Page 80 of Speak No Claim

Bowing her head slightly, she corrected, “If Dad would’ve found you two like this, who knows what kind of punishment you’d receive. Do you understand that? You’re lucky he’s out of town. Now let me guess…” She paused, allowing her words to sink in. “Jones said something about the security cameras being out. Did you have something to do with that too?”

“Alfred?” Hennessy announced, trying to follow along.

“Yeah,” Deja replied. “Did you cut the wires so Dad wouldn’t see you with her?”

“No.”

“Then who?”

“I don’t know, Deja. I’ve been unconscious.”

She rolled her eyes, only further testing my temper.

“What time is it?”

“Time for you to get your shit together! Did you not hear a word I said to you this morning? Seriously, are you just allergic to listening?”

“Deja, enough,” I ordered, my body tensing.

Hennessy glanced back and forth between us before grabbing her lunch box and cell phone. “I’m going to go.”

“Deja,” I bit out. “Get out.”

“Onyx—”

“Now!”

She shook her head, backing away. “This is not going to end well, okay? You’re like the modern-day Romeo and Juliet.”

“Romeo and Juliet?” Hennessy caught on, knowing Shakespeare. “Who are the Capulets and who are the Montagues?”

“Does it matter?” Deja clipped.

“Yes.” Hennessy nodded, only looking at her. “The Montagues built their power on loyalty and the Capulets built theirs on fear, so which one are you?”

“That’s the fucked-up part, Hennessy. He was raised to be both.”

“Enough, Deja! Get out!”

“Fine!” she griped. “If you get yourself killed, I will personally bring you back to life just to kick your ass!” Her stare shot to Hennessy. “Will you be able to live with that guilt? You think you can do that? Because let me tell you, I know all about that kind of guilt.”

“Deja, we’re just friends.”

Hearing Hennessy say that to Deja was far worse than the lashing I just took for her.

“Don’t fall in love with him, Hennessy. Not like your⁠—”

“Get the fuck out!” I snapped, groaning from the sudden movement on my back.

Hennessy jolted from my sharp tone while Deja threw another tantrum, mumbling some shit under her breath as she slammed my bedroom door for the second time today.

Hennessy didn’t hesitate. “Not like who?”

I shook my head, lying, “I don’t know what she’s talking about.”

“Bullshit.”

I groaned again, feeling the ache in my back. “I don’t have the energy for this.”