Page 22 of Ruthless Deliverance

21

CREED

Bypassing the bitchy secretary, I walk into Cabot’s office and slam the door closed behind me. The old man jumps a bit, dropping his phone on the desk. I don’t have to guess it was something he wasn’t supposed to be doing, because the principal has the lowest morals around—which is what makes him so easy to control.

“I want Thibaut gone. Now.”

Cabot stutters over his words, standing from his desk. There’s a loud knock on the door before it’s pushed open. Damn it, Dani. I knew she wouldn’t let this shit go but I can’t face her right now. Not after my admission about the accident. There are a few people who know that night screwed with my mind, but none know exactly how much.

Dani steps into the office. “Sir, I need to speak with you.”

“He’s busy,” I respond to her before turning back to him. “Gone. Now.”

“Wait? Who? Thibaut? Mr. Cabot, please hear me out before you side with this barbarian. It was an accident. Really it was.”

“No. It wasn’t. A teacher doesn’t inadvertently run into a student outside of school and punch her in the eye.”

“Okay, first off. He didn’t punch me. It was his elbow. And he hit me by mistake. Not everyone has ulterior motives like you.”

“Yes, they do. There’s no such thing as an accident.” The word makes me cringe because that’s what everyone said about the car wreck. That’s how officials classified it—accidental. There was nothing accidental about it. Ethan made the choice and so did I. Only he paid the ultimate price.

“And what about you?” Dani shouts at me, throwing her arms in the air. “What’s the penalty for punching a teacher in middle of class?”

Her defending the scum pisses me off almost as much as his accidental run-in with her. “Not a fucking thing. Right, Cabot?”

“Okay. Um.” Cabot rubs his fingertips over his brow. “Let me get to the bottom of this, Creed.”

She gives me a little scrunch with her nose, thinking she’s making some headway for her precious instructor. Wrong. But she’s right about one thing, I have control over this school, and she’s about to find out exactly how much. A smirk spreads on my lips, her face becoming more concerned as I look away and at Cabot. “Thibaut is done. Take care of it, or I will.”

He gives me a slight nod, knowing that the choice isn’t his—it’s between him and Thibaut. And if he selects Thibaut, then they’ll both be out the door.

“What? That’s it?” Dani breathes, looking between me and Cabot. “You’re not going to hear me out? Or Mr. Thibaut? You’re just going to let this little punk tell you what to do?” She stares at us in silence for a few seconds.

“Danica, get back to class, Thibaut is not your concern,” Cabot instructs.

“Obviously he’s not yours either.” She looks around the office, then stops on me. “What the actual fuck is going on around here? I know the Kincaids built this place … but really? That’s it? You get to assault people and walk away free and clear? No wonder you’re such a pompous ass.”

She has no idea, and it will stay that way. Cabot will ensure it because my family building the school has little to do with the control I have over him and everything to do with his side activities at the school. None of which he can afford to be taken away because he’d lose everything. Between distributing to students and being involved with the drugs one of his students was taking when they died, he’d be finished. At Sacred Creed and in his chosen field.

“Run along, Danica,” I goad her, her hatred for me clear.

But it’s Cabot she warns. “You will be the one responsible for these idiots in the end.” Then she turns and stomps out. Wrong again. Even if Cabot is under my control, he’s not responsible for my actions. That’s on me. And I will eventually face the music.

22

DANI

Surreal. Unbelievable. Completely, utterly grotesque. I don’t know how else to describe what I witnessed hours ago in Cabot’s office. Philip made it clear that the principal had no control over the kids, but it’s not that he doesn’t have control over them, it’s that they control him. Well, one student for certain, and I refuse to believe it’s solely based on Creed’s family legacy. There was definitely a threatening approach to Creed’s demands, and not simply in the I’m-a-pompous-ass-and-people-do-as-I-say manner. He has something on Cabot. And my guess is it involves the illegal substances within the academy walls.

Where the hell is Philip? Any other time, he’s here when I don’t want to see him. Yet, I wait for him now, pacing back and forth in front of the bay window that looks out over the driveway, the events of the day running on repeat through my mind.

As soon as I spot Philip’s car turn into the drive, I dart to the garage. When the sight of Philip brings relief, shit is bad.

I’m standing in the doorway of the garage as he exits his car, slams the door, and walks up to me, his expression livid. “Couldn’t find anyone else’s nose to break so you incited others into a fight?”

“How’d you know?” I wasn’t exactly a spectator in the shitstorm, but I hadn’t “incited” Creed to throw down either. “Who told you?”

“I’m your parent for all intents and purposes, Danica. I’m going to be notified when you step out of line.”