Page 56 of Devious Knight

I’m screwed.

Totally fucked over. And there’s nothing I can do about it. The last thing Alexander gave me before he dismissed me from his office were instructions to be at Kade’s apartment for six p.m. sharp on Wednesday. I have a day to sort my schedule out to make room for whatever Kade needs me to do.

On Friday I was thinking about how much free time I had on my hands. Now I wonder what my life will be like.

Kade will make my every waking hour a living nightmare. And I’m not going to Cambridge.

Tears pull at the back of my eyes.

I just can’t believe it.

When I reach my apartment I find Mackenzie and Annika outside my door waiting for me. They hold a bag each from the bakery we love.

“Hey, there.” Annika gives me a cautious smile.

“Hi.”

“We brought cake.” Mackenzie grins, lifting her bag slightly.

“Thanks. I need all the help I can get right now.”

They both give me a hug, but Mackenzie holds on to me a little longer.

“I know you got in trouble but I was so proud of you. What you did was so badass boss bitch.” She giggles.

“It was,” Annika agrees, her cheeks tinting a guilty shade of pink.

“Yeah, but I got in trouble. Now I feel like I’m on death row.”

They exchange worried glances.

“What’s the damage?” Annika asks.

“Please don’t tell me you got expelled,” Mackenzie blurts, nearly dropping her bag.

“No but I’m not exactly off the hook. I had to see Aleksander and he put me on probation.”

The two gasp and go pale. There’s more to tell them. Actually it’s time to tell them everything. Not just about what happened today.

Everything from going to Cambridge—or rather not going—and Kade.

“Let’s go inside. I have a lot to tell you.”

“Of course.”

We head into my apartment and they sit on the sofa while I grab one of my fluffy bean bags. When I get worked up like this I like being closer to the ground.

It was something I learned when camping with my dad.

Dad…

Aleksander is going to contact him. Dad is going to be furious when he hears what I did.

My shoulders slump and I breathe out a haggard sigh, sounding like a person who’s been pushed into a corner with their back against the wall and can’t escape.

“Isabelle, are you okay?” Annika asks, seeing that I’m far from it.

“No. I haven’t been okay in a long time.” I follow my answer up with the rest of the story.

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