Page 40 of Chaos at Westbrook High

“The day Damon almost beat Derek to death,” I supply, doing my best to cling to the hatred and the anger, using it to override the heartache.

Kai looks at me then, his intense gaze studying my face. After a while he says, “That’s why you weren’t working the day we got back from Cancun.” He blinks. “You’re the one who snuck Derek out of the hospital.”

“Because you beat the shit out of him. Again.”

“No, we didn’t,” he denies. “That wasn’t us.”

“You’re lying.”

“No, Hailey. He is. He’s lying to you.”

I take a breath, a traitorous tear slipping out when I look up and find Elijah staring at me. I can’t figure out what he’s thinking, and honestly, I’m not sure I want to know. I just want to go home.

Nobody says anything else, so I move to leave. “I’m done here.”

“Sit down.”

My ass hits the couch again, and I fight to control my temper, widening my eyes at Elijah when he continues to gaze down at me.

“What?”

“I need to talk to him,” he says.

“No. He doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

“Well then you can explain to me why he didn’t pick you up from work tonight like he’s supposed to.”

“He never picks her up from work,” Kai says before I can answer myself. “We only saw him that one time. She walks everywhere or takes the bus.”

Elijah’s anger seems to rise to a whole new level as he flicks his eyes from me to James, who lifts his hands up in mock surrender. “You told me not to invade her privacy. I tell you what you need to know and nothing more. Those are my orders.”

Elijah’s nostrils flare as he once again pins me with his eyes. “What were you thinking? You are not allowed to walk around alone?—”

“I’m not alone though, am I?” I interrupt, tilting my head at James. “Who is he?”

He cocks his head at me, silent.

“Instead of wasting your breath trying to tell me what I can and can’t do, how about you tell me who the hell he is,” I grit out.

“Who do you think he is?”

“You son of a bitch.” I shake my head as I stand.

“Sit down.”

I stay standing this time, not missing the looks on the others’ faces while I snatch my bag off the floor. They’re staring at me with their mouths parted and their brows raised in shock, but I don’t give a fuck what they think of me right now.

I’m furious.

This entire time, I thought Valerie was paranoid. I convinced myself I was paranoid, but it turns out she was right all along.

“He’s protecting you, Hailey,” Elijah tries.

“He’s been stalking me!” I correct, whirling around to face him. “Every day of my life?—”

“Not every day,” James supplies, shrugging when I turn and pin my glare on him. “There are three of us. We take it in turns to stalk you.”

I take a step toward him, stopping when a hand grabs mine from behind. Before I can throw something at James, I’m spun into a warm, solid chest, my arms falling limp at my sides as I surrender all the fight I have in me. Kai’s hand holds the back of my head as he rests his chin on top, keeping me close against him. At first I’m tense and confused as to what he’s doing, but then I feel the tears pouring from my eyes. They’re angry tears, but still.

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