Page 129 of Depraved Boys

Bianca let out a theatrical gasp as though adding drama and realism to the accusation.

My nostrils flared, but I clamped my lips together. How did that even make sense in his twisted mind?

Mrs. Benazir huffed. “I didn’t allow this meeting to take place for you to malign the reputation and intentions of a promising young student.”

The tension around my insides receded a little at her defense, but I remained quiet. He could rant and accuse all he wanted, but nothing would change my mind.

Maybe if the queens got into trouble for what they did to me, the knights would think twice before subjecting another girl to the disgusting assault they committed on Ashley.

“What about Geraldine and me?” Bianca whined. “We didn’t do anything wrong, but the police want us to give them genetic samples. What about our reputations?”

Mr. Byrd snarled. “Miss Evergreen is nothing but an opportun—”

Someone knocked on the door and opened it a few inches. “Mrs. B,” said the male voice. “There’s an incident in the swimming block that requires your urgent attention.”

The headmistress stood. “Miss Byrd, would you see your father out, please?”

As Mrs. Benazir hurried toward the door, I bolted out of my seat. If that nasty father and daughter combination wanted to spew more lies and shit, they could do it without me as an audience.

The headmistress and the caretaker broke out into a sprint, and I followed after them at a brisk walk, wondering if the younger students had committed a copycat act in response to the attack on Ashley. If I galloped up the stairs, I’d still be able to catch most of Miss Weir’s lecture. Fortunately, I had brought my textbooks—

My bag. In my haste not to be left alone with Bianca and Mr. Byrd, I’d left it in Mrs. Benazir’s office.

I hurried back, opened the door a crack just as the air filled with the sound of a palm striking flesh. Bianca spun and landed face-down on the desk.

I sucked in a deep breath and clapped my hand over my mouth.

Without moving from her position on the desk, Bianca sobbed. “I’m sorry, Papa!”

Mr. Byrd flipped up her green skirt, exposing a lacy, red thong. I stiffened, bracing myself to see a hard spanking, but instead, he stroked her buttocks. “You’ll be sorry when I’ve finished with you.”

The clink of metal from a belt unbuckling made my stomach lurch. Would Mr. Byrd whip her with his belt?

Bianca whimpered. “Someone might see.”

He chuckled and ran a finger between her buttocks, making Bianca flinch. “Mrs. Benazir knows to mind her own business. Besides, the swimming block is—”

“My bag!” Without thinking, I bolted forward.

Mr. Byrd jumped away from his daughter. Bianca straightened and turned around. The pair of them glowered at me—hatred and suspicion burned in the father’s eyes, and fear shimmered in the daughter’s.

Nausea overtook my senses, and my head pounded in time with my clattering heart. What had I just seen? Maybe I hadn’t interpreted the situation right. Some parents spanked their children. One time, Ashley and I were fighting, and Dad spanked us both, saying that sisters should be united against the world. Since that moment, neither of us lifted a finger against the other.

A tiny voice in the back of my mind told me I was deluding myself. No normal father would slap their daughter in the face, and no normal father would lift her skirt to caress her buttocks.

My legs shook as I edged toward my bag.

Tension quivered through Mr. Byrd’s posture, reminding me of a panther about to strike. I kept my gaze on the man even as I knelt to pick up my bag. My numb hands fumbled around the ground for signs of the fabric until my fingers closed around the strap.

As I rose, neither of them spoke. Neither of them moved. Neither of them changed expression. But their eyes followed my backward retreat through Mrs. Benazir’s office.

It wasn’t until the door clicked shut that I galloped through the hallway toward the west wing. The image of that large, groping hand on Bianca’s buttock played itself over and over in my mind until I reached the top of the stairs and doubled over to catch my breath.

I braced my hands on my knees and panted out loud and deep. There was no way Mr. Byrd didn’t know I’d just discovered his perverted secret, and my stomach lurched at the thought of what he would do to ensure my silence.

My recent experience with the knights’ assault on Ashley told me that reporting it wouldn’t amount to anything. That was a decision for Bianca, and I would be willing to offer a witness statement if she asked. Straightening, I ran a trembling hand through my hair, let out a shuddering breath, and walked to my room.

Someone shoved me hard against the wall. A glance over my shoulder told me it was Bianca. “I don’t know what you thought you saw in Mrs. Benazir’s office,” she snarled, “but you’re going to forget it.”