’t think you’d listen to me without some compensation, so I’m prepared to offer you cash. All you need to do for twenty-five thousand dollars is simple—stay far away from Delaney.”

  Opening the briefcase, the sight of so many twenty-dollar bills makes my head spin. I look back up at her father, wondering how someone could be so judgmental that they’re willing to spend this amount of money to get rid of their daughter’s boyfriend. It’s sickening, but damn—what I could do with that.

  “What would I tell her?”

  He shrugs. “That you’ve had a change of heart. That you don’t want a girlfriend. That you realized you’re gay. Tell her anything you want, just stay away from her. Delaney is smart and has the whole world at her feet. She doesn’t need someone like you coming in and ruining that for her.”

  I nod slowly before grabbing the briefcase from him. “I understand your concern.”

  “I was hoping you would.” He straightens his suit jacket and walks around to the driver’s side. “Thank you for not making this harder than it needs to be. You’re a good man.”

  As he pulls away, I stick my hand up and flip off the car. Zayn comes to stand next to me and looks down at the briefcase in my hand.

  “So, that’s it? No more Delaney?”

  I chuckle, shaking my head. “Fuck no, but now I’ve got his money and his daughter.”

  The two of us get in the car, and I slip my phone out of my pocket.

  Knox: Hey babe. We’re going to the diner. Want to join us?

  16

  DELANEY

  I walk down the crowded hallway, refusing to acknowledge the asshole following behind me. Savannah meets me at our locker, and I quickly switch out my books. She knows exactly what I’m doing, and not once has she tried to stop me.

  “Come on,” Carter pleads. “I said I was sorry. You can’t ignore me forever.”

  Sav scoffs. “You literally jumped her boyfriend. I think she can.”

  “Technically, I jumped a guy I’ve hated for years. Her dating him had nothing to do with it.”

  Finally, I snap—slamming the locker closed and turning to face him. “Bullshit. Don’t give me that. You two coexisted for years without anything like this happening, but the second he gets something that you wanted, you go all Rambo on him.” Wyatt tries to conceal his amusement, which only brings my attention to him. “What the fuck are you laughing at? You’re on my shit list, too.”

  “Me? What’d I do?”

  My brows raise. “Like he would be able to spoof my number by himself. You’re just as guilty as he is.”

  “Ouch.” Jace puts a hand on Wyatt’s shoulder. “That sucks, man.”

  He shoves him off. “Shut up.”

  Without giving them another second of my time, I turn around and walk to class. What Carter did was ridiculous and uncalled for. He’s going to need to do a hell of a lot more than apologize to get back in my good graces—if it’s even possible at all.

  BY THE TIME THAT school lets out, I’m exhausted. If it wasn’t for the essay I need to have written by tomorrow, I’d take a nap as soon as I get to Knox’s house. Unfortunately, that’s not an option.

  I grab my bag from the locker and make sure my laptop is in it. Once I have everything I need, I head outside and across the street. Knox told me to meet him behind the school, but as soon as I turn the corner, I hesitate. Standing with Knox is none other than his ex, Hailey.

  A part of me considers turning around, maybe going back to my car and sending him a text to meet me there, but something compels me to stay. Knox is my boyfriend and if I want to be near him, no one should keep me from doing exactly that.

  I take a deep breath and walk toward them, smiling as his eyes land on me. He looks slightly uncomfortable, but manages to mask it.

  “Hey,” I greet him.

  He grins and pulls me close. “Hey, you. Everything good?”

  I nod. “Carter was a bit of a pain in the ass, but what else is new.” The way his body tenses is evident, and I know a change in conversation is needed. I turn to Hailey, who is watching me skeptically. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Delaney.”

  “Yeah,” she sneers, looking me up and down. “I know who you are.”

  “Hails,” Knox warns, and the nickname reminds me of how much history they share together. “Be nice.”

  She rolls her eyes. “Whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  With that, she flounces away, leaving us alone together. There’s a weird tension in the air, but I don’t think it’s because of us. He’s mentioned before that Hailey is a total train wreck. That she tends to get herself into messes
and drag those closest to her down as well.

  “Well, she seems pleasant.”

  He snorts. “Oh yeah, she’s a real dream.”

  The two of us walk back over to Haven Grace Prep, where my car waits in the parking lot. Since the day that we took a drive up the coast, I’ve learned to trust Knox’s driving completely. Despite the fact that he tested the theory of 0 to 60 in 2.5, I’ve never felt safer. We put the top down and I stood up, letting the wind blow through my hair. It was liberating.

  I hand him the keys and climb in the passenger side. Maybe I’ll be able to squeeze a nap in before I need to focus on my grueling essay.

  THINKING I’D BE ABLE to concentrate while even in the vicinity of Knox is a pipe dream. Between the way he keeps kissing me, or takes his shirt off because it’s too warm in here, it’s fundamentally impossible. He grabs a beer from the fridge and brings me a bottle of water.

  “How’s it going?”

  I groan softly. “It’s not. You’re horribly distracting.”

  He smirks. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “That’s debatable. If I don’t ace this essay, I could fall out of the running for valedictorian.”

  “Do you even have competition?”

  I nod. “Byron. He’s like a quarter of a point behind me.”

  “Byron?” he mocks. “He sounds like the kind of kid with his pants pulled up to his chest.”

  “He is,” I tell him, not able to hold back from giggling.

  Knox comes closer and places a soft kiss to my lips. “Then you’re bound to win.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “You’re much more fun to look at.”

  He pushes the computer from my lap and gently grabs my face, using his other hand on my back to pull me in closer. It’s slow and sweet, with his mouth claiming my own. The way he makes me forget the world around me is dangerous. Still, I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t graduate as valedictorian. I’ve worked too hard and come too far to lose it now.