The funny thing was, I could’ve sworn I heard Jacob mutter “You’re wrong” before I was out.
Mom was pissed when I got back, but that was expected. She was glad I was safe, and I was, too. She did not understand why I wore someone else’s clothes, let alone a guy’s, but I told her—swore up and down—that nothing happened. Nothing between me and anyone.
I did totally fall asleep on Jacob’s chest, even drooled on him a little, but she didn’t need to know that. I’d woken up a few hours later, jerking myself awake to find that Jacob had fallen asleep too.
The most bizarre thing was, Jacob looked so peaceful when he was sleeping. So unlike how he was when he was awake.
But, anyway, Mom was upset with me, and to placate her, I told her no more parties for a long time. That was a promise, although I didn’t exactly promise it to her. She didn’t need to know the truth about what happened, and she didn’t need to know the vengeful thoughts in my head.
Archer, Brittany, her crew…I’d get them back. I would plan all day every day if I had to, until I had a plan so perfect and devious that I’d surprise even myself with it. They wouldn’t know what hit them.
I didn’t ask Mom about Dad the rest of the weekend, too lost in my own thoughts. I didn’t forget what had been said, didn’t forget what it all meant, but I’d let it slide until Archer and Brittany were dealt with. Once I could focus all of my energy on Dad and the truth, I would bring him up again to her. But for now, the topic was as good as dead at the Smith’s dinner table.
Not that it was our dinner table. It was Ollie’s.
By the time school came on Monday, I had the beginnings of a plan formulated in my head. I might need some help, but I was sure if I talked to Bobbi about it, she’d help. It didn’t sound like she was a huge fan of Brittany and her crew. I wasn’t particularly ready to return to school, but alas, there was nothing I could do. I had to face the music, as it was.
And so it shall be. The music would be faced, only the music that followed me the next Monday morning was dark.
Things around here were going to get worse before they got better.
Chapter Twenty-Four – Dante
When I promised Skull something, I would do anything to follow through. Anything. Most guys in the gang would say the same, but I was one of the few who meant it. I would die for him if I had to. But the job I had now was so much better than that.
It’d taken a while, but I’d found her. I’d found her, watched her, kept an eye on her even though he didn’t want me stalking her. Once she turned eighteen though, she officially became an adult. She would have to choose, and if I had any say in it, she’d make the right choice. I wouldn’t let her make the wrong one.
I didn’t know her well, but watching someone from afar, you could learn a lot. Their likes, their dislikes, what they did when they were faced with a person who they didn’t like…and a person they liked a bit too much.
I stood back even when I should’ve intervened. I was there the whole time, watching it all unfold. I even followed her and her savior to his apartment. What happened Friday had been the last straw. Skull hadn’t given me permission to do what I was about to do, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t sit back and let her make all of these mistakes when her true future was still unknown to her.
The weather had warmed yesterday. Still a bit cool to ride a bike, but there was no snow and the skies were clear.
And I didn’t mean a pedaling bike. I meant a motorcycle.
The chicks who hung around always loved it, and sometimes I took interest in them. Mostly just to pass the time, because I’d known for years now.
Jazmine would be mine. I’d make her see it. I’d make her believe it. I’d introduce her to a world she never knew existed. Open her eyes and let her view chaos in its entirety.
Chaos was a beautiful thing, truly. It was one of my most favorite things in the world.
I stood near my bike early the next Monday morning, staring at the front doors to the local high school. It was way too fancy for me. Just a quick look at the students getting out of expensive cars and heading into the glass doors told me that. Wearing black pants and leather, I didn’t fit in. With the sides of my head shaven and the tattoo curling around my skull, I definitely stuck out like a sore thumb around here.
There were cameras, but I didn’t care. If I played my cards right, it wouldn’t look like a kidnapping. It would look as if she came willingly.
And she would, because I knew her weakness.
Knowing weaknesses gave you a certain kind of advantage you just couldn’t get with anything else. Knowledge truly was power…of course, it also helped if you had a knife or a gun to back you up.
Knives were fun. They were my favorite. In fact, I had a pretty impressive one in my inner pocket in my jacket. I’d flash it if I had to, although I really hoped to avoid it. Didn’t want to cause a scene here at Midpark High.
I knew what vehicle I waited for, and the moment I saw it pull up to the school, the old van looking so out of place amongst the rich surroundings, my hands clenched into fists. This was it. I was going to see her up close. No more distance. No more hiding.
She got out of the car, waving to her mother before the old van drove off. I started walking across the parking lot, leaving my bike in one of the parking spots. My plan was to catch her outside, before she walked into those glass doors and disappeared in the sea of other high school students.
In reality, I wasn’t much older than them. A few years, but those few years meant I’d seen a lot. So much more than these rich kids had. To be as important as I was at twenty-two years old, you had to be willing to get dirty and bloody, and I’d done both for him time and time again.
I hurried across the painted walkway that sat between the parking lot and the school. It looked like she was taking her time…almost as if she didn’t want to go into those doors and step foot at the school.
Well, I supposed that meant I would be her savior today.
I was able to catch up to her, standing in front of her, stopping her sluggish walk immediately. She blinked in confusion, having no idea why a stranger like myself would practically bum rush to get near her, and she tilted that pretty head of hers up to me, her dark eyes locking with my blue ones.
Oh, God. She was even prettier up close. So pretty I instantly wanted to touch her all over.
That would come later. For now, I had to get her to come with me.
“Uh, excuse me,” Jazmine said, trying to walk around me, but I blocked her every time. A few other students around us were staring at me, but I didn’t care. Fuck all those people. Fuck them hard.
“Can’t let you go inside,” I told her, giving her a half-smile. Just being this close to her made my insides all warm. I could definitely get high off the feeling.
Her full lips pursed. “Why?”
“Because you have to come with me.”
She let out a nervous chuckle. “I don’t know you. I don’t have to go anywhere with you.”
I still smirked, and a hand reached inside my unzipped leather jacket. Flashing her the knife, I added, “You should know I’m more than okay with making a scene. It would be better for the both of us if I didn’t, but I’m prepared to do anything to get the job done.”