“Not if we want Terrence to legally get custody. Unfortunately, we have to do this the right way,” Garrett says, running his fingers through his dark blond hair that’s now messy from stress. I guess your children always getting attacked by psychos will do that shit to you. “I’ll press on Samantha until she gets shit done.”
“Press.” Jace snorts and Penny smirks. “Does your girlfriend know you want to press on your attorney?”
“His girlfriend hates Samantha,” Penny says with an evil glint in her eyes.
“Focus, children,” Garrett growls, pinning Jace with a glare.
“I wanted to hire a private investigator to find Lacey but…” I trail off. “It’s expensive.”
Garrett nods in silent understanding. “I know someone. Don’t worry about it. I’ll get him on it.”
“I can…” Pay you back.
“I know.” Garrett smiles. “It’s okay. We’re going to get her back for you. Terrence, you just keep yourself out of Hoodlum trouble. Don’t be a Cal.”
Cal laughs, flipping us off from the dining room where he has Charlotte in his lap while he talks to Roan and Hollis.
“We will get her back,” Garrett assures me. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Penny
I stare at a text from Jack for the millionth time, wondering how to respond.
He needs me to sit for him tonight. But ever since Friday night where he put his hands on me and threatened me, I’m afraid to. That, coupled with what happened on Saturday night at the party, has me never wanting to leave my bedroom again. Yesterday, after breakfast, I went back home because I needed to shower and put on real clothes. I needed normalcy.
I wanted to drag Terrence along with me, but he was buzzing with worry over Zella. Since we couldn’t exactly make out in front of everyone, we sneaked in a quick kiss when he walked me out to my Jeep. We texted a bit, but mostly, I stayed in my bed trying to replay the good times I had with Terrence rather than obsess over the horrible ones at the party.
I could just ignore it.
Quit.
Never step foot in that man’s house again.
But what about Zella? That’s basically leaving her with the big, bad wolf. I can’t do that to her. I can handle myself. I’ll just keep my Mace handy. I can’t, however, abandon that little girl. Not now knowing what he did to Lacey and Zella’s grandma, Vicki.
Quickly, I reply back to Jack before I lose my nerve.
Me: I can do it. You’re not going out drinking, are you?
Jackoff Henderson: No, sweetheart. Friday I was out of line. I apologize.
Whatever, creep.
Me: It’ll have to be after basketball practice.
Jackoff Henderson: Thank you.
I shove my phone into my hoodie pocket along with my keys, wondering if it’s time to leave this hell hole yet. Finally, my teacher gets cut off by the sound of the last bell of the day. Snagging up my backpack, I haul ass out of class, eager to get to practice. I keep my head down and my pace quick, ignoring all the loud chatter around me.
“Get her.”
The voice is my only warning as I pass the boys’ bathroom. Hands grab me, yanking me inside. A shriek escapes me before a hand clamps over my mouth.
“In here, Grayson,” Eli barks out from the handicapped stall.
I struggle, but Grayson is too strong. He easily rips away my backpack to get a better hold on me. My heart is thumping so hard, I think I might have a heart attack. I kick out, trying to reach anything with my feet, but only manage to get air. He rounds the corner and I get a good look at Eli.
Man, I fucked him up.
The side of his face is stitched up. His skin is black and blue. Satisfaction chases away the terror. I shove my hand into my hoodie pocket, grabbing hold of my keys.
“An eye for an eye, bitch,” Eli growls, cracking his neck and curling his hands into fists.
Grayson laughs from behind me.
It’s clear Eli is going to hit me…or worse, and Grayson is going to help.
Fuck them.
I jerk my hand out, my finger on the Mace trigger. This is going to suck for me, too, but at least I’ll get to douse this asshole. It sprays out, shooting Eli right in the face. I’m aiming for his stitches. He roars in horror, clutching his face and choking. Grayson releases me as we both start coughing. Tears burn from the terrible spray, but it gives me my out. My eyes and nose and throat feel on fire, but I still manage to stagger my way out of the bathroom.
I crash into another guy.
Without looking, I nail him in the balls. I’m not going to let Paxton finish whatever those two assholes were starting.
But it’s not Paxton.
Cal groans and then curses. “Fuck, Penny. What the fuck?”
“Cal,” I choke out, tears rolling from my eyes. “T-They’re in there and t-they were g-gonna hurt m-me!”
He recovers quickly from my assault and pushes me aside. Just as he opens the bathroom door, Eli and Grayson come stumbling out. Eli is in bad shape, gasping like a fish, his face bright red.
“Get him to the nurse,” Cal snaps to Grayson.
Grayson helps Eli toward the stairwell. Cal reaches inside the bathroom to grab my backpack and then puts an arm around me.
“You okay, kiddo?” he asks, now sniffling from the pepper spray.
I’m shuddering, but safe, so I nod. He guides me downstairs and to the office. Once I’m seated, he texts someone on his phone before stalking into Aunt Karen’s office. The door slams hard enough pictures slide off the walls, crashing to the floor.
I shove my keys back into my pocket and grab my phone to text Terrence.
Me: I won’t be at practice.
Smash: Don’t be a slacker, slacker.
His playfulness has emotion overwhelming me. I want to pretend with him. That everything is fucking normal.
Is this how it was with Charlotte?
Ryan was hurting her and threatening her, but she would just put on that famous cheerleader smile to protect those around her from her problems.
I feel guilty for not understanding her before. How she wouldn’t just seek help or confide in us. It’s overwhelming when people are trying to hurt you and all you want to do is protect the ones you care about.
Jack.
Eli, Grayson, Paxton.
I want to deal with them on my own, but I feel outnumbered.
“Hey, Zero,” Liv says, peeking her head in the office. “Heard you got in a fight with boys and were sent to the office. I had to see for myself. I tried to tell Ericka you don’t fight with boys. You just let them tag team you at parties, but she didn’t believe me.” She holds up her phone and snaps a picture. “Now I have proof.”
I hiss at her. “Keep taking pictures of me and I will shove your phone up your ass.”
“You let them take pictures on Saturday night,” she sneers. “Just like your whore sister. Heidi told me all about what skanks the English sisters are.”
Springing from the chair, I rush her, tackling her to the linoleum just outside the office. She screeches when I grab a handful of her hair and smack the shit out of her. This bitch talks a good game, but I am not in the mood to be fucked with. As she squirms, trying to avoid another smack, I grab her phone, throwing it hard against the floor.
“Get off me, you bitch!” she screams.