AllFreeNovel
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He won the case, because of course he did. His hand wasn’t forced by the state for nothing. The man is a ruthless, callous force to be reckoned with when he has to be.
But despite what prosecutors might say, he isn’t heartless.
Hell, to make up for what he had to do, he adopted me. Did what he could to right such a wrong, by saving one of its victims from winding up in another shitty home.
“Vale.”
Right. Casey asked a question.
“No,” I say in a harsh exhale. Shaking my head, I don’t take my eyes off my dad and the unfamiliar man. Seriously, who wears a fucking suit to a football game? “I don’t.”
“That’s our new principal, Mr. Jennings.”
Both Casey and I snap our heads over to find one of the rookies looking off where we just were. He stands with one cleated foot resting on the empty edge of the bench, body turned toward the stands.
“How do you know that?” Casey asks.
Taking a swig of water, the younger kid shrugs before elaborating. “My mom told me. She’s on the school board. I guess the Dean finally found someone to replace O’Malley.”
I glance back over in the direction of the concession stand.
My dad’s gone now, but this Mr. Jennings guy isn’t alone anymore. He’s now been joined by a woman I didn’t spot before. She’s short, wearing a purple Warriors baseball hat over bright red hair that’s been tied into short pig-tails sticking out from under her ears.
Next to her, a lanky guy who’s probably about our age, with floppy golden-brown hair that glints under the sun, stands with his skinny pale arms swinging at his sides as he looks around. Unlike the woman, he just wears a solid black t-shirt that’s too big for his frame over light-washed jeans.
My eyes narrow.
“Oh shit,” the sophomore says. I think his name might be Jake, but I honestly can’t recall. I just know he’s new to the team this year, and he’s a starting lineman. “That must be our new charity case. Mom said the board’s pissed, but the Dean’s allowing it.”
“What do you mean?” Casey says.
My brow furrows as I take in the way the kid’s eyes widen as they seem to be taking everything in. It’s almost like he’s never been to a fucking football game before; he looks mesmerized. Like a little kid in a candy store. He can’t be much younger than me, but there’s just something about him, something…childish? Not quite innocent, but animated.
“Apparently, this guy’s been in juvie for the last five years. Heard he’s a total nut-job. A serial killer in the making.” He chuckles at that, but it’s a wary sound. Like whatever he heard worried him more than he’s letting on.
I stiffen, but I’m not sure why at first. Objectively, the kid looks about as dangerous as a pixie stick. I mean, sure, there’s something…odd about him. Something to his mannerisms that has my instincts on high-alert, but it’s not like—
No, I realize abruptly, watching as this new guy freezes, cocking his head to the side as his gaze snaps toward somewhere off to the right, toward the stands.
Not odd.
Familiar.
Fuck. Me.
Casey huffs from my other side. “And they’re letting him go to school here?”
“Apparently Mr. Jennings’ wife over there is some kind of caseworker. She vouched for him, claimed he’s stable, I don’t know. Not really sure why the Dean’s allowing it, but maybe it looks good for the school or something…”
They continue to talk back and forth over me, but I hardly pay them any notice as all my attention hones in on the guy practically bouncing on his toes.
My mouth dries, as all the blood seems to flood to my head, rushing through my ears. Memories I’ve kept shelved in the back of my mind sneak forward, sharp and distorted, like shards of a mirror glinting in the sun.
The images aren’t clear enough to pull me under, but clear enough to warrant warning bells.
This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all.
“What’s his name?” I hear myself growl, my voice unnecessarily rough even to my own ears.
