Page 167 of Vexatious Queen

“Who is Gunnerson,” I asked Liam.

He turned his head and faced me, but then glanced at Ren, who was too focused on what was happening to notice us talking. That was his way of telling me this wasn’t going to go well.

“You’re not going any further until I make a call,” Dean Henry said.

“Do whatever you need to do.” Ellis smirked. “I have nowhere else to be.”

God, he was such an arrogant prick.

Dean Henry pulled out his cellphone, but just then the doors opened as classes finished and more students filled the foyer. They gave the officers a wide berth, standing off to the side, transfixed by the unusual sight.

Ivy and Zigzag came through the doors near the back of the group. Ellis snapped his fingers at the other officers and rushed across the hall.

“Michael Gunnerson, you’re under arrest for violation of probation, unauthorized access to a protected computer and obtaining classified or sensitive information,” Ellis said, stopping in front of Zigzag.

“Oh shit,” Ren mumbled.

Zigzag’s face fell, and his shoulders slumped. He didn’t try to run. He just held his backpack out to Ivy.

“No, there has to be some mistake,” Ivy said, trying to get between Zigzag and the cops.

“Move out of the way, Ms. Morrison, or you’ll be taken into custody as well,” Ellis said.

Ren tugged on my hand like she was going to run across the room, but I tightened my grip and pulled her back. She glared up at me.

“We cannot get involved. Do you want to be arrested, too?”

“No, but…”

“We can help in other ways. I can post bail or hire a lawyer. But we cannot jump in front of the moving truck,” I whispered.

“Fine,” she growled, but looked ready to kill.

Zigzag touched Ivy’s shoulder, and she looked up at him. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her. Whatever he said after was too low for anyone to hear, but then he stepped around Ivy and turned to the officers with his hands behind his back.

“No, you can’t do this,” Ivy said, but Zigzag ignored her.

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you,” Ellis said.

Zigzag looked around and spotted Sabastian by the cafeteria. His calm demeanor vanished, and before the cuffs clicked into place, he was running.

“You son of a bitch, you did this. I know you did this,” Zigzag yelled. “Fucking prick,” he growled.

Ren gasped as the cops tackled Zigzag to the ground, but it didn’t deter him. He fought to free himself and continued to call Sabastian names—all of which I agreed with. They hauled Zigzag to his feet, and he still tried to lunge at Sabastian.

“I’ll get you back for this. I promise you that. You and your father will pay. You hear me? This isn’t over,” Zigzag yelled as the officers marched him out of the school.

Sabastian just smirked.

Ivy, now hysterically crying, marched up to Sabastian.

“Is it true? Did you do this to him?”

Sabastian shrugged.

“He did this to himself. It’s what he deserves,” Sabastian said, which was as good as a confession to me.

Apparently, Ivy felt the same because she hauled off and slapped him hard enough that it echoed in the quiet entranceway.