Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178117 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 891(@200wpm)___ 712(@250wpm)___ 594(@300wpm)
“I told you, there was a girl,” I say.
He slams his hand down onto the desk. “I warned you to fucking stop with those girls.” He points at me. “Those girls will be the end of your education. Your job. This legacy that I’ve built from the ground up.” His gaze lowers. “Your fucking life.”
I make a face. “Gee, Dad, thanks for the threat.”
“You think I’m joking, but this is fucking serious. You should be happy I’m still allowing you to step foot on this campus after what you and your friends did.”
Now he’s going too far.
My fingers claw at the seat. “We didn’t do shit.”
“A girl died. And you were involved,” he growls.
I keep my mouth shut, but I’m boiling with rage.
“I don’t care what your reasoning behind all this bullshit is. But this needs to stop.” He grinds his teeth. “Today.”
I get up and march to the window to stare outside. I can’t stand to look at him one second longer. I’m getting blamed for something I didn’t even fucking do. It’s always the same shit with my father. He always thinks I’m the bad guy.
“Sit your ass down. I wasn’t finished yet,” he says.
“I am.”
I hear his chair scoot back, but I’m not afraid. Not anymore.
No amount of pain he ever dished out comes close to what I’ve already endured.
He stands behind me, staring out the window with me.
But all I can focus on is Penelope, sitting there in the grass with her friends, watching the firefighters check if there really is a fire they need to put out. Like a perfect angel.
Innocent.
Liar.
He places a firm hand on my shoulder. “Is that her?”
I nod.
“And you think one simple girl is worth risking everything I’ve given you?”
I sigh out loud. “It’s Eve’s sister.”
I can feel him freeze up, and his fingers dig into my skin. “Stay. Away.”
Penelope
The whole school was in an uproar over who pulled the fire alarm, but obviously, I’m not going to tell anyone it was me.
Especially not now that the three boys have been called into the dean’s office. One day, that’s all it took for the officials to find the “culprits.”
I’m lucky the cameras only pointed at the doors, or everyone would’ve seen Dylan put his hands on my body. I still can’t get it off my mind, even now, a day later. It’s as if his fingers left a mark on my skin, despite the fact that he didn’t even … touch me.
All he did was fondle me through the fabric of my panties, but it was enough to make me soaking wet.
Fuck.
I hate how easily my body gives in to physical touch.
I sigh and try to focus on my homework, but it’s hard when that devilish face keeps popping up into my memories, that devious smile, and those fingers rolling through his metallic blond hair.
No wonder girls fawn all over them.
Something about those guys is magnetic.
Something … unforgettable, that’s for sure.
I roll my eyes. Look at me, all ridiculous and shit.
They’re fucking bullies. That’s what they are, plain and simple.
He tried to fucking set fire to my fishnets. Who does that? Like you have to be insane to think that’s okay. Or hot.
I swallow down the lump in my throat and open a new browser window. I have to find out more about these boys. They knew Eve, I’m sure of it now. I just don’t know how. Maybe she fell for them, and they laughed in her face. Perhaps they hurt her in a way that made her want to end things.
My fingers dig into the palm of my hand, but I push my feelings aside and search until I find some information. There’s not much to find about Alistair, but I can find the name Caruso all over. And it makes my jaw drop.
Because Dylan’s father’s picture pops up, and he’s posing right in front of this fucking school with an award in his hands and a smile on his face. Spine Ridge University dean.
That’s him.
That’s the man Dylan spoke to when I listened to their conversation.
Oh my God, no wonder they’re allowed to get away with so much bullying and violence. They punched a dude into the wall, literally trapped me on school grounds several times, and not to mention the bonfire, which is close to school grounds …
Dylan’s father must’ve been giving them a pass.
Fuck.
I slam my fist onto the table.
I click to the next website search I was doing and find Felix’s father as well. Mr. Rivera, billionaire with several companies under his belt, including a very famous private club called RIVERA that’s all over the world, a major retailer selling clothes, and of course Spine Ridge University board member.
My fingers squeeze the mouse so hard I almost break it.
Goddammit.
This explains so much.
Suddenly, something is slid under my door.