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“So, what am I supposed to do?”
She raises her shoulders into a little shrug. “I’m the last person to advocate bullying in any form, and I’d never dissuade you from taking action on something like that. Just know you’ll have to fight fire with fire because whatever you do, it will make it worse for you here.” She squints and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, revealing a rose gold barbell I hadn’t seen before. “Your stepfather is in the Bratva, isn’t he?”
“He’s not my stepfather yet.” I don’t like that she knows things I haven’t spoken about. Things like that make me uncomfortable.
“Sorry. That was insensitive of me because I don’t know the kind of relationship you have with him. I’m fortunate enough to have a stepmom who’s nice.”
Cal’s nice, too, but he’s not Dad, and I could never be okay with my mother’s affair with him.
“That’s good.”
“I hope that doesn’t sound like I was bragging. I wasn’t.”
“I know. And you didn’t sound like you were.” I offer a little smile.
“Good. Anyway, I ask about the Bratva because I know you must know their ways.”
“I do.”
I knew about them long before Mom hooked up with Cal because Dad had all sorts of clientele. My father is one of the best investment bankers in the country. That means he’s important to a lot of people.
Those people had all the right connections. The kind ofconnectionswhich have made it possible for his massively-reduced sentence. That’s one of the reasons people are all riled up. They know he’s getting out of prison far too soon.
“Chad’s father is from one of those old Bratva families who basically own others,” Isabelle explains. “His father and grandfather are on the school board, and they have links to the leaders across the country. Basically, you don’t want to mess things up for yourself. If he didn’t hurt you, I would just lay low and hope he’ll go the hell away and leave you alone. It’s up to you, though.”
My shoulders slump. I’m livid that the best solution is to do nothing, but realistically, this guy is minor to me in the grand scheme of things. I have enough on my plate.
When I return my gaze to him and see he’s still looking at me, I recall his threat.
The icy tendrils of fear slide down my spine, and I worry about what will happen when I see him again.
Laying low and hoping for the best is all I can do. I have no other choices that won’t throw off everything else I hope to do.
Chapter3
Chad
Look at her.
Billie Fairchild is openly watching me.
The wind picks up the long, wavy strands of her hair as she gazes at me, and even though we’re about thirty feet away from each other, I can imagine those bright green eyes wide with the fear she showed this morning.
Good,she should be afraid of me.
I’m sure the principal’s spawn has given her the 411 on exactly who I am.
That’s good too, and I don’t care about what is said, nor about my actions this morning.
Everyone knows who I am.
Everyone knows what to expect from me.
Everyone knows the truth. Not the whole truth, but enough, and to me it’s one and the same.
Considering who my family is, I can’t believe Billie Fairchild was allowed anywhere near this school. Her bitch mother isn’t even married to that asshole Cal yet, so she shouldn’t have had the privilege of attending here.
It would have at least been respectful if the school board members had refused her admission. But this is Dad all over. Her presence here just shows how little he cared about my mother.
