Page 81 of Filthy Few

“Good.” He motions for me to claim one of the seats in front of his desk. I want to refuse and tell him to go fuck himself, but I also know Thomas and his bastard son don’t make idle threats. I reluctantly do as I’m told. When Nexus claims the seat beside me, I shift as far away from him as I can. “You are going to have to get over your reluctance to be near my son.”

Before I can stop myself the words spew out of me. “That cocksucker killed my best friend!”

Thomas launches out of his chair and rounds the desk to stand before me. I ignore Nexus’ laughter from beside me, too wrapped up in the dark look in his father’s eyes. I expect Thomas to yell and throw around his big words of reprimand but what I don’t expect is for him to lash out and slap me so hard I topple off my chair. My ear rings from the force and my eyes fill with tears as I reach up and cover my cheek with my hand and stare up at the coward with hatred in my eyes.

“You’ll learn to keep that fucking mouth of yours shut or I will be forced to close it for you.” I bite my lip to keep from shouting at him. “My son let you get away with too much. My future daughter-in-law will learn that her place is to be seen and not heard. Learn that fast or Mother will pay the price for your fuck ups, am I clear?”

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Y-yes,” I choke out.

The psychotic fuck smiles down at me and nods. “Good. Now I have spoken to Principal Daniels and he has graciously agreed to overturn your idiotic suspension on the terms you apologize to his daughter and agree to stay after school every day to help clean up.” Anger unfurls inside me. “Of course I told him you would be more than happy to help.” When I remain silent his eyes narrow to slits. “Speak up!”

I flinch backward and nod. “Yes, I’ll do it.” I hate that one hit is all it has taken for me to turn into this meek little creature sitting on the floor in front of him.

“Perfect, you will travel to school every morning with Nexus. You are to obey everything he says?—”

“What if I don’t?” I ask before I can think better of it.

Thomas’ face contorts and I brace myself for him to lash out at me again but he doesn’t. Instead he reaches into his pocket and pulls his phone out and clicks a few buttons then turns the screen toward me. All the blood drains from my face and I turn ice cold at the sight of my mom in a white padded room, her hair is a mess of knots and tangles, the hospital gown she wears is filthy. When she lifts her head and stares up at the camera I die inside. The petrified look in her eyes destroys any humanity I have left inside me. Thomas locks the phone and tosses it on his desk.

“Now you know what is at stake if you try anything or those fucking idiots next door try to play heroes,” he snarls.

“I’ll do whatever you want,” I whisper brokenly as the first tear falls down my cheek. “I won’t step out of line. I’ll do as I’m told just don’t… hurt her, please,” I beg as more tears trail down my cheeks.

Thomas bends down in front of me. He reaches out and I flinch away from his touch, only to cry out when he grabs my hair and yanks me forward. The stench of his breath fansacross my face, forcing me to breathe through my mouth or risk gagging in his face.

“Your whorish ways are over. The only person you are spreading those legs for is my son. Defy me once, just one fucking time, and you will never see your mother again. Am I clear?”

“Yes,” I breathe out.

“Yes, what?” he pushes.

“Yes,sir,” I grit out through clenched teeth.

Thomas’ grip on my hair tightens and a whimper escapes me. “Get the fuck out of my sight,” he snarls and releases me with a hard shove. I scramble to my feet, ready to flee to my room but Nexus’ words have me halting in the doorway with my back to them.

“You stay inmyroom.” I take a deep breath and try to compose myself, before peering over my shoulder at him.

“I have to share with you?”

The smug look on his face has bile rushing up my throat. “Until we figure out who the fuck your masked fuck buddy is, we can’t trust you to stop being the town slut, so yes, you will sleep where I can keep an eye on you.” The anger brewing inside me is only held at bay by the knowledge that he doesn’t know who theFilthy Fewmembers are. I keep the shock from splaying across my face, if this is true then they can still work behind the scenes and help me get my mom back.

“It’s not like we can trust you to be honest with who the masked man was. We did contemplate torturing your mother until you admitted it but…” Thomas lets his sentence trail off while I stand here gaping at him, wondering how a human being could be so cruel.

“Just in case it wasn’t clear before, whatever that shit was between you and Vox-fucking-Hatchett, it’s over now,” Nexus spits.

“That fucker is dead to me,” I snap.

“Good, he can be dead and in your past like Waylen.” My jaw unhinges as Nexus laughs. “Too soon?”

“I hate you,” I bite back as I fight to keep my tears at bay.

“Too fucking bad. You breathe a word about what happened to that fucker to anyone and your mother will be buried with him.” I didn’t think it was possible for me to hate Nexus more than I already do. but clearly I was wrong.

I need to warn Ezekiel and Nikoa about what I have just learned. If we play this right, we all might just get out of this alive.

Chapter Forty-Four

Vox

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