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

by Kelsey Clayton

  As I pull out of the driveway, I follow the directions coming through the GPS. Delaney reaches across the car and laces her fingers with mine. It’s a simple move, but one that helps drastically in calming me down.

  “You look really good,” she tells me.

  I glance over at her and snicker. “Me? There aren’t enough words to describe how you look right now.” When she smiles down at the ground, I change the subject. “So, what should I know about the people I’m meeting tonight?”

  “Well, my older sister, Ainsley, she’s going to try to sound threatening.”

  “Threatening?”

  She nods. “The whole hurt my sister and I’ll kill you thing. Just try to act intimidated even though I know you won’t be.”

  “Got it,” I chuckle.

  “Tessa will be there, but Easton refused to come. He’s going to be at Stone’s party so you’re on your own there.”

  “You mean, CBP isn’t going to threaten me, too?”

  Delaney smirks. “Does she need to?”

  Laughter bubbles out of me. “Touché. Okay, who else?”

  “My Aunt Geneviève still treats me like I’m nine, so ignore the way she talks to Tessa and me. My Aunt Franchesca and Uncle Toby don’t talk much. They probably won’t say anything more than a polite hello to either of us. And lastly, my Uncle Dom. He’s the best, you’ll love him.”

  “He’s your favorite, I’m guessing?”

  She nods. “He’s the fun uncle. The one who buys us all the best presents for Christmas and has been sneaking Tessa alcohol since we were sixteen.”

  Sounds like my kind of guy. “So, not everyone in your family has a stick up their ass?”

  Swatting my arm, she smiles and shakes her head. “No. That’s pretty much just my dad, and maybe my sister. She’s always been the one to idolize him.”

  The car ride goes quiet, and I can tell she has a lot on her mind. I do, too. It’s no secret to either of us that we’re from two totally different worlds—hell, even our schools are completely against each other—but somehow, we work.

  Just as I pull up to the valet, Delaney squeezes my hand and turns to me.

  “Promise me one thing?” The fear in her eyes is enough to get my full attention. “That you won’t run.”

  I lean across the center console, placing my hand on her cheek and kissing her softly. “I promise.”

  THE GALA ISN’T NEARLY as bad as I thought it would be. There’s free drinks, delicious food, and even Delaney’s father appears in a good enough mood to not kill me tonight. Ainsley, poor fucking woman for having a name like that, does her best to try to scare me with her empty threats, while Tessa stands behind her trying not to laugh at my attempt of looking scared.

  I’m on the dance floor with Delaney, swaying back and forth with my girl in my arms, and life doesn’t get better than this. For once, I don’t care about the differences between us or feel like she might realize how much better off she’d be without me. All that matters is the way her body molds against mine right now.

  Three little words sit at the forefront of my mind, perching themselves on my tongue and threatening to jump out if I so much as open my mouth. Maybe that wouldn’t be a bad thing. I’ve been around her enough to know the feeling is mutual. It’s clear in the way we are together. However, just as I’m about to let them slip out, she gasps.

  “Uncle Dom is here,” she says excitedly, grabbing my hand and pulling me with her. “Come on, you’re going to love him.”

  I allow her to drag me, focused entirely on how eager she is to show me off—like I’m not the train wreck I constantly feel like I am. As we get closer to the man I’m guessing is her uncle, there is something horrifyingly familiar about the back of his head. When he turns around, my blood runs ice cold.

  “Knox, this is my Uncle Dom,” she introduces. “Uncle Dom, this is my boyfriend, Knox Vaughn.”

  He puts out his hand with a look that sends chills down my spine. “Dominic Callahan. Nice to meet you.”

  All the pieces fall together like a fucking puzzle as the familiar icy blue eyes pierce into my soul. The same ones that show pride every time I win a fight. The ones that have glared at me when I didn’t do as he said. Cal isn’t short for Calvin or Callum, like I thought. It’s short for Callahan.

  Dominic Callahan.

  22

  KNOX

  I never understood how Grayson felt so strongly for Savannah that he would literally kill to protect her. There was nothing in my life that was important enough to risk everything for. But lying here, watching Delaney sleep soundly next to me, I know one thing for sure. I’d slaughter the whole damn world to keep her safe.

  The second I learned Cal is Delaney’s uncle, two things became crystal clear. One, that he’s fucking certifiable, willing to hurt his own niece to get what he wants. And two, how easy it would be for him to do it if needed.

  Sliding down until I’m lying beside her, I roll over and wrap my arm around Delaney. Instinctively, she moves closer into me. I know what I need to do, but fuck is it going to hurt like hell.

  SHE LOUNGES OUT ACROSS the couch, with her feet on my lap, looking like she doesn’t have a care in the world. I swallow down the lump in my throat. If I don’t do this now, who knows what could happen.

  “Bambi, we need to talk.”

  Her eyes meet mine, and the smile falls off her perfect face. “Okay?”

  I slide her feet off my lap. “I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

  At first, she laughs—like this is some kind of sick joke. Trust me, I wish it was. However, when she sees I don’t have the same humorous look on my face as she does, she stops.

  “That’s not funny.”

  “I’m not trying to be.”

  She sits up with a lurch. “Where is this coming from? We were fine. We… The gala.”

  “Laney,” I sigh, but she’s already tearing up.

  “You promised.”

  Looking at her, watching as her heart shatters, I feel it too. The pain in my chest is worse than anything I’ve felt in my life. Worse than when my dad left. Worse than any fight I’ve been in. It’s excruciating, but this is what’s best for her—even if she doesn’t know it. She’s going to need someone to hate for this, and that someone might as well be me.

  “You deserve better than me.”

  She shakes her head. “Don’t give me that shit. That’s for me to decide, not you.”

  “You do, you just don’t want to believe it.”

  Wiping the tears from her face, she gets up and storms into my bedroom—stuffing her clothes into a bag. I lean against the doorway. Watching her is a cruel punishment, one that I should look away from, but I can’t. As she finishes, she turns to me. The devastation on her face is sure to haunt me in my sleep.

  “Knox, don’t do this,” she pleads one last time. “I love you.”

  Hearing those words, the honesty in them—they hit their target dead on. The last piece of me that was holding on snaps. I’m falling into a deep abyss, pieces of me floating around, never to be put back together again.

  I drop my head. “You can’t love someone like me. The things I’ve done—things I still continue to do—they’re unforgivable.”

  “I don’t care. I love you.”

  “You shouldn’t.”

  “But I do.” Stepping closer, she places her hand on my cheek. “I love you, Knox.”

  My jaw clamps down to keep from repeating the words that are threatening to break out. There’s only one way to make this stick, and it’s sure to destroy us both. I grab her wrist and remove her touch.

  “I don’t love you, Delaney,” I lie through gritted teeth, my face becoming stone to mask my emotions. “And I never will.”

  She rips her wrist from my grasp like it burned her and pushes past me. The last thing I hear is the door slam before I collapse onto the floor, the pain of heartbreak all consuming. She’s gone.

  THE ALCOHOL COURSING THROUGH my vei
ns is comparable to putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound—the effort is there but it’s a pointless one. Even the pot I smoked did nothing to dull the constant ache inside my chest. My phone lies on the coffee table, with texts from Zayn left unread and calls unanswered. Three days have passed since I dropped an atomic bomb on my own life, and I still can’t even breathe normally.

  A pounding on the front door pulls me from my wallowing in self-pity.

  “It’s open,” I shout, not wanting to get up.

  Grayson steps inside, and his tough demeanor changes once he sees the state I’m in. “You look like shit.”

  “Thanks, fuckhead. Is that all you needed? You can go now.”

  “No, I can’t.” He looks me over and pulls the half-empty bottle of liquor from my grasp. “You’ve missed training the past two days. Cal isn’t happy.”

  “Shit,” I grumble.

  I try to stand but end up on the ground, landing on my side with a thud. Grayson mutters a curse under his breath and comes to help me as I laugh. Once I’m on my feet and find my balance, I shove him away.

  “Tell Delaney’s precious fucking uncle that I’ll make it up and to calm the hell down.”

  Confusion overtakes his expression. “What are you talking about? What does Delaney’s uncle have to do with anything?”

  “Cal is Dominic fucking Callahan.” His jaw drops. “Yeah, I learned that when Laney introduced us at the gala on Saturday.”

  “Holy shit.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t know. Haven’t you two been close since you were younger?”

  He shakes his head. “We were for a few years, but our parents were never like that. And then I moved away for a while.” I watch as it all clicks into place for him and he sighs. “So that’s why you broke up with her.”

  “I needed to get her out of harm’s way. Her being far away from me is the only way to do that.”

  “You really think he would hurt his own niece, though?”

  “He’s already threatened her life,” I explain. “I can’t risk that. I’d never be able to live with myself if something happened to her because of me.”

  He leans against the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest. “Shit, man. I had no idea.”

  Knowing his girlfriend is Delaney’s best friend, the urge to ask him a million questions is so strong it’s suffocating, but the answers won’t help any. I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and chug half of it, knowing I need to sober up. Once I’m done, I allow myself to ask one.

  “Is she okay?”

  Gray looks at me and the look on his face already tells me she’s not. He shrugs. “She’s upset. I think it’s mainly because she doesn’t understand, but she’ll get there. I’d probably avoid Savannah at all costs, though, if I were you.”

  I wince. “She’s ready to kill me, isn’t she?”

  Chuckling, he nods. “That’s putting it nicely. I’m pretty sure what she has in mind is a little less humane.”

  “Fucking great.”

  “Don’t worry about it now.” He takes a step toward me and puts out his hand. “Come on. Let’s go get some food in your system. Soak up some of that alcohol.”

  I MARCH UP THE stairs and straight into Cal’s office. After spending the afternoon with Grayson yesterday, I only became angrier. The rage inside of me has been building for the last twenty-four hours, and the fight tonight is the perfect place to let it out. But first…

  “Are you out of your goddamn mind?” I shout as soon as I walk through the door.

  He smirks. “Well, it’s good to see you, too, boy.”

  “You are one twisted prick. You’re that fucked up that you would threaten to hurt your own niece?”

  The devious chuckle that comes out of him should intimidate me, but it doesn’t. “You stupid son of a bitch. I’d snuff out my own mother if it meant getting ahead. How do you think I got where I am today?”

  He’s being sincere. This man spares no fucks for anyone else. A sick part of me can admire that level of self-preservation: no one can hurt you if you don’t allow yourself to care. However, I don’t think I’d ever stoop as low as threatening my own flesh and blood.

  “Yeah, well, joke’s on you. I broke up with Delaney after the gala.”

  His brows raise. “That doesn’t mean you don’t care for her.”

  Closing myself off the best way I know how, I smirk. “I don’t have the capacity to care about anyone. She was fun for a bit, but nothing more than a good fuck.”

  I watch as he tries to get a read on me. Finally, laughter bellows out of him. “There may just be hope for you, yet.” He takes out two cigars and lights one before handing the other and a lighter to me. “I was surprised to see you with Delaney in the first place. Tessa seems more your speed.”

  “Tessa is a fucking psychopath.”

  He grins. “I know. That’s why she’s my favorite. She’s got some spunk in her, that one. Not like Delaney. She’s a weak little shit—takes after her mother.”

  Listening him talk about her that way makes me want to level him, but I need to play my cards right. No part of him can see that every second without that girl by my side is an agonizing one. It’s the only way to protect her from the one man who might have the ability to hurt her worse than me.

  23

  DELANEY

  My alarm goes off, pulling me from the only place I’m still able to be with Knox—my dreams. It’s pathetic, I know, to still want someone who broke my heart into so many tiny pieces. Honestly though, I blame myself more than I blame him. Everyone warned me what kind of guy he is and I didn’t listen. I brought this on myself.

  Getting dressed and ready for school, I don’t even bother to do anything with my hair other than throwing it into a messy bun. Once I’m done, I go downstairs to the kitchen.

  “Good morning, Sunshine,” Tessa greets me, being overly nice like she has been for the past week.

  “It’s way too early for this,” I groan, but she doesn’t care.

  She comes over and places a to-go cup on the counter in front of me. “I made you coffee.”

  “Okay, this is why God gave me a twin. Thank you.”

  “Glad I’m good for something,” she quips as the doorbell rings. “That’s Sav. Let’s go. You don’t want to be late.”

  If it weren’t for Tess and Savannah, I probably would have ended up not going to school at all. No part of me was motivated to do anything except sit on my bed and try to make sense of where the hell we went wrong. Valedictorian would have been out the window, but at the time, I didn’t care.

  What’s confused me the most is Knox’s absence from just about everything. Easton told Tessa that he hasn’t been at school since the Friday before the gala, and all Zayn’s heard from him was that he needed some time. No matter how much I wrack my brain, I can’t figure it out. He dumped me, and yet he’s acting like he has something to mourn the loss of.

  The ride to school is filled with my sister and my best friend fawning over me like a broken child who needs put back together, when really, I’d rather they just leave me alone. Having to listen to them repeat the same thing Knox said when he ended us—it’s infuriating.

  “Feel like having breakfast during first?” Sav questions as we walk around the school to meet Grayson and the rest of the guys.

  I shake my head. “I’m not hungry.”

  She sighs. “You haven’t been hungry for over a week. Are you at least eating something every day?”

  Rolling my eyes, I’m about to answer her when a familiar car catches my eye. Only, it’s not the driver that has my stomach churning, it’s who’s in the passenger seat. As Stone goes to turn into the parking lot of NHH, Knox’s gaze meets mine, and I’m completely frozen. A part of me expects to see some remorse, maybe even a little pain, but there’s nothing. His eyes are as cold and empty as the arctic.

  He looks away and down at his lap, and I’m right back to where I was a week ago.

  “Delaney?” S
avannah presses the subject.

  “Yes,” I snap. “Okay? Yes, I’ve been eating. Just get off my back already!”

  Ignoring the shocked looks on my friends’ faces, I walk away and into the school. I shouldn’t be taking it out on her. I know she’s just trying to help. But what she and Tessa aren’t realizing is there is no way to help. Not with this.

  I’M SITTING IN THE courtyard, despite the fact that it’s only March. Luckily, my sweatshirt is enough to keep me warm. The sound of the birds starting to chirp and the sun shining, it’s peaceful.

  “This seat taken?” Grayson asks.

  I give him a sad smile and he sits down next to me. “If you’re going to lecture me for yelling at Savannah, don’t bother. I already feel like an ass for it.”

  He shakes his head. “Nah, I’m not worried about that. Even she knows how overbearing she can be sometimes.”

  “She’s just trying to help.”

  “Yeah, but it’s not really helping, is it?”

  I bite my lip to try to hold back the tears, but it’s no use. Grayson wraps his arm around me and pulls me in close, comforting me as I break down for what must be the millionth time since last weekend. I don’t want to cry while at school, but I didn’t want Knox to break up with me either so it is what it is.

  “You…”

  “I swear to God, if you say I deserve better than him, I will punch you straight in the jugular.”

  He chuckles. “I was going to say you are going to be okay, but I think I’ll just leave it at I’m here if you need me.”

  “Sorry,” I giggle halfheartedly. “I’ve just heard enough of the clichés. You deserve better than him. You don’t need him. He’s no good for you. I’m just tired of hearing it.”

  “Is there anything you aren’t tired of hearing?”

  Thinking for a second, I get an idea. “You’re friends with him, aren’t you?”