He sounds so pitiful as he climbs to his feet. I can understand he didn’t want to do what he did, but there’s no way he can get out of this. He did it. It was some idiotic move to protect me, yes, but he, and our parents, could have found a different approach. There is no reason a person should cheat on someone. Period.
The thought makes me come to with a jolt. During all this, I forgot the most important part. What Davis is doing, is the same thing we’re forcing Callum to do. And for what? Because his mother says she can convince his father to take his inheritance away from him.
We’re doing this because of money and fucking power.
If I allow myself to stoop to the same level, then that will make me no better than Callum’s mother and the Lennox family. We still don’t know why Callum’s mother is behind this; what her reason is for Callum to date the Lennox family heir. It’s not as if they are connected to the Empire, anyway. Alessandra isn’t even on their radar.
The scent of deception hits my nose like the scent of prey to a red-tick hound. Something is fishy here, and I’m going to figure out what it is. Just as soon as I get to school, I will find my guys and we will have a little private sit down. They know more than what they’re telling me, and I’m not having it anymore. I don’t care what excuses they come up with, I won’t be leaving without answers.
This is my life, and I will grab it by the balls and show it who’s boss.
In a hurry, I stand and gather my things. Taking Davis off guard, he jumps like there’s imminent danger in the room; feet spread apart, fists locked and loaded, and a fierce, mean glower that could scare a little mouse. At least he’s taking his duties seriously, even though this wasn’t the vision he had for his future.
“You’re going to do well,” I say, smiling. “But right now, I need to get to my guys.”
If only I could say the same about his situation with Karma. Now that will not go over very well. Not at all.
After getting everything, I take to the stairs and race out of the house. My heart thuds wildly against my ribcage as I slide into my car, buckle up, and start the engine. I’m halfway out of the driveway by the time Davis catches up to me with his things, sliding into his Jeep. He’ll have to get faster than that if he expects to keep up with me.
Even though nerves slash around in my stomach, I can’t stop the smile from gracing my lips as I look in my rearview and see Davis speeding after me. We may have gotten off on the wrong foot when we fooled around, but I think if things straighten out everything will be better.
I fumble with my phone in my hand, checking the time as I blaze through a red light in the middle of main street. Various car horns beep their rage, multiple people yelling out their windows at the “punk kid with a death wish.” Instead of listening, I push my foot down hard, getting to the school in record time.
Relief hits me in the chest when I see Callum’s car sitting in the parking lot. Instead of keeping a low profile, I dip into the parking spot right next to his. Quickly gathering my stuff, I exit my car … then stop in my tracks.
No means fucking no. I don’t give a goddamn who the hell you are. And if Callum’s actions mean anything, it means he doesn’t want to fucking touch her nasty ass.
Alessandra is all over him. She’s halfway across the console, nearly sitting in his lap as he tries to politely push her off him. Yes, Callum can be an asshole sometimes, but he doesn’t deserve this shit. He’s already been taken advantage of enough.
Growling under my breath, I put my stuff on top of my car. I walk over to the passenger side of his, and the moment his eyes meet mine, relief flows through him. Comfort and understanding. It seems the guys must have told him what I wanted to talk to him about, and this must result from him trying to end things with her.
Jerking open his passenger side, I grab that bitch by the hair of her head. Her screech of pain is like a soothing balm to my ravaging soul. I’ve been waiting forever to do this. Pulling her from the car, I toss her ass on the ground and dive on top of her.
“You honestly think I’d let you touch him and get away with it?” I yell, balling up my fist and slamming it against the side of her face. “You are nothing to him!”
“Fucking crazy bitch!” she yelps especially loud when I pop her right in the nose. Blood slides out of her right nostril, the sight making me cackle in delight.
“I’ll show you how crazy I can be,” I sneer.
Allowing my rage to take over, I continue jabbing her in the face. When it’s just her and not the entire softball team, she’s not as big as she thinks she is. And I’m about to show her what it means to mess with one of my men.
You can’t make someone fall in love with you. They either love you or they don’t; there’s no splitting emotions and forcing them into it. It’s bullshit. Any portion of love you derive from a situation like that, is nothing more than a transparent replica. There’s no consistency, no value.
She tries to scramble across the ground, but I grab a handful of her hair. The only thing flashing behind my eyelids every time I blink is the vision of them two that night. Seeing him pushed up against her, and now knowing that it wasn’t his fault. That he was drugged. It lights a fire inside of me that will not be squelched so easily.
She knew exactly what she was doing when she had Danika put that shit in his drink. I don’t blame Danika, not in the least. She was doing what she felt she needed to do to fit in with her disgusting, ladder climber family.
“Callum!” she screams, blood and saliva landing all over my face.
“He’s no longer your goddamn concern, whore!” I throw another punch.
By this time, our little spectacle has garnered a rather large crowd. I hear vehicles skidding to a stop in the parking lot. I hear my guys yelling over the crowd, trying to figure out what’s going on. But no one stops me from pelting Alessandra’s face in. Everyone knows she deserves this. She’s been tormenting people long enough, and it’s time to put a stop to her reign of terror.
Slowly the fight drains from her. The adrenaline pumping through my system lessens. Strong arms wrap around my waist, but I sluggishly try to fight them off while landing punch after erratic punch to her face. When they tighten, I can’t help the gasp of breath that flows past my lips when my ribs grind against each other. It takes me off guard, allowing the person to pull me off her.
“Calm down, little mouse,” Callum’s velvety smooth voice whispers in my ear.
“Let me kill her. Please.” I grind my molars, growling softly under my breath.
He chuckles. “I could kiss the fuck out of you, baby.” Then he does. He presses his soft, manly lips to the sensitive spot under my ear. It doesn’t go a long way in calming me down, but it helps alleviate some of the storm raging.
“You’re not doing this anymore. I don’t care what your mother does, what this bitch does—you belong with us.”
He presses his nose into the side of my neck, inhaling. “Fucking finally.”
“Just what in the blazes is going on out here!” A familiar voice booms through the crowd.
I turn toward Mr. T, watching as his gaze sweeps over the mess in front of him. His eyes fly to mine, seeing me red faced and raging in Callum’s arms. Ellis, Quinn, and Asher come to a stop beside us, they’re chests heaving with exertion. Then Davis. Without saying a word, he sighs, then waves for us to follow him.
“You just had to do it, didn’t you?”
I smirk, glancing over at Asher and seeing a shit-eating grin on his face. “No one touches what’s mine—either willingly or forcefully.”
And no one ever will again.
CHAPTER 21
“Would you like to tell me what happened out there?”
Seems like a bit of a redundant question, if you ask me. He saw. I was literally caught blood handed.
I laugh. “She was trying to rape Callum in the front seat of his car.”
My offensive language has Mr. T’s gaze shooting toward Callum. “Is this true?”
>
Mr. T knows my standpoint on unwanted attention. We’ve spent many a day holed up in his office, either talking or fucking out my frustrations. Yes, not the most logical thing we could have done, but I was in a dark place in my life at that point. He helped me through it, showing me not all attention is bad attention and how to tell the difference.
Callum glances toward me, a soft smile spreading over his face. Warmth enters his eyes before he peers back toward our principal. “Yes, she was. I said no repeatedly, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“Interesting.” He rubs his chin, and it looks like he’s sizing him up. “So, do you wish to press charges on Ms. Lennox, Mr. Lockridge?”
I butt in. “Yes, he does.”
“Please allow Mr. Lockridge to speak for himself,” Mr. T chides me with a small, sad smile.
Callum nods. “I don’t know how much good it will do, but I want to press charges.”
Mr. T nods, then scribbles something down on his paper. When he returns his gaze to mine, I can’t help the sinister grin that follows. “You realize she will no doubt press charges on you as well, correct?”
“Let her.”
I have an ace up my sleeve that will get me out of anything. Danika is my get out of jail free card, and I’ll use her. I won’t be as terrible as her family, but I will get her to testify if I must. Money takes care of a lot of things, even though I believe it’s the crux of society’s problems.
“Okay. Now that it’s settled, I have to bring in the person who alerted me to your little rift with Ms. Lennox.”
My brows slant together in confusion. Mr. T stands up from his desk and makes his way to his closed door, his movements all posh and elegant. I turn in my seat, and catch the sight of Ellis, Asher, and Quinn sitting next to the secretary’s desk, their faces pale as a sheet of paper. Their eyes find mine, and a flurry of nerves dance in my stomach. Asher flicks his gaze toward the person hidden by the door before returning to mine. When it opens fully, I understand why.
It’s Derek Bexley, whom I’m swiftly realizing could be the Derek that Debra was in contact with the day she nearly beat me. All because I listened into her phone call.
“Yes, Mr. Thompson?” The devil asks as he steps into the room. His eyes briefly flit to mine, imperceptibly hardening, before he smooths his features and peers back toward Mr. T.
Mr. T walks back toward his desk and sits down with a huff. “Explain what you saw before you called me.”
Mr. Bexley takes the seat next to my right. My eyes follow his every movement, noticing the way his left hand squeezes the chair as if trying to gain some restraint.
Whatever is about to come out of his mouth can’t be good. I’m involved, and Mr. Bexley hates me.
“This is hard for me to discuss.” He blows out a calming breath, but—did he just smirk? Yes, I’m almost sure of it. I barely caught it, but if someone was looking close enough, they’d be able to see it to.
“Try your best.”
He sighs. “I saw Mr. Lockridge doing unsavory things to Ms. Lennox.”
My mouth falls open in shock and anger as I jump to my feet in a rage.
“Sit down, Ms. Savoy!” Mr. T thunders, eyes narrowed in warning. It takes several seconds for me to breathe through the anger and allow myself to take my seat once more. When I do, Mr. T clears his throat, continuing, “Please, go on, Mr. Bexley.”
Mr. Bexley’s eyes land on mine. I see amusement and triumph glittering in his eyes. This motherfucker is lying, and he’s getting off on it. Why? He knows exactly how Alessandra and the queen bees are. He knows they get away with absolutely fucking everything! And now, he’s trying to pin an assault on Callum that should be on Alessandra.
“Ms. Lennox was trying to get away from Mr. Lockridge—”
“He’s lying!” I scream out.
“But Mr. Lockridge wouldn’t let her go. He had his hand’s up her shirt, and her pants unbuckled. The only thing Ms. Savoy did was prevent Ms. Lennox from becoming a victim. She saved her,” he says with a level of conviction that makes me sick.
The only victims of assault in this room are Callum and I. These two dunces wouldn’t know a victim if it bit them on the nose.
I twist around in my seat to face Callum, seeing his face mirroring Asher, Quinn, and Ellis. He’s as white as a ghost, barely able to swallow as he glances between Mr. T and Mr. Bexley.
“I-I never did such a thing,” he rasps in disbelief.
Mr. T sighs. “We have an eyewitness, Mr. Lockridge. Besides Mr. Bexley, there are several that can confirm his version of events. We also have an entire parking lot full of students that saw Ms. Savoy go into a fit and jerk Ms. Lennox out of the car. She started hitting her, screaming about her and you not being together. Now, explain to me how that can be misconstrued.”
“I did not force myself on Alessandra,” Callum growls out, huffing. “I can’t believe anyone would insinuate such a thing.”
Before anyone else can speak a word, a strong knock sounds on Mr. T’s door, echoing around the office. It forces us all to turn toward the noise. I don’t like the churning feeling settling in the pit of my stomach. It’s nauseating, and I can only guess what Mr. T has done now. If he’s done what I think he has, he will pay for this.
Alessandra isn’t the only person I have shit on.
When the door opens, I almost fall out of my seat in shock and utter disgust. There’s simply no way they’re being serious. Callum did nothing. If anyone should be in trouble, it should be that little slut that was throwing herself all over him.
Two police officers, a deputy and Sheriff Rawlins, stand in the doorway. Rawlins rests with a set of handcuffs clutched in his hands.
“What is this?” I deadpan, turning back toward Mr. T.
Mr. T is calm as a cucumber, not a single piece of hair out of place. He should really shake in his five-hundred-dollar loafers because he’s thoroughly pissed me off.
His suit is fresh, and unruffled. But his eyes give him away. He has a menacing glint reflecting in the surface of his eyes, like he’s getting off at our expense. Mr. T knows more than anyone how vindictive Alessandra can be. How can he even think Callum would do something like this?
He sighs. “I’m sorry, Jess, but due to the extreme allegation against Mr. Lockridge, our administration must step in. Mr. Lockridge, if you please.”
The Sheriff is a large, robust man. His gut pushes against the buttons of his shirt, forcing gaping holes to appear near his belly button. He steps forward, allowing one half of the handcuffs to fall from his hand and dangle by his side. “Are we going to have any problems, son?”
Stupid prick. I narrow my eyes at him, not missing the interest I see in his deputy's gaze as he sweeps his eyes up and down my body. Any other time, I’d use this to my advantage. But you know what, I want to see someone hurting for a change. Someone other than the real victims in this room.
Standing up, I square off with the Sheriff. “Sheriff Rawlins, you know better than I that Callum would never do something like this. Alessandra is the bitch that caused this whole thing.”
His eyes snap to me. “You just better be lucky she didn’t send us here to pick you up, Savoy. I saw what you did to that poor girl's face.”
Poor girl? He has to be fucking kidding. There’s nothing poor about her at all. And she most certainly is not a girl. She’s a screeching banshee from hell.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” I yell in frustration.
I can do nothing except watch as Rawlins jerks Callum from his seat and shackle him as if he’s some criminal. I know Callum is strong, but this is too much. Alessandra is doing everything to ruin our lives.
Also, Mr. Bexley and Mr. T. I know Mr. Bexley hates me, but I always thought Mr. T had my side. Well, if he wants to play that game, then I can as well.
Narrowing my eyes, I glare over the desk at Mr. T. I have more than one trump card to play, and I never thought he’d piss me off enough for me to use this. But here the
fuck we are. “Since you’re arresting Callum for assault, then I want you to arrest Mr. Thompson, too, Sheriff.” Mr. T’s eyes round in his skull.
“Do you have a reason, or are you blowing smoke?” Rawlins quips, huffing.
I look up into Callum’s eye, seeing confusion, but the longer he looks in my eyes the more understanding he becomes. None of the guys knew I’d been with the principal in that manner. They had their assumptions, but none of them came to me with it. Instead, they gave me my privacy, and I’ll play every goddamn person here if they try to hurt my guys.
This isn’t just going to hurt Callum’s presence here at school, it will put a black mark on his record if they prove the lie to be true. I’ll be damned if he goes down alone. Someone will take the wrap with him, no matter how much that asshole helped me over the months after my attack.
I bring my gaze back toward Mr. T. “Yes, I do. Do you remember all those times we had our talks, Mr. T?” I rasp in a voice full of emotion, sniffling as I force tears to my eyes. “I’m sorry, but I can’t keep it a secret anymore, no matter how much you threaten me.” I hiccup on a sob, playing it up. “Sheriff, Mr. Thompson touched me for months. I have recorded proof, because I just knew I had to do something, or he would never leave me alone.”
“Jess, what are you doing?” Mr. T harshly whispers, scowling. Digging your grave, motherfucker, that’s exactly what I’m doing.
Leaning toward him, I allow a fake tears to slide down my cheek. “Fucking you over just like you are me,” I whisper with a wink before forcing hysteria to bubble up in my chest.
A startled gasp rushes out of Mr. Bexley, forcing my tear-streaked face toward him. Only, the look on his face isn’t one I thought I’d see. I figured I’d see disbelief, disgust, or shock, but all I see is rage as he peers toward Mr. T. As if the thought of being with a student is so abhorrent that he’s simply beside himself.
I lean into Callum’s chest as the deputy walks around Mr. T’s desk, reading him his rights and slapping a pair of handcuffs on him. I pretend to be heartbroken and fragile, all the while I’m fist pumping the air on the inside. I’ve had plenty of practice at this, living with whom I have for the entirety of my life. I’ve been battered, bruised, and beaten since before I can remember. So, I know how to make the tears fall and my entire persona to appear hurt.
Love Me, Baby: A High School Bully Romance (Silver Creek High Book 3) Page 16