Page 106 of Chaos at Westbrook High

I see Damon take a step closer in my peripheral, but I stop him with a subtle wave of my fingers.

Derek stares at me for a second too long before he pushes me away with a shove, hanging his head as he plays with the top of the soda can.

I don’t know why I feel guilty all of a sudden. After everything he’s done, he deserves everything I throw at him, but still…

“She’s not falling for my shit because it’s not shit,” I say after a minute, shrugging when his eyes hit mine. “I…” Not wanting to tell him I’m in love with her before I say it to her, I say, “She means something to me. She meant something before I even knew who she was. And who she is changes nothing, Derek. I’m keeping her whether you like it or not.”

He scrunches his nose. “The fuck is wrong with you? She’s my little sister, Kai.”

I cock my head, saying nothing, which only makes him angrier.

“It’s weird, okay? I don’t like it. And I don’t care what you say, you’re the biggest player I’ve ever met. You’re playing her to fuck with me and she’s too wrapped up in you to see it.”

“Are you done?”

“Are you?”

“I’ll never be done with her.” Holding his eyes, I let him look deep into mine, allowing him to see how much I mean it. “Have I ever lied to you, D?”

His brows pinch. Just as he starts to say something else, he cuts his gaze to Hailey again, and I turn my head to look that way. When her eyes latch onto mine, I launch to my feet and run toward her as some random guy with a death wish reaches out to grab her wrist.

Despite the burning anger coursing through me, I almost laugh as I grab Hailey and pull her into me. I’m gonna rip that fucking hand off his arm.

Callie shoves his ass, but he’s not backing up like he’s supposed to. I’ve seen him around before. He’s a college boy, obviously too wasted to realize what he’s gotten himself into. He laughs at Callie as if he finds her cute before he moves toward Hailey again. Hailey flinches against me. I don’t think the guy even fucking sees me standing here. Callie swings for him, and Damon grabs her, hauling her back as she kicks the guy in the ribs.

“Fucking touch her again, motherfucker.”

“Chill, you crazy bitch!” He laughs, clutching his side.

“Levi, grab her,” Damon says, passing Callie over to him before he moves to choke the guy with one hand, digging his fingers in to shut him up.

He grabs Damon’s wrist in a panic, his eyes widening when he finds me and Wren standing on either side of our brother. I glance down at Hailey and take her face in my hand, gently brushing my thumb over her cheek. “You okay?”

She nods, but I can tell she’s not. She’s shaking. A huge crowd has gathered around us, and they’re all looking at her. Derek’s standing on the sidelines, frowning between his sister and the guy Damon’s choking.

“Jay, what the fuck were you doing?” Derek asks.

He doesn’t answer that because he can’t, his face reddening as he claws at Damon’s fingers around his neck. I look at the girls for answers, but Hailey and Callie are keeping their mouths shut tight, so I look to Rachel instead. Twisting her lips to the side, she hits Hailey with an apologetic look before she mutters, “He came over and said he saw her looking at him or some shit. He offered her a drink and she said no. Then he grabbed her and tried to pull her away from us.”

I clench my teeth. When I look at Hailey again, she looks as pale and as terrified as he is, her fingers flexing in my shirt, her anxious gaze bouncing between me, Jay, and her brother.

He’s in college.

He was one of Derek’s friends.

He was sweet to me…

As it hits me, my anger burns even hotter.

“Baby, is that him?”

“Baby?” Jay echoes, horrified. “Whoa. Wait a fucking second. Hailey, are you with him?”

“Hails?”

“Kai,” she warns, and I have my answer.

Forget ripping his hand off his arm. I’m gonna rip his fucking head off his shoulders.

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