My number was changed. That was the first thing my father did. Someone had leaked it after the trial, and I was getting calls from reporters and death threats from students. My father shut my phone off and got me a new number. I only had three numbers saved to my contacts. My father’s, my mother’s, and my brother’s. I wasn’t allowed to contact anyone else because no one else mattered.
I ignore her questions and ask my own. “Then why didn’t the Reapers look surprised by my return?”
RYAN SCOUT
I try to act unfazed, but seeing her again has my blood pressure rising. I felt her looking at me through her sunglasses, and a part of me came alive but not in a good way. Henley always had control of me—my thoughts, body, and emotions. That woman could have owned me one day. Thank God, I no longer feel that way about her. Well, except for my body. My hard cock straining behind my zipper reminds me just how much I liked that about her.
“What the fuck is she doing back here?” Amy demands as Monroe shoves her from between his legs.
None of us answer her.
“Dax?” She slaps his chest, calling him by his first name. “Why is she here?”
“Why do you think I’d know?” he asks, throwing his backpack over his shoulder.
“Because you didn’t seem surprised to see her.” She huffs. “And I would think you’d be pissed she’s returned after what she tried to do to you.”
We’re not.
This is where we want her—in our world. We control this school, and we own this town. Her actions made us even more powerful than we were before. The city looks at Dax with pity and her with disgust. The thought makes me smile. Once we’re done with her, she will have no one to turn to, nowhere to hide, and nothing left to offer a man.
Law looks at me. “Ready?” he asks, taking one last hit before we go inside.
I shake my head.
Not today. We’ll let her think she’s safe here. That we no longer care what she does or that she even exists. And just when she starts to get comfortable, we’ll remind her we are the guys who are going to fucking bury her.
Entering the school, I spot her immediately. She’s walking into the front office with Jamie by her side, and they’re laughing. She feels safe with her. I don’t feel the least bit of remorse that we’re going to take that away from her. We’re going to strip her bare, and then each leave her scarred and broken like the lying bitch she is.
Oh, little doll, we are going to take our time playing with you.
Henley doesn’t have the slightest clue what’s in store, and I can’t wait to watch it all unfold before her.
Welcome to hell, Henley. We will burn you until nothing but ashes are left.
CHAPTER THREE
HENLEY
FIRST AND SECOND period went mind-numbingly slow as fuck. My eyes pretty much stayed on my desk because I could feel everyone else’s on me. Even the teachers’ eyes grew two sizes when they called my name. I acknowledged that I was present, and that was that. I was handed my designated book for that class, and I followed along silently.
I wanted to sit in my chair longer to bypass the rush of kids in the hallway when the bell rang, signaling class was over, but I forced myself to my feet and moved with the crowd. I can’t let anyone see that this bothers me or that I’m ashamed of the choices I’ve made. What I did was right. And I will fight for every woman to do the right thing no matter how much discrimination they face.
I walk beside the row of black lockers, looking for mine. Once I find it, I throw my books in there because I’m tired of carrying them around. Then I head to my next class.
I enter the classroom for third period and drop into a front row seat. I never was the kind of student who hid in the back, and I’m not about to start now.
The door opens, and I see Jamie enter. I smile at her, and she returns it, falling into the seat next to me. “Well, at least we have one class together,” she sings.
I start to laugh, but it stops the moment I see Dax Monroe enter the classroom as well. My entire body stiffens, and my hands curl around the edge of my desk. I have the urge to look away, to get up and run out of the room, but I can’t. He’ll know he’s still winning.
“What’s wrong?” Jamie looks over her shoulder, and when she spots him, she quickly turns back to face me. “I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I should have warned you.”
Yes, she should have. It’s not like it’s our first day of school, so she knew he was in this class with us.