Page 37 of Savage Salvation

Ryan is all but bending over laughing as he says, “Come on, man. Tough loss but there’s plenty of better twats out there.”

My arm swings instantly, coming up to connect with Ryan’s mocking face. I can’t hit my father, but I can shut this motherfucker up. The force of the hit knocks him back. I quickly reach out, grab him with my left hand, pull him back towards me, and swing my right arm, my fist smashing against his nose, the bones making a satisfying crunch under my knuckles. But it’s not enough. The stupid son of a bitch has tormented her for years, and now he wants to sit here and laugh about all this shit.

Gripping his blazer in my fist, I pull him to me, lifting him so he’s on his tippy toes, eye to eye with me. “Stay the fuck away from me.”

Every bit of anger inside me wells up, surging through my arms as I throw him back, slamming him against the display case. The barrier immediately gives out, slivers of glass falling, flinging every which way as it crashes to the floor and Ryan lands inside the exhibit.

There’s not a damn person in that display worth remembering. Not if men such as Sid Hawthorne adorn the highest honor of recognition. Or men like me.

28

Kinsley

About sixty seconds after the bell announced his arrival in Savage Serenade, Isaac steps up to the counter, a sullen “Hey,” is all he says.

I knew this was coming. Even skipping school today, I knew I could only avoid the three asshats for so long. Now, it’s time to deal with the first. I’d thought he’d be the easiest of the three to face again. But the longer he stands there, the more the unnerving heaviness is weighing on my shoulders. Why? Because he was the one out of the three who I hadn’t been worried about.

“Kins, I’m sorry—”

“Don’t call me that.” My voice is unwavering, but my nerves are another story.

“I’m still your friend. It didn’t start out that way, but I really do care about you. And I never wanted to be your friend with benefits. I wanted to be with you, but I knew he’d never allow it.”

I’m not sure what to do with that, so I focus on what pisses me off the most. “Well, it is all up to him.”

“I knew you’d pick him in the end. It was always gonna be him.”

“You picked him.”

“My mom worked for his dad years ago.”

“I know.”

“But what you don’t know is she didn’t just move on to take a better offer. She was sleeping with his dad and got caught up in some of Sid’s under-the-table dealings. Gage somehow found out about it and used it against me. If my dad ever finds out, their marriage will be over. And if the shady company shit came to a head, I knew she’d take the fall for it. Sid would’ve used her as a scapegoat. I didn’t have a choice, Kins. But I swear, I never meant to hurt you.”

“You protected your parents. I get it.” But it still stings.

“But no one was protecting you.” Isaac’s voice trails off as he presses his palms against the countertop. “He asked me to keep an eye on you. And I did. But I never told him anything that Ryan wouldn’t already feed him.”

“Did you tell him about the letter?” I ask, unable to look at him.

“Yes. But Ryan would’ve eventually.”

It’s true. He would’ve. But why had Isaac volunteered to sell me out to the devil? “All you had to do was tell me the truth. I would’ve played along to protect your parents. But at least I would’ve known he was pulling the strings, arranging our gigs … you only joined the band because he wanted you to.” The words leave my mouth slowly as my eyes look up to him, scared of what I’d see, and it’s confirmed. “I’m impressed. That’s some great dedication you have to Gage. Taking up music, joining a band, watching the charity case.”

“It was never like that, Kins.”

“Sure.” I drop my eyes back to my textbook. “If you’re not rehearsing or shopping, you need to go.”

“I’m not gonna be rehearsing anytime soon,” Isaac lifts his cast, pointing to it with his good limb.

“I don’t feel sorry for you. Making a deal with the devil always comes with a price.” And I know I haven’t fully paid mine yet. Because even if I wanted it to be a simple night of meaningless sex, nothing is ever meaningless with the emperor of darkness.

“Yeah. I know. Ryan does too,” he says, grabbing my attention as I look to him. “Gage threw him into the glass display case yesterday.”

“That’s why she was calling me.” Danielle called me earlier, but I didn’t answer. Figured I’d call her back later and that she was doing her once-in-a-while-are-you-still-alive-and-breathing check-in.

“Yep. Ryan was banged up, but no cast for him. Just a broken nose and some stitches.”