Page 3 of Ruthless Deliverance

“No plan. Yet.”

Beau laughs. “Yeah. Sure. Just let me know when you’re ready to spill.” He clasps his hands together, glancing around the café. “Until then, maybe let me know when you’re planning to get back at it. Dennis has been blowing up my phone.”

“Not yet.” And even if he didn’t, discussing it here wouldn’t be the wisest move.

“Not yet. That’s it?”

“Yeah.”

His muffled curses are cut off when Armani drapes her arm over his shoulder as she drops onto his lap. His frustration is still clear when she moves to kiss him and he avoids. “What the hell, Beau?”

He lets out a frustrated groan before shaking his head. “Just missed you, baby.” His mouth is on hers before she can respond. And as much as I don’t care to witness them dry fucking, it’s a relief that I can focus back on the hellcat across the café without being asked questions I don’t have answers to yet, which is something I’m not used to. And as I watch the shock on Dani’s face as she spots the two dry humping next to me, it quickly morphs into disgust. Luna apparently catches on to what (or more like who) Dani’s attention is on. And she seems to share her friend’s opinion as she makes a gagging motion before resuming their conversation.

“Ugh. Get a room.” Selena drops her tray loudly on the table, but her best friend and Beau only stop long enough for him to offer her an invitation to join them. She shakes her head and says, “You’re fucking disgusting.”

Armani playfully slaps Beau across the chest. “That’s not funny.”

They spend the remainder of lunch focused on each other only splitting when it’s time to head to class. Luna goes in the opposite direction, but I end up following Dani to Thibaut’s calculus class, Beau following a step behind. Dani hurries to the rear of the room, taking a seat in the back row as she has in every class. She doesn’t want to be seen, hiding the best she can in every class we’ve shared so far. But it’s too late. I see her. And she’ll know it soon enough.

3

DANI

Just fucking great. Another class with the two jackasses who are essentially joined at the hip. Their bromance took a break long enough for Beau to practically screw some girl in the café. I know some things have changed, but I never figured PDA would be allowed to the extent of questioning whether or not it was PG-rated.

I’m doing my best to avoid them for the time being, but Beau doesn’t allow it as he plops into a desk and shouts across the classroom, “Fuck. Another class with you. Are you stalking me, new bitch?”

He wants a reaction. So, I don’t give him one. Remaining focused on the front of the classroom, I see Mr. Thibaut walk into the room, a broad smile on his face. That makes one of us happy to be here. He looks too young to be a teacher. And when his eyes meet mine as he calls attendance, I worry he thinks I look too old to be here. Because I am. Fortunately, Mr. Thibaut doesn’t take more than a few seconds before moving on to the next student’s name.

Soon, Mr. Thibaut takes a few minutes to review his syllabus before jumping into a lesson. It’s the first time I’ve ever been grateful for classwork, but it’s at least something to distract me from everything going on. The class is over way too quickly. I cram my belongings into my messenger bag and stand from my desk before it’s even fully contained. The swarm of classmates standing and exiting the room block me from a quick escape. I’m several steps from the door when I feel someone bump into me, then a hand slides under the back of my skirt and grips my ass cheek before quickly releasing. When I turn around, I’m met with a smile on Beau’s face that leaves no doubt in my mind whose hand just grabbed me.

Ignoring this asshat isn’t going to work. And even if I thought it would, there’s no way I can’t react to this. His appalling grin is in full swing when I look up to him. “Don’t ever touch me again or you will regret it.”

This fucker really can’t take a hint—or a bluntly stated fact—since his hand reaches under my skirt to brush his palm up my thigh as he leans forward. “You really want it bad, don’t you?”

Several students push past us as I stare at the lunatic in disbelief. Luna said that the girl who Beau was making out with was his girlfriend. How she or anyone deals with this motherfucker is beyond me. “I’m gonna tell you one last time. Get your fucking hand off of me. Now.”

I’m vaguely aware of Creed stepping up behind Beau and Mr. Thibaut asking if there’s a problem. But what I am fully aware of is Beau’s grimy fingers pinching my ass. Again. So much for staying under the radar.

My fingers release the strap of my bag, letting it fall to the floor as I look up at Beau’s still smiling face. My lips curling up in a smile. If I do nothing else with my time here at Sacred Creed, teaching this fucker a lesson will be worth it all. The rigid muscles in my right hand tighten as I thrust my palm up and slam into Beau’s nose with a satisfying crunch. I’ve felt the sensation before but it’s never been as gratifying. Even more so when he screams in agony, his filthy touch nowhere on me as he clasps his face, blood seeping out of his nose as he blinks profusely and backs away from me. Finally. I have a feeling he might need another reminder, but this one should hold up for a little while.

His hands release his nose as he looks down then to me. “You broke my fuckin’ nose, you stupid bitch.”

“I warned you. But you were right, I did want that really bad.” I can’t contain my smile as Mr. Thibaut steps between us in stunned silence, looking back and forth between us. “He had it coming” is all I say as I bend down and pick up my bag, pulling the strap over my shoulder.

“Um,” Mr. Thibaut utters, looking to me before telling Beau, “Go to the school nurse.”

Beau grumbles and lets out a few more curses before huffing out of the class, calling me some colorful names on his way. Nothing I haven’t been called before, and much better than his hand on my ass, so I’ll take it.

Creed remains, his tight expression fixed on me. I don’t give a shit if Beau is his friend or not. All I can tell him is to pick better.

Mr. Thibaut instructs the incoming students to have a seat before turning to me. “Danica, I need you to come with me to the main office.” His eyes drop to my hand, and I’m not sure if he’s in disbelief or concerned I might hit him next.

“I’ll take her,” Creed says flatly as Mr. Thibaut and I both look to him.

“Yeah. No. I’m good. You should probably go check on your buddy.” I turn to Mr. Thibaut. “I’ll go straight to the office.” I wave, heading out of the classroom. I should be going to the library for study hall. Instead, I veer to the main office to take whatever punishment comes my way. Unlike earlier when I’d stepped foot in the office, this time I’m not concerned about what I got myself into. Instead, I have no regret. Breaking that bastard’s nose is the only thing that’s put a genuine smile on my face in the last few months. I’m not sure what that says about me, but I don’t really give a fuck.

4