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Raven darts forward, but I grip her by the hood and hold her back.
“You think you’re so fucking smart, but you flipped your cards one by one without even knowing it, you piece of fucking shit.”
“Get your hands off me,” Perkins growls.
Captain slams him against the pegboard and it smacks them both in the head as it falls to the floor.
They’re about the same build, same height, but Cap is stronger, not that Perkins is fighting back.
“What are you gonna do if I don’t, huh? Threaten my baby girl again?” he spits in his face and Perkins’ jaw ticks. “Because I’m done with it. One more fucking thing and I’ll break your jaw, then every rib, one by fucking one.” Captain starts shaking.
“I’m helping you!” Perkins insists, and my eyes slice to meet Royce’s.
“By hiding my fucking kid?!” Cap bellows in his face. “By working with Graven? And I found your fucking card last night, motherfucker. Did you send Donley after her?”
“Captain,” I snap, needing to know what the fuck is going on, but he only grows angrier, no sign of letting up to be found.
I let Raven go, and knowing what to do, like she always does, she steps closer. “Cap,” she says softly, and just the sound of her voice is enough for him.
He freezes, his eyes cutting over his shoulder and zooming right in on her.
Perkins frowns, his stare bouncing between Raven and Captain before flying to me.
My eyes tighten at the concern in his.
He’s troubled to see the effect she has on Cap? Why?
Captain drops his chin to his neck and jerks away from Perkins, but just as quick he spins, nailing him clear across the jaw, sending him flying to the floor. He follows and gets in a few more solid punches before we pull him off, and not once does Perkins try and fight back.
Captain yanks free, his hand dripping with Perkins’ blood. He walks from the office and we follow him to the empty locker room.
“His blood’s all over you,” Raven points out and he nods, looking away.
“You good, man?” Royce asks.
“Yeah.” He nods, not looking at us. “Can you guys give me a minute?”
Raven grabs both our hands and drags us out where we lean against the frame.
“He’s fucked up right now,” Royce says quietly.
“He’ll be fine when she’s home.”
“Will she come home?” he challenges.
“She has to.”
Raven closes her eyes, her hand coming up to her temple.
I frown, moving closer. “You look like shit.”
“I think I’m gonna be sick.”
Royce’s brows jump and he shoots across the hall, quickly coming back with a garbage can from the closest classroom.
She takes it as sweat starts to form at her hairline. “Shit, I need some air.”
“Come on.” I start toward the back exit, turning back to Royce. “Wait for Cap.”
We get outside, and she runs her hands down her face, taking deep breaths before dropping against the wall.
“No way I’ll make it through the damn day.” Her forehead scrunches, her hand flying to her stomach, and she starts to gag.
“Fuck, all right, we’ll go.”
“Go where?” Cap and Royce step out.
“She’s hungover as hell. Needs to go back home.”
“Just drop me off.”
“Yeah, fucking right.”
She rolls her eyes. “You guys have your championship pep rally bull, I’ll be fine.”
“Watch her.” I look to Royce who drops beside her while Cap follows me inside.
I head for my first period, the class I happen to share with Victoria.
The teacher cuts herself off when I walk in and all heads raise.
Victoria glares.
“Come on.”
She looks around. “What?”
“I said come on.”
“What are you doing?” she hisses. “People are staring.”
“So.”
“So, go away.”
Captain groans and moves to pick her up, but she darts from her seat.
“Okay,” she rushes out, lifting her hands. “Fucking fine. I’m going.”
We follow behind her into the hall then lead her to the back.
“I’m dropping you off with Raven. Don’t leave her side.”
“I’m not leaving school. I actually want to graduate.”
“I’ll pay you to sit with her, all right? I’ll get your workload and make sure you have no late marks on your assignments. Now, shut the fuck up and everyone to the truck.”I wake up to the padding footsteps in the hall. Glancing over, I find Victoria passed out right beside me, so I quietly sneak from the room.
I freeze when I spot Rolland coming out of Maddoc’s room.
He too pauses, but he recovers quicker than me.
“You’re home.”
“Surprise.”
He nods, slipping his hands into his pockets. “I assume now is a better time than later, hm?”
“Sure.” I glare, then turn and walk down the stairs.
I drop onto the recliner and he chooses the ottoman.
“So you must—”
“Just be blunt,” I tell him.
“All right. First, know that I will deal with Donley Graven. He was specifically instructed to stay away until the time came.”
“What time would that be?” I eye him.
“There is much you’ll need to learn. This world is bigger than our town, but we’ll get to that.”
