She cackles like I just told a cheap joke, slowly trying to approach me, forcing me to sneer in her direction.
"Luna, don't be silly. We're here to assist your transition to Featherstone Academy. Rafe knew this day would come. We don't have time to waste, especially if you want to grab a few of your things before we leave."
"Leave? I'm not going anywhere, definitely not with you or to some random Academy. I'm happy where I am, and I'd be even better if you would actually just fuck off, and take your fucking muscle men with you."
These guys are just milling around, taking up space. Clearly here to back my mother.
Before she can respond there is pounding on the door and shouts from the other side. I recognize Jake’s voice, and as I go to unlock the door, a rough callous hand wraps around my arm. It's the same guy who trapped us in here. Well I assume it is, these guys are like standard issue bad boys, I haven’t been able to differentiate them yet.
"Get your fucking hands off of me,” I growl, as I glare at him.
He loosens his hold only slightly, "I can't let you open that door, Miss Steele."
What does this fucker mean, he can't let me? I don't answer to this guy. I'm practically growling through my teeth at him. I go to step back, but his hand remains wrapped around my wrist.
The. Fuck.
The thunder in my eyes finally has this guy letting go.
Damn straight, asshole.
If looks could kill I’d have burnt him alive with the fire in my glare, but instead I’m gonna have to get physical.
"Luna," Rafe calls, gaining my attention. Distracting me from the pounding on the door and this dead man in front of me.
I move to Rafe. His tattooed hands braced on his knees, his long brown hair is slicked back into a man bun, his brown eyes searching my face. I don’t like how his olive skin seems pale. I’ve never seen his giant frame look so small.
"Rafe, you need to explain to me what's going on. Why are you here? Why is Cruella back? And what is with the D list boy band?"
"I'm sorry Luna, so sorry. I'd hoped things had changed and we'd avoided all this. I thought I'd been able to keep you out of their hell hole, but I was naive enough to believe your mother's words.”
He rubs the back of his neck, his sign for being stressed.
“I did everything she asked to make sure they stayed away from you. It wasn't enough, I'm truly sorry Luna. I swear if I'd known I'd have got us the fuck out of here when she first found us."
My mother moves to the center of the room, clearly missing out on all the attention.
"Like they wouldn't have found her Rafe. This is bigger than all of us and you know it. Don't try and sugar coat it and make her think there's hope, that'll only make it worse. I haven't got time for this and I've been as nice as possible, but we need to get moving. We've wasted enough time having to come find her. I humored the girl, I allowed her the time to fight, now let’s go,” she says, waving her hands in the direction of the door.
"Honestly, what the fuck is going on. Stop talking like I'm not standing right here."
My brain can't process what is going on around me. I have so many questions right now, but I can't seem to figure out which one to start with.
"Luna, I'm sure you are excited and have plenty of questions. I'll answer them in the car, we need to get moving. Now,” Veronica responds, irritation ruining her whole sweet act.
Is this woman delusional? What reaction gave my excitement away?
None. No movement at all because I’m so far from excited it’s unreal.
"Why aren't you listening? I'm not going anywhere!"
I want to punch her in the face.
I'm getting beyond angry now. She can't show up, out of the blue, yet again, suddenly expecting me to go anywhere with her. It’s official Veronica Hindman is a narcissistic sociopath.
Fuck it.
“I’ll happily take one for the team and knock some sense into you mother,” I say sweetly, mocking her previous tone.
I slap her across the face.
Pleased that I got to smack a bitch, even if it wasn’t the one I had intended to go for.
She screams like a banshee, hand to her cheek. Stunned I would touch her. The motherly act is gone now, and she steps toward me in retaliation as Rafe stands between us, ruining all the fun.
The guys have stepped in close too. As the banging at the door gets louder, and more frantic at the sound of her scream.
"Raphael, you better get this little bitch in line, and for the last time, we need to leave,” my mother screams at him, using his full name.
I look at him. Why the fuck is he going to listen to my mother?
He isn't going to agree with what she's saying.
I don't care what Rafe's sorry for, he can explain it more when we get out of here. Right now, I just want out of this locker room and as far away from these lunatics as possible. He looks at me with resignation written all over his face.
"I'm sorry Luna, this is out of my hands. Go with them, it's the easiest option for now."
How can he say that so calmly?
"Go with them? What the hell, Rafe?" I yell. It’s worse because he’s being too calm and relaxed about all of this.
"Luna, look at me. I promise I won't give up, but we aren't prepared right now and we're outnumbered."
"Open the fucking door then. Jake and the others are right there, better yet don't underestimate me. Us." I yell.
Eyebrow raised, arms out to the side. He knows what we are capable of,
