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Am I okay?I didn’t dare look over my shoulder. “For now,” I answered carefully.
“I’m getting you out of there, okay, sweetheart? Just hold on.”
I pressed the phone hard against my ear. “Okay.”
“Riven,” he started, then corrected himself. “I mean,The Principal,is he watching you?”
That chill prickled at the back of my neck. “Yes.”
“Okay, so this is what’s going to happen. In a minute, I want you to pass him the phone. I’m going to talk to him, then we’re going to get you and Caleb out of that fucking place.”
My fingers twitched as I fought the need to rock with relief. “How?”
“Don’t you worry about that,” he answered, but still the heaviness in my stomach said otherwise. “Whatever happens, you need to leave. Nothing good will come if you stay in that fucking place a second longer.”
I glanced at Caleb.
“Promise me.” My father drew my focus back. “Promiseme you’ll leave with Caleb.”
My stepbrother just held my stare, those dark hazel eyes consuming as I answered. “I promise.”
There was a hard exhale before his voice turned cold, colder than I’d ever heard it before. “Good, now put me on to the sonofabitch, and sweetheart…”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
I closed my eyes, letting his strength wash over me. “I love you, too, Dad.”
Even though tears welled in my eyes and my damn hands shook, I still turned in my seat and held out the phone.
There was a second where the bastard refused to move, the corner of his mouth twisting with displeasure. I only wished it was his fucking heart—but then I doubted he had one. “He’s waiting,” I snapped.
That stony stare glinted before he stepped forward and took the phone from my hand and lifted it to his ear. “Yes.”
Words were exchanged, ones I wasn’t privy to. But I could see it play out on the bastard's face. This time there was no savage bark from The Principal, just a venomous, “I agree to the terms. It’s not like I have a choice, now do I?” No. He didn’t. And he knew it. “Then I’ll look forward to meeting you face-to-face, Jack.”
He looked at me when he said those words and I just wanted to scream. This place wasn’t safe for dad. I knew that. These men were dangerous, maybe more dangerous than he knew…but then again, the way he spoke, and the things he did—like going into hiding—made me think that maybe he knew exactly what he was getting into.
The Principal ended the call, then turned to the men standing beside him and said the words I’d been desperate to hear. “Get them ready for removal.”
Neither of them liked this.
The Teacher jerked his gaze my way. For a second, I thought he was going to disobey the command, that he was going to give one of his own…one where he took me back to that classroom and forced me to my knees.
What a shame you’re not to be trained, Ryth.His words resounded in my head.You are a goddamn natural if I’ve ever seen one.
He wanted to train me.
He wanted to do a whole lot more.
But he didn’t disobey, he just nodded, his voice so fucking calm. “Peter, see to Ms. Castlemaine and Mr. Banks.”
The guard stepped forward, as well as another, who stood at his back. The guard grabbed me by the arm, his fingers cruel as he hauled me out of the chair. “Move.”
Caleb pushed out of his seat. “Get your fucking hands off her.
But The Priest blocked his way. “You want to change how this goes, Banks? Because we can just as easily take you out in a goddamn body bag.”
