He’s gone by the time I open my eyes, though the bed is still warm. I wish he woke me beforehand, but I get it. He’s got a lot going on, he doesn’t need my drama as well. Which means I can’t make my stand right now. Is stand the right word? Ahh, what does it matter? I think it works and it isn’t as though anyone can hear my thoughts, thank God. It would be mortifying if anyone ever knew the way I think, or that my own head talks back to me.
All Residents must make their way to the assembly hall. You have ten minutes.
Ten minutes, are they insane? It’s only seven in the morning. I’m so damn tired. I throw on a navy blue skirt that has been left on a chair for me, I guess Tucker wants me to wear this? It falls down to my ankles at the back, but my knees at the front. I find a black top with a scooped neck and short sleeves, a pair of strappy heels, and rush for the hall.
“You look gorgeous, Homegirl,” D says, as she rushes to my side, and we make it to the hall just in time. We take our seats at the front, and I know I’m about to be released. Which means I’ll belong to Emmet, the one who only wants me because of who my mother is. Does everything have to come back to Selene?
“Moonbeam.”
He stands in front of me, but I won’t look at him. I have nothing to say, and I don’t want to hear a single word that he has to say.
“Tom, get on the stage this instance,” Miss Lucien commands, he doesn’t move at first, before he huffs out a breath and mounts the stage.
Miss Lucien doesn’t take the microphone. Instead, Sir comes straight out. It’s a little unorthodox, and I doubt I’m the only one wondering why.
“Tucker is now back in the Academy. His claim will not be reinstated. I have been made aware that a few fireworks have gone missing, I expect them to be returned today. If they are, I may consider letting the guilty party off with a warning. I will only make this offer once. I will be back in two weeks, any new claims will wait until then. That will be all.” He steps down, and Emmet is fuming. It’s easy to tell by his red face and the way he stares at Thallon. He thinks he’s backed out on his promises to let me go. I know there’s more to it, but I doubt he’ll believe me.
36
Calculated Risk
Emmet
I find Thallon in the game room, with Aeron and Tucker at my side. He’s going to pay for betraying me.
“You said you would release her. You lied.” I grab his shirt. He rolls his eyes as he pushes my hands away, tearing it in the process. I didn’t even realize I was gripping it that tightly.
“I tried. However, Arthur wouldn’t allow it. He says I haven’t done enough to make her miserable. What am I supposed to do?” He smiles, and I want to wipe it off his face. The issue is, we’re evenly matched. Maybe I should set Tucker on him, he’d be sure to do some serious damage.
“Try harder, I don’t want her around you anymore. This is your last warning, I’ve had enough of your shit, Thallon.” I stretch out his name, and his eye twitches. “He wants her to suffer, then make it look good. Do not hurt her though, I won’t have you ruining her.”
I storm out of the room, his laugh following me. I really should get Tucker to lay into him, but with what he’s going through, he might not stop.
“You need to speak to Arthur, find out why Cole is back,” Aeron drawls, his eyes heavy. He’s already high. Come on, man. It’s only seven thirty in the morning.
“Agreed, keep an eye on Star. If Thallon goes too far, one of us will step in, fuck the consequences.” My tone brokers no argument, but I dare them to try.
Sure, my obsession stemmed from the fact I’ve seen a poor replica of her face my entire life. It’s not healthy, but that’s the way it goes. It got worse when dad laid down the law and told me about the marriage clause. Narcissistic asshole. I wasn’t going to lose out on what I’ve been trained for my whole life. I needed something to make the beatings, harsh words, and cruel life lessons worthwhile. If I’m not heir, then what the fuck am I?
It’s better if he thinks I only want her for those exact reasons, but it has changed for me. I don’t know when it happened, I think it snuck up on me in the dead of night. It was before I finally got to have my way with her, I just didn’t realize until after. Emotions have no place in the corporate world, or even a marriage if I go by dad’s example. I don’t want to be like that with her, I think I might love her. I can’t let anyone know though, especially not dad. I don’t trust him not to do something to remove her from my life permanently.
“I’m down with that. It can’t be you though, Emmet.” Tucker stands with his arms behind his back, looking like a tree with the amount of muscle he has going on.
“Why not?” My voice drops low, to chilly levels. Not that this fuckwad is scared of me. He knows he could put me in the ground if he wanted to.
It’s why he was the one who pulled the knife on Twenty during Halloween. His line that he won’t cross is so blurred, I doubt it even exists anymore. In all honesty, we should be allies.
“You’re not allowed to raise your fist, remember? If you step in against him doing whatever he’s entitled to, it won’t end well. I’ll do it.” Tucker cracks his knuckles, a sickening smile spreading across his face.
“You can’t either, not with Belle. I’ll do it. I have nothing to lose. I’m not afraid to lose a fight, not if it’s to protect Little Zero.” Aer looks between us before walking off.
“I guess that settles it. Let me know what happens with Arthur,” Tucker says, and I nod my agreement before I set off for his office.
I don’t hurry, but it doesn’t take me long either. I don’t care if I don’t have an appointment, I’m his son and he can damn well make time for me. If he’s leaving tomorrow, then there’s no time like the present.
I knock once, before pushing the door open. He looks up, a slight twitch takes over at the corner of his eye, it’s interesting that he isn’t shouting, yet.
“If this is about Miss Carter again…”
“No, Sir, it isn’t. Actually, it’s about Cole.”
“Okay, proceed.” He waves his hand at the chair, and I’m feeling confused. Why is he being so accommodating?
“I was wondering why he is back. I know I went ahead and dismissed him, but he was showing too much interest in the girls. I felt it was the right move, especially considering how often he would call for Miss Carter. I didn’t want him to feed information about her sister, or worse. Tell her family information about her. It was strategic, and I don’t understand why you would call him back in. I don’t trust him, especially with his brother in jail.” I place my ankle on my knee, acting aloof and cavalier.
“It’s because his brother is in jail that he had to come back. Believe me, I don’t like it anymore than you do. I know I haven’t been a great father to you, Emmet, but everything I have done is to prepare you for this world. Putting Luna in front of you, making you become Liam, changing the rules of how you can be able to take control. You need to be ready, and for that, you need a woman by your side that will look good on your arm.” He steeples his fingers on the desk, and my confusion is only growing more and more. “I know people think I probably want her because of how she looks, but I have no interest in the girl. Only as a future daughter in law, of course. I have Maria, and despite everything, she is a good fit as my wife. As for Cole, it was the only way I could ensure Bradley would confess to Ashley, without mentioning the girls. He was going to, believe me. Anything to tarnish the name of not only this place, but our family as well. I took a calculated risk, and we have to hope it does not backfire.