Page 135 of Chaos at Westbrook High

DEREK

I pour two neat whiskeys at the mini bar in my father’s office, swallowing one of them as the obnoxious sound of three Lamborghini engines fills my ears. Those cocky fuckers don’t know the meaning of the word inconspicuous. They love to make an entrance.

“They’re here,” Maverick says, a wicked grin stretching his lips as I set his whiskey down on the desk in front of him. “Is your sister with them?”

I nod. “Yes, sir.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m positive.”

He picks up the glass, swirling the amber liquid around as he watches the camera feed, seeing Kai open his passenger side door for Hailey.

His grin grows. “Good boy, Derek.”

Chapter 45

KAI

My dad glances at Hailey as she climbs out of the passenger seat of my car, a look of displeasure on his face. Closing the door behind her, I watch as she looks up at the mansion she lived in for the first seventeen months of her life.

My dad trusts her—she wouldn’t be here if he didn’t—but I think he’s worried about what’ll happen once she’s inside those walls.

“Don’t let her out of your sight,” he says quietly to me.

“Never,” I vow.

“Kai.”

“Hm?”

“Is she the one you want?”

“Yes.” I nod, not taking my eyes off her back as she takes in the stone walls and arches. “I don't want to live without her, Dad. When I picture my life, she’s all I see. Every fucking minute of it belongs to her.”

When my dad doesn’t say anything, I peek up at him. He’s looking at me, but his eyes are distant, seemingly lost in his own head.

That’s how he felt about my mom.

After a moment, he snaps out of it and gestures for me to go back to Hailey, dismissing me. I press myself against her back, my arms locking around her waist, my nose in her hair. She’s tense at first, but she relaxes into me, making me feel like the motherfucking king of the world.

“I got you, baby.”

She nods, turning her face up to mine. “I heard you.”

I smile against her cheek. Even though it didn’t look like she was listening, I knew she might be able to hear me. I wasn’t trying to hide it from her.

“Your life belongs to me now?” she asks.

“Yes.”

She sighs, but she’s not mad about it. She’s accepting it. Accepting us. “I think mine belongs to you too,” she grumbles. “I can’t shake you.”

“Do you want to?”

She shakes her head. “Not anymore,” she whispers.

I grin so hard my cheeks hurt. “Say it back.”

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