AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Though I was about to barf because I was so afraid, I didn’t let it show in my voice, my years of being bullied by my older sister allowing me to remain stone-faced. “You lay one hand on me and I promise you…you will regret it.”
He stared at me, his eyes wide before laughing. “You are one ballsy bitch. Just the kind of woman I like to break and put in her place. Have you at my feet like a dog, make you lick the shit off my boots.”
I tried to swallow past the fist-sized lump of fear in my throat, and I hated that this predator could sense my fear. Students were all around us now, and I knew it was just a matter of time before someone told the guards. I could only hope it was quick, because I wasn’t sure what I would do if he called my bluff.
“Get out.” Devonlin suddenly pushed me behind his broad back like a living shield.
Looking around Devonlin’s side, I watched as the man lifted his upper lip in a sneer, then the guy tugged at his suit. “You are making a big mistake, Huge. Your mother is gonna die in agony because of you.”
A kid yelled from behind us, “Policía!”
The guy in the suit vanished into the sport’s car so fast, he moved like a ghost. I stared in disbelief at his retreating taillights.
After a moment of silence, all the kids around us began gossiping. I hurried Devonlin into the building, ignoring their curious stares. If security was on the way, I didn’t want to be around when they arrived. I knew without a doubt Tino would flip his shit 150 different ways to Sunday if he heard about what just happened, and I did not need that right now. While part of me wanted to raise a stink about that asshole being able to get on campus, I thought it was the wise move to get out of sight.
Keeping his body between mine and parking lot, Devonlin quickly moved me up the front steps. “Ms Holtz, you shouldn’t have said anything.”
We’d entered the school by this point, and I tried to get more information out of Devonlin as we waited to go through the metal detector. “What?”
Devonlin grunted as he went through the metal detector. “Nova is bad news.”
I waited until the guards let us past before saying in a low voice, “Why did that man want to talk to you?”
“He knows I’ve got some big name teams trying to recruit me, that I’m gonna make real money soon. That shithead believes he can buy me now, that he’ll own me like a pet dog and can use me to throw games. I know all about his bullshit and I’m not interested.” His chest puffed up with pride. “He thinks he can own me, thinks he can buy me, but my integrity is not for sale.”
My heart panged in sympathy for this proud young man. “Fuck him.”
Devonlin started to laugh. Once again, he looked like the kid I watched grow up, instead of a man. “I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you swear.”
“Yeah, well, it’s been that kind of day. I think I need to go back and talk to the security guards, maybe file a report or something.”
“No, you aren’t going to do anything.” Guiding me deeper into the school, he shook his head adamantly. “That’s not how things work around here. Even if someone did call the police, nothing would happen. They’re a cartel, and I don’t know if you really understand what that is, but it means they have power and money like you couldn’t dream of. And they didn’t get it by being good people. Those dishonorable bastards would sell their own mother if it earned them a dollar. Only chance I got is hoping I can outlast them until I get drafted, or find another cartel to watch my back.”
“Wait, you’d want another cartel to watch your back?”
“Well, yeah. Not all of ‘em are like Nova and his crew. Some are as close to legit, run by smart people who you can trust.”
“But they’re criminals, Devonlin.”
Shaking his head, he sighed and gave me a look older than his years. “Man, you did grow up sheltered. Don’t you know this world is run by criminals?”
“That’s not true.”
“Yeah, well, true or not, there’s people that aren’t on the right side of the law, but I would trust to have my back. I just can’t afford their protection.”
“All the more reason to alert the police.”
“You aren’t getting it. People like Nova have the connections to make any paper trail disappear, to make the police disappear. Meanwhile, you’ve just painted a big old target on your back ‘cause you know the cartel got enough cops in their pocket. Your name and address is only a phone call away. If you don’t mind me sayin’, you’re very pretty, Ms. Holtz, and Nova would love to have an excuse to get his hands on a woman like you. People that go up against Nova and his men don’t end up so good.”
