Page 23 of Ashton

The dickhole on his phone looks at me again, Roan, I’m assuming. I’ve never seen any of these guys around the campus before. Where do they hide? And why hasn’t Dad ever mentioned them before? These are things I should know about, too.

“Then start. What’s going on with Cameron?”

A small scoff slips from me, and Dad snaps his head in my direction. I raise my chin; I’m not backing down.

Dad drops a file onto the table, gaining everyone’s attention. “Cameron has been accused of assault on a student, and this wouldn’t be the first time. The only difference is that this involves my daughter.” He looks at Archer. “I won’t let it slide this time.”

A vein in Archer’s neck popped out, and I swear I could see it throbbing from my side of the table.

“Are you imposing that my grandson raped your daughter?”

My insides tumbled into each other from his words. It came close in the bathroom at Cam’s party, too. He’s always finding me at my most vulnerable moments.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Your grandson needs to leave school at once. The safety of all the students depends on it.”

Archer lurches out of his seat, slamming his hand on the table. “How dare you!” he seethed.

“He speaks the truth. Your grandson is disgusting,” I exploded, clenching my teeth hard.

Archer’s dark eyes turn into balls of fire. “Let me guess. You’re the slut that made my grandson fall for her. I should’ve known you were related to him.” He points to Dad. “Playing around with Cameron’s feeling like a dirty whore. You had it coming.”

Dad lunged from his seat, and his right fist slammed out, connecting with Archer’s jaw. Archer staggered backward, grabbing his face. Burnaby stood, but Dad raised his hand for him to stop.

“No, that piece of shit had it coming. No one talks about my daughter like that. Just because you’re a legacy member doesn’t give you the right to address a female like that. Show some respect. Did you want to see the evidence I have, Archer, or are you going to continue to be in denial?”

Roan hasn’t said a word or moved the entire time. He looks somewhat bored. It doesn’t surprise me; he never looked like he wanted to be here.

“Archer, we already know your grandson is a fucking pervert. Stop denying it.” Roan says in a dull, annoyed voice.

“You all know?” I glare at Archer. “Do you know what he did to me in the office? No less in a public space, and you want to fight to keep him here.”

“His legacy. That’d look bad on me if my grandson were to be kicked out of this school.”

The image of Ash and Atticus beating Cam pops into my mind, and I smile. “Have you seen Cam lately?”

Archer leans over the table, getting close. “No, but I heard what your brothers did. I should be pressing charges.”

I lean in. His five o’clock shadow is barely coming in; the crow’s feet on the outer corner of his eyes are settling in deep. I’m gonna say they are not from laughing.

“You press charges, and I’ll press charges. And I’ll find every other girl he did something with on campus. Are you sure you want to drag your name through the mud?” My heart thumped wildly in my chest when his eyes lit up.

“Prescott, I underestimated your daughter.” He backs away, turning to face Dad. “He’s suspended for six weeks, and that’s all.”

Roan stands like the meeting is suddenly over. A throat punch is in his future. “If that’s all, I have to leave now. The notes have been taken.”

“We didn’t agree,” I argued back.

“All in favor of a six-week suspension?” Archer asks.

Barnaby and Roan raise their hands, and Archer smirks at me. “That would mean I won.”

The room is quiet after they leave. Archer’s words keep ringing in my head. In six weeks, Cameron will be back. How fair is that?

“I’m sorry, pumpkin. I’m proud of you for fighting, but Archer always gets his way.”

I tilt my head back, trying not to cry. “I don’t get it. Cam can be a major cuntfucker and all he gets is a slap on the wrist. What kind of example is that setting for the school?”

“Not a good one. I’ve tried to have a strong moral for this school, but the longer we stay open, the worse it seems to get. The members don’t care who is accepted anymore. They want to turn it into a non-exclusive school. I’m at my wit’s end, Odette.”

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