Page 139 of Chaos at Westbrook High

Sorry for beating him. Sorry for not doing it sooner. Sorry our mother is dead. Sorry he couldn’t protect her when he promised he always would.

We hold him until he stops shaking.

When I look up at the others, Hailey’s crying as she watches us, and Callie’s crying tears of rage as she snatches my dad’s phone from Damon. Pressing it to her ear, she speaks to who I’m assuming is our dad’s contact at the prison where Katherine is. “Take everything from her cell and burn it right in front of her. Then throw her ass in solitary.” She pauses. “Until Elijah Kingston says so.”

Chapter 46

HAILEY

“Kai?” I ask, getting no response.

He plays with my hair as I place the daisy he gave me this morning inside my locker. He’s barely spoken a word in two days, which isn’t like him. Usually he’s got so much to say—too much to say.

Elijah almost beat his brother to death while his children watched. I haven’t seen him since, and I’m pretty sure none of his boys have either.

“Kai,” I say again. “Are you okay?”

He blinks, smiling, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “No.”

My heart twists at his raw honesty. “Still no word from your dad?”

He shakes his head, his lips turning down once more. “He’s avoiding us.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “But it’s not because he doesn’t want to see you. He’s hurt, and he doesn’t want you to see him like that. He’s protecting you.”

“He’s alone.” The broken look on his face makes me want to wrap him up and absorb all of his hurt. It physically pains me to see him like this.

Closing my locker, I step into his space and wrap my hand around the back of his neck, guiding his forehead down to mine. His arms curl around my waist as he leans on me.

Madison sneers as she passes us without saying hi, and I chuckle under my breath. When Kai turns his head to see what I’m laughing at, I hook my finger under his chin and pull his mouth to mine, claiming him right in front of her. His lips part, and I tease him with my tongue, making him groan as he pins my body back against the lockers.

Madison turns away and carries on walking.

When Kai breaks the kiss and sees the sinful little smirk on my lips, he grins, his baby blue eyes shining with pride and adoration. “Did you just claim me?” he asks, acting scandalized. “Who are you and what have you done with my girlfriend?”

“What girlfriend?”

“This one right here.” He pinches my hips, pushing his hard body into me. “Mine.”

I laugh and skim my fingers over his abs. “There’s the boy I know and—” I snap my lips shut.

“Go on,” he teases, his lips moving against mine. “Get to the good part.”

I shake my head.

“Please, baby,” he rasps. “I wanna hear you say it.”

“I like it when you say please.” I move one of my hands down to his hip, hooking my fingers into the pocket of his jeans to keep him pressed against me.

He raises a brow. “You like making me beg?”

“Mhm.”

The bell rings, but we don’t move with the others. He squeezes my throat, kisses me until I’m dizzy, and makes me moan right there in the emptying hallway.

Whispering please over and over again, he fucks me on the counter in the boys’ bathroom and makes us miss our next class.

Chapter 47

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