Crowd of Lies (Kingsley Academy Book 2)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  She gently places her hand over the phone, twisting until she’s staring up at me. “I know what you’re doing, but seeing this, seeing her downfall… It’s enough. She’s finally getting what she deserves.”

  “You!” Danielle roars, her face turning an ugly shade of red as she directs her anger towards us. “This is all your fault. You did this.”

  “Me?” Ivy asks sweetly, pointing to her chest.

  It only angers Danielle more, and she takes the cop by surprise, pushing her out of the way. She charges at us, her hands cuffed behind her.

  I pull Ivy beside me, knowing Danielle can’t hurt her yet not willing to take the chance.

  “You just couldn’t live with the fact that he loves me,” Danielle screeches. “I should have set you alight, not that fucking tent when I had the—” The cop tackles her to the ground and Danielle screeches, kicking out, forcefully knocking the cop back.

  The skies open and drops of rain begin to sprinkle from the sky, but nothing could make me move right now, not even a comet falling from the sky.

  It’s too good of a moment to pass up.

  “My dad will have you fired. He won’t let you get away with this,” she screeches at the cop, kicking Sullivan in the face with her high heels. I wince, feeling sorry for the guy.

  The female cop pulls something from her belt, holding it up in front of Danielle, and the scream that tears from her mouth opens up the sky.

  “Was that CS gas?” Clary asks, grimacing when they roll Danielle onto her stomach, the cop shoving her knee into her back to keep her still.

  “Yeah, it stings like a bitch,” Ivy comments, surprising me. She shrugs when we all stare at her. “What? I accidently got sprayed once when they arrested one of my mum’s boyfriends.”

  I chuckle, shaking my head. I tuck her against me, grateful when Ethan passes us an umbrella to shield us from the rain.

  “It burns!” Danielle screams. “And I can’t see. Why can’t I see? I’m going to sue you for everything you own.”

  Sullivan recovers, helping the cop lift Danielle to her feet. He glares as he wipes blood from his cheek. “Go ahead. What we earn must be pennies to you.”

  When we get a glimpse of her, she’s covered head to toe in mud, a sight Danielle would never be seen dead looking like.

  “Now you can take a picture,” Ivy muses.

  “Kai,” Rome calls, gesturing for me to follow him. I hold up my finger, letting him know I’ll be a minute.

  Turning Ivy around, I lean down and kiss her, flicking my tongue against hers. She moans, clinging to my waist.

  Her eyes dilate when she pulls back, scanning my chest. My shirt clings to my stomach, outlining my six pack. Her gaze turns hungry as she licks her lips. I smirk, winking when she sees I’ve caught her checking me out.

  She shrugs. “You’re hot, and I’m horny.”

  I laugh, pulling her closer for another kiss. If I didn’t know Rome had information for me about our next part of the plan, I would drag her back to our room and fuck her until she couldn’t see straight.

  “I need to go see what Rome wants. It might be important,” I tell her, not wanting to fill her in on the other part just yet. I want to get through tonight first.

  She pushes on my chest, groaning. “Hurry up and I’ll show you what underwear I’m wearing.”

  I groan, wondering if Rome will wait an hour or so.

  “Kai, man,” Rome yells, and I turn to see him covering the mouthpiece on his phone.

  I turn to Ivy with regret. “I promise I won’t be long.”

  She smiles, looking better than she did earlier. “Go, I’ll be fine.”

  I leave, my stomach twisting at the first step I take, and it has nothing to do with not getting laid.

  It’s something else, something I can’t explain. I shake it off, feeling ridiculous. Rome watches me with concern, mouthing, “You okay?” but I nod, waving him off.

  And yet, it feels like something is pulling me back, away from Rome and to Ivy.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  IVY

  The sharp pain in my stomach nearly has me doubling over as I watch Kaiden walk away. I want to follow him, a foreboding sense of dread filling the pit of my stomach.

  I clear the negative thoughts. There’s no one stupid enough to go up against him, and he’s surrounded by his brothers and friends, all of whom are loyal to him and would do anything to see that he’s safe.

  “You okay?” Clary asks, sidling up to my side.

  I glance to the side, nodding. “Just processing,” I lie.

  She doesn’t believe me but doesn’t question me either, always giving me that space. I like that about her.

  Miss Swansea calls Clary over and she groans. “I’d best go and help her set up like I promised.”

  I laugh, nudging her shoulder. “She’s already done most of it. She just wants you there to greet people.”

  She looks around like she’s only just noticing people arriving. “Shit! My dad’s going to be here,” she rushes out, before turning to face me, clutching her umbrella. “I’ll catch you in the hall.”

  I nod, waving goodbye. I’m ready to go find Kaiden when Elise, one of Nova’s friends from school, calls my name, biting her lip worriedly.

  “Hi, Elise,” I greet.

  “Hello, Ivy. I was wondering if you’ve seen Nova. She was meant to be here over an hour ago to make sure everything was set up okay, but she hasn’t arrived.”

  I blink in confusion. “That’s weird. When I left earlier, she was on her way out. She said she had to pick up a donation before she could get ready.”

  “When was that?”

  I try to think back to when Kaiden picked me up to get ready with Clary. “A little over an hour ago. Have you tried calling her?”

  “Yes, but it’s going to voicemail. We really need her to get here. The guy from Jet Seas is here. She wanted to get him to donate holidays to families in need in exchange for a place at the school for his son. She wouldn’t miss this chance, but he’s ready to leave.”

  “Um, okay,” I mumble, looking around for anyone who can help. Nova wouldn’t miss today. She’s worked hard all week making sure everything goes to plan. The only thing that would stop her is if she had bad news.

  I spot Kaiden in the middle of a heated conversation with Rome, and although I know he’d put my needs first, I know he’s still got something going on. He thinks he can hide it from me, but I can easily read him now we’ve opened ourselves up to each other. And not only that, but if the news has something to do with my mum’s case, I want to be prepared. Not seeing anyone, I sag with defeat, knowing I’ll have to go call a taxi. “I’ll go see what’s taking her so long. Try to keep him entertained. She’s probably got held up in traffic.”

  “You’re a good girl, Ivy,” she comments, smiling gratefully.

  Ignoring her, I force a smile and head towards the other side of the carpark where the main entrance is.

  A car pulls up to a stop in front of me and I drop my phone away from my ear and lean down, smirking at Selina’s attire. She looks truly ravished, which explains why she’s so late.

  “Where are you going?” she asks as she rolls her window down.

  Not sure why, but I lie. “I forgot an art piece at home. Can you drop me off?”

  She turns to Carter, but before she can ask, he leans over the seat with a smug smile. “Get in.”

  The rain pelts down against the windows, and as we pass a group of people, I can’t help but look back, wishing I had told Kaiden.

  *** *** ***

  I open the car door but before getting out, I lean between the seats. “I won’t be long. If you want, you can go ahead, and I’ll catch a ride with Nova.”

  “We can wait,” Carter answers, looking at the house with drawn eyebrows.

  I turn to look, and I can see why he looks so freaked. The lights are out, and when a roll of lightening lights up the sky, it makes the manor look like a haunted house
.

  I nod in acknowledgement before getting out in the pouring rain, ducking my head as I run up the stairs and push open the front door.

  The minute I step inside, trepidation slivers down my spine. I close my mouth, unease stopping me from calling out for Nova or Annett.

  Something smashes at the top of the stairs, and my feet are moving before I can think to get help. A cry of pain has me moving faster up the winding staircase, the sound coming from my room.

  I barrel into the doorframe when the sight of a bloody handprint on the wall outside my room catches me off guard.

  It takes me a moment to adjust to what I’m seeing in the dimly lit room. I blink, hoping the sight before me isn’t real, that I’m hallucinating all over again.

  I’m not.

  The sight before me has me rooted to the spot, unable to move or call out for help.

  Annett lies diagonally across my bed, beaten and bloody, clothes torn from her body. I gag at the metallic smell of blood that fills the air. It’s fresh, not yet dried to the sheets. Her eyes are closed, and with the dim lighting, I’m still unsure as to whether she’s alive or not. My heart pounds against my chest as I become unglued and finally register what is happening in the room.

  Nova.

  Nova and Royce.

  “No,” I breathe out, watching him tear the deep blue dress from her body. It pools at her feet and my eyes widen at the sight of the angry red blotches already forming on her pale skin.

  I black out, and for a moment, I don’t see Nova on the floor, fighting with all her strength, but my mum, begging him not to take her innocence.

  I scream, charging for him. He doesn’t acknowledge the sound, too busy raising his fist to Nova, who is barely keeping her eyes open. I jump on his back, my fist slamming down on any part of him I can reach.

  He roars, swinging around to throw me off. I cling to the monster who has haunted my dreams, who destroyed the girl my mum was. Every muscle in my body tenses, desperately trying to cling to him and keep him away from Nova.

  He grips my wrist and forcefully yanks on my arm. I cry out, the popping sound making me dizzy as pain like no other vibrates up my arm. My head drops back, smacking against my desk with a thud.

  “Ivy, run,” Nova whispers painfully, trying to get to her knees.

  “You!” Royce growls, gripping me by my hair and dragging me into the middle of the floor. He kicks out, landing his foot in the side of my ribs. I roll, breathing heavily as I glare up at him.

  When I try to get up, I forget about the pain in my arm and shoulder. I collapse to the floor, my cheek pressed against the carpet as the pressure in my arm builds.

  Boots that I vividly remember from the day of the car crash step in front of me. I expected taunts, threats, so when he lifts my head by my hair, smashing my face against the floor, I don’t expect it.

  I should have got help.

  I shouldn’t have left Kaiden behind.

  He rolls me onto my back and I kick out, screaming at the top of my lungs and praying Carter and Selina will hear me.

  “Shut the fuck up,” he grits out, the palm of his hand meeting the side of my face. “You couldn’t leave well enough alone.”

  “Fuck you!” I lean up, spitting in his face as I try to get free, jarring my shoulder once again. It becomes too much; the pain, the smell, the overbearing fear. Sweat pours down my face as another wave of dizziness consumes me.

  “Oh, I’m going to fuck you. Teach you a lesson, just like I did your slut of a mum.”

  I whimper, twisting to get out of his grip. He gropes at my dress, and a sickening dread fills the pit of my stomach.

  I won’t recover.

  I’ve been scared. I’ve been frightened. But there aren’t words to describe how I’m feeling right now.

  I want to throw up, especially when Royce mutters, “Fuck it,” and lifts up my dress.

  I fight. God, do I fight. But the minute he presses his weight over me, digging his palm into my mouth, I come to terms with the fact he’s going to rape me. I prepare myself for the worst, yet I don’t give up fighting.

  He lets go of my good arm that he has pinned down and I reach up, digging my nails into the side of his head, pushing my thumb into his eye.

  He falls back, palming his eye, and I use the moment of distraction to push myself away, using my feet.

  “No,” Nova cries, distracting me.

  I glance over, finding her gripping the edge of my desk, blood pouring from her neck before she collapses to her knees again. My eyes widen as I look to the floor, seeing a knife by the end of the bed.

  A scream tears from my throat when a hand wraps around my ankle, dragging me along the floor. I reach out, trying to grab onto something, but there’s nothing there.

  “No,” I cry, tears falling down my cheeks.

  I lift my leg, kicking him in the chin, fuelling his anger.

  “You little slut! You’ll like it like your mum did.”

  “Why?” I scream. “Why did you rape her?”

  “Don’t be so naïve, girl. You know why,” he snaps, but then laughs, his eyes lighting up. “Well, you know the version Neil told.”

  “What?” I yell, kicking him in the stomach when reaches for me again.

  He lifts up, undoing his belt. “It was true, our dads wanted us to marry into the Kingsley or Monroe empire. It could have been any of them. But your mum? She thought she was too good for us. I wanted her for so long, but she turned me down each and every time. I even dated Nina to make her jealous.”

  “You’re a pig,” I scream. “You raped her because she knew what a sleaze you were.”

  He laughs, pulling his belt free. “And I enjoyed every second of it,” he admits, but then his face hardens, a sinister glint to his eye. “But then she had to blackmail me. I couldn’t stand for that. I’m not having some washed up whore try to take what I worked hard to achieve.”

  “What you had handed to you,” I retort. “And it didn’t stop you from raping her.”

  “If she hadn’t fucked around and tarnished her reputation with drugs and alcohol, I would have fucked her again, made her my wife.”

  I gag at the delusional prick. “You make me sick.”

  The belt whistles through the air before coming down across my stomach. The burn and pain has my back arching off the floor.

  Another slash to my thighs and my heart shatters into a million pieces, the wave of dizziness blurring my vision.

  Another slash across my chest and I fight to stay awake, my entire body trembling in excruciating pain.

  My hips are jerked, and moments later, fabric tears. My head tilts to the side, facing the door, and a tear rolls down my cheek.

  The last thing I see before I black out is Nova shakily standing behind him, holding something in her hand.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CARTER (Yes, you’ve read this right)

  “Did you hear that?” Selina asks, pulling away.

  I groan, leaning in to kiss her, but the echo of a scream has me gently pushing her off my lap and into her seat before getting out of the car, letting the rain soak me as I lean back into the car.

  “Call the police and don’t leave this car.”

  “No, I’m coming,” she tells me, her face pale when another scream erupts from inside.

  I shake my head fiercely. “No, Selina. Under no circumstances do you leave this car. I don’t care what else you hear. Do you understand?”

  She bites her lip, yet thankfully nods, leaning back in her seat. “Please hurry.”

  I wink, trying to hide the nerves swimming through me. I’ve never heard anyone scream like that in my life.

  And I swear to God, if it turns out she’s screaming over a spider or some shit, I’m going to throttle her.

  I don’t know the chick, but she reminds me so much of my sister, who killed herself a few years ago. My dad had cheated on my mum when I was six and kept his love child a secret. But a year after she was born, w
e found out and she became my world.

  But Dad not acknowledging her and the girls at school bullying her took a toll. She was strong, fierce, and always fought back. But a few years ago, it got too much for her.

  I saw that same fierce behaviour and strength in Ivy.

  I step inside the darkened house, not knowing where the hell I’m going. I rush towards the sound of whimpers, yet don’t get far before I’m falling on the stairs.

  Groaning, I push myself up, running up them when I hear another cry, but this one is different. It’s more like a battle cry, a cry of strength.

  I reach the door, my eyes bugging out at the shit storm going on inside. Nova, Selina’s aunt, has a stainless-steel vase in her hand, and before I can stop her, she’s smashing it across Royce Kingsley’s head. I watch in time to see the creepy bastard fall to the floor, but a hard body barrels into me, pushing me against the wall before I can tell her I’m here.

  “I’ve been waiting for this moment,” the deep voice says, holding something sharp against my side. Adrenaline pumps through me and I try to breathe through the haze threatening to consume me. “How does it feel to have your father hand you over to me?”

  “What?” I rumble, anger boiling through my veins.

  “Don’t play coy, Kaiden.”

  I scrunch my face up in disgust when it registers what he’s implying.

  “Fuck, what is that?” I ask, hoping to distract him.

  It works, and he twists his head in the other direction, giving me the opportunity to jab my elbow in his face.

  He staggers back, dropping the knife to the floor. He looks up, shocked to see I’m not Kaiden.

  Using the manoeuvres I’ve been trained to use over the years when I fight, I kick him in the gut, knocking the breath out of him. I don’t let him recover, instead stepping forward and headbutting him before I grip his jaw and walk him backwards until he bumps against the wall.

  From the corner of my eye, I see his arms lift, and I know he’s going to slap his palms over my ears to stun me. It won’t work. I’ve encountered the move many times, and many times my opponent has failed.