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“I like that…Tales,” I say, sounding it out.
“Yep, tales you win, heads you lose. The fighters of Tales never lose,” Beast reels off like some kind of mantra.
“Is that right?”
“Our fighters are the best of the best. I trained most of them myself. Grim’s father started this business many years ago. She became Queen of Tales when he died and made it more than just an underground fight club. Grim is smart. Much smarter than my sorry arse. It took me a long fucking time to realise just what a woman she is.”
“What happened to her dad?”
Beast scowls, his face darkening, and I see a real glimpse of the man whose name precedes him. “That, sweetheart, is not a story I’m willing to tell.”
“Fair enough,” I reply, not my business anyway.
“Well, here you are, Pen,” Beast says, as he pulls up outside the Academy a couple of minutes later. He’s parked on a double yellow line on a busy London road and doesn’t give a shit.
“You’ll get a ticket.” I point out the parking attendant striding towards us with the look of glee on his face. Beast laughs loudly, his whole body vibrating with humour.
“Oh, fuck. You really do kill me.” He rolls down his window and pokes his head out. The second the parking attendant sees him, the smug look on his face drops and he turns on his feet and walks the other way. “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Beast shouts after him before turning back to face me. He winks.
I laugh, shaking my head. “Perks of being the Beast, yeah?”
“You could say that. I’ve maimed people for less than a parking ticket, Pen,” he says it with humour, but I know it’s the truth, and it reminds me just who I’m sitting next to. That sobers me a little. Beast must sense my change in mood because he puts the car in park and turns to face me.
“Look, I’m gonna be straight with you. What you’re mixed up in is next level shit, but you’re a smart woman, and you made the right move today. I ain’t gonna lie and tell you that everything’s gonna work out okay because I ain’t fucking God. I’m not all-knowing or all-seeing but I will tell you this. Grim willalwaysback the ones she thinks are worth it, and believe me, she doesn’t do that very often. She’s offered you a lifeline and expects loyalty in return. Don’t fuck her over, okay?”
It’s a warning, and one I understand completely. “I don’t intend to.”
“Good. You got my number now, so call me direct if you need a lift to the club at any point. I don’t mind chauffeuring you about. You’re cute as fuck, and I mean that in a completely platonic way.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I know…” My voice trails off and I gnaw at my lip.
“What?”
“The fight with Dax. Could you —”
“Nope. No fucking way. That kid needs to learn a lesson. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt him…thatmuch. Now, sod off. I got shit to do.”
* * *
“Pen Scott,you’ve got some explaining to do, girl,” Clancy states, greeting me as I enter the atrium. She’s looking over my shoulder trying to capture a glimpse of Beast. “Who the fuck was that hunk-a-chunk, and where the fuck have you been? York and Zayn were barely holding onto their heads in class just now. I swear they’re like two pack dogs, and just as territorial. They clearly don’t like not knowing where you are.”
“I had something I needed to do…” I say, realising how lame that sounds. Clancy’s covered for me again and I owe her a proper explanation, not some vague bullshit that I’ve fed her.
“Hmm, like your text said.” Clancy narrows her eyes at me. “Was thatsomethingmore important than your dream? ‘Coz honestly, Pen, you’re on shaky ground. Madame Tuillard wasn’t impressed.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, she decided to drop in on the lesson. Tonight she’s coming to watch each of us rehearse our duet…” Clancy winces.
“Well, she’s gonna be even more pissed then, because River and I aren’t gelling all that well.”
“He’s glad to be dancing with you, Pen. He fucking hates Tiffany.”
“Yeah, me fucking too… But it’s not the same dancing with River.” I sigh heavily. I’ll get my own back on that bitch when I’ve dealt with more pressing matters. “So, what did you tell Madame Tuillard?”
“I said you had a family emergency and had to go home to see your mum.”
I puff out my cheeks and blow out a steady breath. “Thank you.”
