Page 18 of Wicked Titan

This school is unbelievable—then it dawns on me. “So … what part of the school did your family build?”

“None of it.” He winks, “But we did help build the football stadium.”

I can’t mask the irritation on my face. “So, what happens to the peons whose families didn’t fund this place? Do they get away with murder too?”

“Yes, most of the time. But we didn’t get away with it. Principal Huntington finally figured out that pulling students out of class wasn’t a punishment but a reward. He devised other ways to make us suffer, and it’s usually based off the crime committed.”

“And what’s the sentence for fighting?”

“Saturday and Sunday at school. It really is a punishment.”

There’s a slight moment where I’m thankful to Asher. And it’s really only very slight, but I’m glad he didn’t rat me out. Staying at this school longer really is a worse punishment.

“I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” Grant folds his hands on the table.

“That’s the truth,” Wade interrupts before walking across the room.

“Just ignore him,” Grant says, his eyes on Wade.

“I’m trying,” I say as calmly as possible, feeling the muscles in my hands tense. “I’m trying to ignore all of them, but they’re everywhere.”

“Yes, they are.” He seems to know I’m speaking of Asher and his following. “But I’ll be around, too, if you need anything.”

I look away, unsure how to respond. I want to take a hammer to Asher’s buttons, but I don’t want to bring Grant into whatever mess Asher has planned. He isn’t going to give up even if I do my best to ignore him. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Seems like you have enough issues with them.”

“It doesn’t matter. And I can take care of myself, despite appearances,” he motions to his face. “I’d really like to hang out sometime if you’re up for it.”

I give him a slight smile, not answering as Mason enters my mind. Even without all the crap with Asher, Mason is still lingering in the background. We aren’t technically together anymore, but I don’t know exactly what we are. Nothing makes sense since the night I lost my dad, and even thinking about my dad isn’t making sense to me. Maybe if I can figure out the truth about what was going on with him, I can make sense of everything else around me because right now, I feel like I’m spiraling down a dark hole. With Asher tormenting me along the way.

The teacher begins explaining the projects he has planned for the next few weeks as Wade resumes his seat across the table from me, taking too many glances in my direction. I wonder if he’s here by choice or if he’s another ploy in Asher’s mind game.

13

Stepping out of the Audi in the garage, I look over to the broken-down Corvette. The gift that keeps on giving, my dad had said because he’d loved the time we’d spent working on it, even if we’d made very little progress. Climbing and the Corvette—the two things I’d once loved significantly now only cause an inescapable heartache. Hurrying out the garage, I slam the side door closed as I dash across the driveway. No need to reminisce about the dream car that is now nothing but a memento of my never-ending nightmare.

Walking through the back door of the house, I make my way into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water out of the fridge. I head in the opposite direction of my room, planning to take the rear staircase in order to avoid seeing anyone, but mainly Candace. She’s not only a reminder of the pain I’d experienced at her hand as a seven-year-old child, but her presence also recaps the current anguish that I’m only here because my dad isn’t.

The immaculately decorated hallway seems endless as I make my way towards my room. I freeze at the sound of hushed voices coming from a room I’m unfamiliar with—there are only about a million of them, so who can blame me. Holding my breath, I listen as the tone of the conversation takes a heated direction.

“I want answers … now.”

Nathan.

“And you think I don’t?” A female’s voice but definitely not Candace.

I shouldn’t eavesdrop, but my feet are glued to the floor. It can’t be more than a business meeting, right? Nathan is supposed to be a decent guy. Maybe it’s his assistant or something … in his house … in the afternoon … having a meeting in a room that’s not his office.

“We were so close. He had to know we were onto him.” Nathan’s words hang in the air, but the woman remains silent. “Did you tell him?”

“Of course not, dipshit. I’m done with this conversation.”

Before I can get out of sight, the door swings open. A woman dressed in a gorgeous black pant suit, red hair falling in waves around her shoulders, stops short, green eyes boring into me. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she walked straight off a magazine cover.

Nathan steps out the room, moving around her as he spots me without an ounce of surprise on his face. “I’m guessing the second day of school wasn’t as exciting as the first?”

Oh, if he only knew. The only difference was I wasn’t the hands-on perpetrator of the big event today.