Page 36 of Twisted Elites

“What’s going on?” My fists clenched the sheet. “Why is he only out on bail?”

“Mr. Pinkerton is working on that.” Sebastian sat on the edge of the bed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “His priority was to secure bail and get Kash out of that hell hole.”

“Okay.” I waited for him to elaborate.

“Once the police saw the evidence, and Barrett gave his statement saying that Bruce attacked Ashley, they could no longer maintain the falsehood that Kash was too dangerous to be let out.”

Pushing aside thoughts of Ashley’s murderous revenge, I leaned into his side and drew my knees into my chest. “When you put it like that, I can see that that was the best choice. But why is Mrs. Benazir threatening suspension?”

“Covering her ass.”

I stared up into Sebastian’s solemn, green eyes. “What do you mean?”

“The violence in the school has gotten so out of control that teachers are trying to murder students.”

“True,” I said.

“Even worse, former students are succeeding at the task. None of this would have happened if she didn’t slack off to read novels in the staffroom.

My brows rose, but I didn’t dare ask him how he knew that in case he mentioned that Miss Claymore had told him. “What are we going to do to keep Kash in the academy until the police drop the charges?”

Sebastian ran his hand down my back, easing the tension in my muscles. “Leo’s in Benazir’s office, speaking to his mother about the injustice of suspending a good student with no home in the UK, knowing that it will send him back to custody.”

My brows drew together, and I chewed my bottom lip. Mrs. Brunswick didn’t seem overly disposed toward Leopold. “Will she even listen to him?”

“He’s threatening to call that local reporter to stir up shit. So far, the overdoses haven’t made it to the press. If the paper learned what the boys did to Ashley and what she did in return, it would be in the headlines for months.”

“Let’s hope they don’t call his bluff,” I muttered.

* * *

After showering and dressing, I made my way to Advanced Calculus, expecting only to see Miss Weir. But Prakash turned around in the seat next to mine and beamed.

My chest tightened. Why was he so happy? Had things gone well with Mrs. Benazir?

Miss Weir scribbled some integrals on the board and launched into a demonstration of trigonometric substitution.

Prakash leaned across the table and whispered, “Thank you for warming my bed last night.”

Pleasure spread through my insides. I gazed at him through my lashes and murmured, “It was my pleasure.”

“I’ll make up for this morning,” he whispered.

“Yes, yes!” Miss Weir tapped the board with her chalk. “It’s great to have you back, Mr. Kashaayah, but you’ve missed weeks of classes. Please focus. Now is not the time to let your attention wane.”

“My apologies, Miss,” he said in a solemn voice.

I turned back to the front and focussed on the lecture. When the bell rang, we walked hand-in-hand down the stairs and through the hallway to the Information Technology class.

Students turned to stare as we passed, but Prakash kept his head high. Because of Barrett’s public outburst, everyone knew he was innocent. A few people shot me hateful looks, and I wondered if they blamed me for Ashley’s crimes.

Leopold bounded up to us from one of the classrooms. “Kash, what happened after she kicked me out of her office?”

Prakash grinned. “Whatever you said to your mother did the trick. Benazir agreed to let me stay.”

Brows drawing together, I stared into Prakash’s handsome face. “Will the police close Ashley’s case by then?”

“If they don’t, I’m screwed,” he muttered.