The boys could see now, see it all, and immediately started parting the crowd. They did for me to run and them to follow, the process made easy with Knight. He bowled over motherfuckers, no one a match for his size and speed.
“Get the fuck out of the way!” he charged, but not quick enough. By the time we got outside, they already had Royal down the steps of the school and into a squad car. A line of school security stood between us and the car, so we could only watch on, letting them arrest Royal.
The police shut the door in Royal’s face behind the security line, and by then, the entire student body stood on the school’s brick insignia to witness. The squad car’s lights flashed, and next thing we all knew, they were driving away, Royal inside.
Royal faced the back window, watching me. He wasn’t even concerned about himself, all focus on me.
“Get back to class, everyone.” Principal Hastings pushed his way through the crowd. “I won’t hesitate to take away your prom. Be the example for Mr. Prinze.”
I made eye contact with him then, tears in my eyes, and he did nothing but fold his arms. He stared right at me, his look so fucking smug. He clearly believed he’d done a good job here today, and it took all I had not to punch him in his face for what he’d allowed to happen so publicly…
The bruises he’d no doubt left on my arm would only support the violence.
Ten
December
The crew and I were in for a long day ahead of us. Knight, Jax, LJ, and I had to wait until school let out for us to do anything, and after, the boys were immediately heading to their cars and making calls. Their focus to get information on what was going on and Royal’s place in it started the moment we left the school campus, but since I wasn’t focused on making any calls and just getting to Royal, I did that. The boys gave me the combination to Royal’s locker, so I got his keys. Before I knew it, I was in his Audi and speeding off before even the boys could catch up with me. Jax actually yelled at me, wanting to come with, and I would have let him if I fucking cared enough to slow down.
Knowing he could get a ride from the other guys, I sped on, blowing through traffic lights and even stop signs. It was reckless, yes. It was stupid even more so, but I didn’t care. Royal was arrested for having some connection with Mira, and that was bullshit. He’d told me he had no idea why she’d killed herself, and I believed him. We weren’t doing this crap to each other anymore, keeping secrets. I believed him, so I knew whatever was going on now was full of shit.
It had to be.
I took up about three parking spaces when I parked. For one, because I didn’t know how to frickin’ drive this thing, and for second, because Royal was actually coming out of county lockup the moment I showed up. He was basically being dragged down the steps by his father who not only looked pissed the hell off but showed him that when he jerked him. I didn’t know whether Royal was over that or just standing up for himself because the next thing I knew Royal shoved his father back. Like literally shoved him to the point where he stumbled in his leather shoes and trench coat. The swing came out of nowhere, and it had to have because it caught Royal right in his eye. His dad sent him down for the count, and I threw myself out of the car.
“Royal!”
This gained Mr. Prinze’s attention in ways it had before, the man assaulting his son only for other witnesses to see. I’d been that witness two times now.
“This is family business,” the man in a trench coat growled at me, and with what I knew now about him, it took all I had in me not to attack him. He covered up my sister’s murder, but right now, he definitely didn’t need to know I knew that. It was pertinent so we could keep up our search for evidence. Because of that fact and only that, I ended up on me knees in the chilly winds instead of punching the man’s lights out.
“Royal…” His eyebrow was bleeding, not a direct hit this time to his eye. He lifted a hand as if he was fine, and seeing that, Mr. Prinze charged forward.
He grabbed Royal’s arm. “I said this is family business—”
“Fuck off, Dad.” Royal got to his feet, pulling away from his dad and grabbing me. He did so to shield me, but when his dad appeared to be coming at him again, I did the shielding.
I put a hand out, one between the both of them.
“He’s coming home with me,” I gritted, daring that man to come at me and strike my boyfriend again. I shook my head. “Sorry, Mr. Prinze, but he is.”
Truth was, I wasn’t sorry. I wanted him to fucking bleed, but I needed Royal safe. I didn’t know what he’d do to him if they went home together.
I think what I said surprised both of them, Royal’s eyebrows jumping just as steadfast as his father’s. It must not have frazzled him long because in the end, Royal chose me.
“Leave, Dad,” he said, standing up to him again. His throat jumped. “I appreciate you bailing me out, but I’m not going with you. Sorry.”
He seemed even less sorry than I did, and eyes wild, I wondered if Mr. Prinze would strike us both, strike me. A glance at his watch took him in another direction.
Eyes of a dull
