Crowd of Lies (Kingsley Academy Book 2)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  With a weary expression, his gaze flicks to Ethan, then to Lucca. It has me on the edge of the seat because whatever it is, it affects the twins, and I’m not good with that. The twins look from Rome to me, and whatever they see has them glaring.

  “We aren’t fucking going anywhere. Whatever he has to say, Kai, we deserve to know.”

  Groaning, I sit back, running a hand across my jaw. With a chin lift, I gesture for Rome to continue.

  “Jasmine was drunk at the festival. Danielle was her ride home but left her there, stranded. I took her home and she was ranting about Danielle and you.” Rome gulps, gripping the edge of the cushion he’s sitting on.

  “And?”

  “She was drunk. However, I don’t think this is something she made up. It wasn’t rehearsed.” Taking a deep breath, he continues. “That said, I can’t prove if it is or it isn’t. I’m still going through her files. She kept a lot of shit.”

  “What did she say?” I ask through gritted teeth.

  “There’s no easy way to say it so I’m just going to give it to you. According to Jasmine, Danielle slept with your father.”

  “What the fuck?” I roar, getting up from the sofa. A cloud of anger storms through me as I take a step towards Rome.

  “Don’t hit the messenger,” he warns in a deadly tone. “This one hits back.”

  I take a step back, clenching my fists. My dad. Her. She had me fooled, made me believe she was someone else. How didn’t I see how repulsive she was, that she’d do anything to get higher in the chain?

  I’m embarrassed, ashamed she got one over on me, probably laughing the whole time we were together.

  I don’t care if she’s left Ivy alone, she isn’t getting away with this.

  And my dad… I can’t act surprised. He constantly pushed me towards Danielle, informing me she would be good for my future. I never wanted a relationship with her, but from the moment those words left his mouth, it was cemented in stone.

  The fog blocking my hearing clears and I look up to see the twins yelling about going to Danielle. I step forward, pulling Ethan back while Grant keeps a lock on Lucca.

  “Stop!”

  “No. I’m going to go around there to see if it’s true,” Lucca snaps. “How could we not know who our father was? Not only did he rape someone, probably more girls than Cara, but he’s sleeping with women his kids’ age.”

  “Just stop!” I demand, shoving him down on the sofa.

  Ivy, who I hadn’t noticed standing, speaks up. “It doesn’t make sense. She’s obsessed with Kai.”

  Walking over to her, I pull her into my arms, holding her close. “Who the fuck knows why that bitch does what she does.”

  Rome clears his throat, looking around the room before his gaze lands on me. “I can answer that too. According to Jasmine, Danielle wanted Kai, and to make sure that happened, she wanted his father on her side.”

  “Ah, so what better way than use her body. It got her what she wanted when she used it before,” Ivy comments, cringing.

  “But that would mean…” I start but trail off when the truth hits me.

  “She would have been fifteen,” Grant finishes, looking as defeated as I do.

  Lucca gets up, throwing his controller across the room. “I’m going to get drunk.”

  Ethan, quiet, looks around the room. “My blood fucking crawls over the fact we share his DNA.”

  “Ethan,” I call out when he heads for the front door.

  He looks back, sadness filling his features. He forces out a laugh, his gaze going to Ivy still in my arms. “You opened our eyes to a lot of shit, so I’m going to return the favour. Get out. Get out while you can, because this life, this world, it will swallow you whole.”

  He leaves with those parting words. I inhale deeply, trying to calm myself so I won’t go after him. I’m not in control of what I’ll do.

  Soothing hands rub along my chest. “He didn’t mean it,” she whispers.

  I step away from her, shaking my head. “He’s fucking right though.”

  “Maybe, maybe not.”

  I turn, and seeing the uncertainty, the vulnerability, is my undoing. I shoot forward, pulling her into my arms. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. Things are just heated right now.”

  “I’m not sorry about that.”

  Pulling back to tilt her head up at me, she says, “What then?”

  “For being a selfish bastard. I know what this life can do to a person and yet I’ll do anything to keep you with me, here.”

  She smirks up at me, surprising me. “It’s funny how you think you hold that much power over me. If I wanted to leave, I would. Not you, not Nova, not anyone could stop me. But it’s a moot point. I don’t want to leave, and we’ll see this shit storm through. Together.” She looks around at Grant. “All of us.”

  Rome clears his throat, holding his hand up. “I’m gone for the summer and I’m forgotten about. But I’ll let it slide this once. If you guys cheer the fuck up and get me a drink.”

  A deep chuckle vibrates through my chest as I give a chin lift to my friend. “Whatever you want.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  IVY

  There is a chill in the air this morning, blowing through my bedroom window. It feels good whispering along my bare back. I’m still not used to sharing a bed with Kaiden. He’s like a furnace through the night, even though he sleeps naked.

  “We need to get ready, otherwise we’re going to be late. Again,” I whine.

  Groaning into his pillow, he rolls away from me. After the news last week, the boys have done nothing but drink. They feel stunned by all the things they were blind to for years. It’s one thing thinking and knowing someone is bad, and another to find out how sick and depraved someone is. And their father at that. From the get-go, my mum never hid her true colours, so I can understand why they are so angry.

  But it is a new day and they can’t let him win. Or Danielle.

  “Can’t we skive today? I just want to spend the day with you,” he moans.

  I smile because as sweet as those words are, I know I’m not the reason he doesn’t want to go today. “I thought you were okay with the Remington swim team coming today?”

  I’m still shocked Kaiden let them compete at the school. When we first met, it seemed they couldn’t be in the same proximity.

  Rolling over, he glares up at me. “No, but today of all days is not the day to deal with Carter and his fucking friends.”

  I kiss his cheek and jump out of bed. “Well, you said you’d take me today. I’ve got to help Mrs Swansea, so I can’t miss. Clary signed me up.”

  “Remind me why we like Clary?”

  My chest vibrates with silent laughter as I button up my shirt. “Because she’s awesome and has my back.”

  “Fucking hell,” he growls.

  Arms slide around my waist and I smile when he pulls me back against his chest. “Are you sure you’ll be okay at school? You can’t get into any fights.”

  He nips at my neck, groaning. “I make no promises. I’ll go get ready. Meet me outside in thirty minutes.”

  Turning, I kiss him on the lips. “And go easy on the twins. You were hard on them last night.”

  Narrowed eyes stare back at me. “Lucca put my laptop in the pool. It had all my assignments on it.”

  “He thought it was your dad’s,” I explain.

  “And Ethan smashing my office?”

  “He was drunk?” I offer, biting my lip, because I know Ethan was mad that Kaiden didn’t inform them of what transpired between him and Malcom Holden, or their dad’s security guy. He was lashing out and it could have been worse. I heard them talking about his car.

  Chuckling, he leans down, pressing his lips against mine. “I’ll be thirty minutes.”

  I nod, watching him leave for a moment before shaking myself out of it and getting ready for the day.

  *** *** ***

  The only thing that kept me going through track
was knowing that lunch was next. I thought once you left school, your choices were yours, but it seems physical activity is a requirement here at Kingsley Academy. It sucks, because if they knew how long Kaiden kept me up last night, they’d let me pass today’s lesson.

  Walking into the changing room, I’m surrounded by endless chatter about Carter and his teammates being here. Some are talking about how hot they are, yet most are curious as to what Kaiden and his mates have planned this year. As far as I’m aware, Kaiden has no intention of messing with Carter.

  I’ve just finished changing when a hard hand shoves me into the locker in front of me and I smack my face against the door.

  I whip around, glaring at the culprit. However, I end up rolling my eyes when I see it’s Danielle, surrounded by a group of followers. The only one from her normal clique is Krysten. Sometimes I wonder if she’s there as Danielle’s guard. Danielle is cruel, yet I think if someone were to fight back, she’d run off and hide behind Daddy. Krysten, however, is another story. She loves being cruel and could probably back up herself up if she ever crossed the wrong person.

  “Sorry, didn’t see you there, Monroe,” she calls loudly, making sure the girls around us stop to listen.

  “I bet,” I snark.

  “I’m sorry I’ve been so hard on you,” she shoots back, her voice sickeningly sweet.

  I arch my eyebrow, wary as I scan the room to make sure this isn’t being recorded. Because this must be a joke. I’m not going to drop my guard around her, and if that’s what she thinks I’ll do, then she’s got another thing coming. I wasn’t born yesterday.

  “What do you want?” I ask, tired of the crap.

  “Just to apologise. I didn’t realise how bad you had it. I wanted to help you settle into the school, but you are so standoffish, you make it hard. So, me and Krysten went to your old town, asked around about you.”

  I freeze, knowing the blood has drained from my face as a chill forms its way through me.

  “You did what?” I ask in a deadly voice, scrunching my hands into fists.

  All week I had known she was up to something. Not once did I let Kaiden or the rest know it was worrying me, but it did, because I wasn’t sure when she’d come at me.

  But this… I never expected this.

  “Snake had a lot to say,” she mentions, her lips twisting into a smug smile.

  I shove the coldness away. Nova paid Snake off. She doesn’t know that I know, but I heard her talking to him outside the flat when she asked me to grab a few of my belongings.

  In a way, I knew then that part of my life was over. Snake wouldn’t have sought me out. He wouldn’t waste his time. However, if I had stayed, he would have made sure I ended up like my mum, reliant on him. She was all too willing to do him favours, never getting paid for it.

  “Ah, I see you remember Snake.”

  I look around the changing room, noticing everyone’s attention is on us, transfixed on what Danielle is about to reveal.

  I step forward, getting in her face. “If you don’t want another nose job, I suggest you shut it,” I snap.

  She places her hand on my arm and I roughly grab her wrist, shoving it away. “Calm down. I’m sure everyone here at one point in their life wet the bed. Maybe not at the age of fourteen though.”

  The laughter rings through my ears and I try to simmer down the anger boiling within me. Her lips move, but no words register.

  Knowing someone like her has personal details about my life doesn’t sit right. I want to lash out, hurt her, but violence isn’t something she responds to. In fact, I’m sure she’ll use it as a way to tell herself she’s won.

  Shaking myself out of the fog, I shove her back forcefully, knocking her into a couple of girls.

  “I swear on my life, I will put you down if you keep sprouting shit about me, Danielle.”

  She giggles, looking around the room. I can see her chest puff out, proud of what she’s achieved, and it hits me just how vile the girl is.

  This is a joke to her.

  “No, you won’t. He said you owed him money. I was all too happy to pay him as a gesture of good will, but I can always bring him here to get it off you personally.”

  I snort to myself. She doesn’t even realise she gave him money for fuck all. Or maybe she knew I didn’t owe it, but knew she’d get more out of him if she flashed her cash. And money talks, no matter what class you’re in.

  “You’re a playing a dangerous game, Danielle. I’m not the only one with secrets.”

  She grins, stupid enough to believe I don’t know anything. The way she scans the group of girls, I know she has more, and she wants to make sure they’re all listening.

  “And your mum… He mentioned that even selling her body wasn’t enough to buy you food or clothes. No wonder Kaiden feels sorry for you. He always was one to donate to charity,” she snidely remarks, yet somehow, to the others, she’ll come across as concerned and worried. She’s a good actress, I’ll give her that. “Tell me, how much did your mum charge?”

  I roll my eyes. It isn’t the first time I’ve been asked, and it surely won’t be the last. It’s one thing that’s never truly gotten to me. Mum may have been a lot of things, but I’m not sure if there was a word to describe what she did. The closest one I can think of is a hustler. She never outright sold her body. She didn’t say, for a blow job, it will cost you so and so. It was more the fact she’d see a bloke she thought had money, or one she could manipulate, and she’d sleep with them, using her body as a tool to get what she wanted. Sometimes they’d be all too willing to buy her what she wanted; drugs, alcohol, fags or money. Other times, she’d steal or blackmail them into giving her what she wanted.

  What Danielle fails to understand, is that my mum was too fucking lazy to work, let alone stand in all weather conditions on a street corner, hoping someone would fancy a go.

  Too much effort, even for Mum.

  “Why don’t you ask your dad? He was a regular,” I tell her.

  Some of the girls laugh, others keep quiet because they’re scared of her.

  But not me.

  Danielle shrugs it off, but I can see my comment got to her. It makes me wonder if she knows about her dad and if I hit a sore spot by bringing him up.

  She steps forward, veins bulging across her forehead and along her neck. It’s the second time I’ve seen her wearing the ugly inside of her on the outside.

  “Your time is up here, Ivy, so I’d make the most of today. I mean, going back to a flat where there’s no heating, no actual bed and having clothes handed to you by people you’ve never even met, must be scary. But that’s where you belong. Where you’ll always belong. No one is going to accept a low-life scrounger who sells her body for food. And if you think that is the only piece of information he gave me, you’re wrong. By the end of today, everyone in this school will have you running back to the gutter you came from. But you never know, the guys here might be willing to pay for sex—at least, some might,” she sneers, raking her gaze over my body in disgust.

  A darkness overcomes me, and before I realise what I’m doing, Danielle is staggering backwards, hitting the wall behind her. I get in her face, sneering. “Careful, Danielle, because out of the two of us, I’m not the one who sells her body,” I growl low, hoping the others haven’t heard my words. Kaiden has plans and I’m not going to be the one to get in the way of them, not when he’s promised I get front row seats to her downfall.

  Her face pales as she shakily looks around the room, also praying no one heard me.

  A small smirk lifts at the corner of my lips as I arch my eyebrow at her. “And let’s get one thing clear here, Danielle. I’m not the one with things to lose. Take away the school, the money, the nice house and food given to me, I’m still me. I’ll still survive. I’ll still be somebody. But what will you be, Danielle, when all of this is ripped away from you, when you are no longer relevant? Nothing. Because without your fancy clothes, fancy house and your wealth, you are fu
cking nothing. You are no one,” I bite out. I take a step back, speaking a little louder when I say, “These girls around you? They don’t like you. I’m fairly certain they can’t stand you and have your picture on a dartboard. When they leave here, you’ll cease to exist. You’ll just be some girl who bullied her way through life and those around her.”

  “Fuck you, Monroe. You don’t speak for me,” Krysten snaps, and I grin, glancing to the side where she’s standing, arms crossed over her chest.

  “No, I don’t,” I murmur, looking from her to Danielle, then back again, something clicking. “But if you weren’t in love with her, you wouldn’t give her the time of day either.”

  A gasp slips through her lips as she stares wide-eyed at Danielle.

  “You’ll regret this!” Danielle screeches.

  I barely spare her a glance as I leave. It isn’t until I’m at the door that I turn back around, giving her one last word of advice. “When you threaten someone, make sure they have more to lose than you do. You can’t beat me. You can’t hurt me. So get over yourself, Danielle, and grow the fuck up.”

  I hear her high heels clicking behind me when I turn to leave.

  “Not even the secret between Kaiden, his father, and you?” she asks, her words stopping me from shutting the door behind me. When I don’t move, I can imagine her grinning, thinking she’s back on top. “Oh yeah, it’s amazing what you can find out these days. I wonder how Kaiden will react when he finds out what you’ve spread about his father.”

  Gritting my teeth, I glance back at her. “I wasn’t the one to spread for him,” I snap, ignoring her cry of outrage as I slam the changing room door. I didn’t miss the horror on her face. I hope she drowns on her panic over what Kaiden will do to her.

  I’m not even a few steps away from the changing room door when Jasmine and Jenny come storming down the corridor, each yelling to be heard over the other.