Page 127 of Ramsay

He drops me at my first class and kisses me once more. Speechless, I watch him walk away before sitting in my seat.

Who was that? And where did the icy cold Ramsay go?

I’m brooding about Mr. G and my painful life in general when the door swings open and a hall monitor appears. She hands a slip of paper to the teacher, and I sink in my seat when she looks up and meets my gaze. “Willow, can you report to the office please?”

What now? If those asshats did something…

Grabbing my bag, I head to the office with an ache forming in my skull. I’m tired. Hell, I’m scared. While I want to trust, I’m not sure I can. Even if Ramsay opened up, showing a tender side I didn’t think existed, it was one night out of how many?

Besides he’s just diabolical enough to use it against me for more information. Maybe he’s working for his dad. Hell, maybe he’s team Crush.

I need more information and after school, we’ll be having another chat. I can’t afford to be in the dark. They may think they know what we’re up against, but I know with certainty, these guys will stop at nothing to protect their twisted empire.

Tired of my swirling thoughts, I blow through the door to the front office and pause on the threshold, spying the principal who greets me with a frown. Typical.

“Willow Preston?”

“Yes,” I say automatically, turning toward the gruff voice. Except, fuck, it’s a cop.

Here I thought this would be another prank. I’m not prepared for whatever this dude wants. Is this about Carmen? Or something else? Shit. I’ve seen and done so much; the possibilities are endless. Which does not leave me feeling warm and cozy.

Mr. Carhart clears his throat while I contemplate the officer, staring at me with cool hazel eyes and a buzz cut that is not flattering against his wide nose and bushy brows.

Apparently, we’re both going to ignore him though because the cop says, “You need to come with me.”

Am I in trouble? Does it matter? Unless I plan to run, I have no choice either way.

“Has something happened? Is this about Carmen?“ I ask.

His cool stare sends a shiver down my spine as he eyes me quietly, before his lip curls at the edges and he says, “Yes, you’ll need to come with me.”

Nodding, I precede him out the door, my mind whirling. Did they find her killer? Fuck, I hope so. She deserves to be avenged, even if it won’t bring her back to us.

I stop beside the police cruiser but when he opens the back door, I pause staring at the metal and wire that separates the bad guys from the good.

“It’s just procedure, Miss. I can’t allow you to ride up front,” he says, touching my elbow.

Although I guess it makes sense, I still can’t suppress a shiver as I slide into the back. I’ve never been arrested, and I can say quite definitively that it’s not on my bucket list.

The bell rings, signaling the end of class and I drop my head because I can just imagine the rumors I’ll come back to if anyone sees me here. Fuck me.

Thankfully, the cop makes quick work of exiting the lot and my thoughts turn to Carmen.Didthey find her killer? Dixie’s killer?

A lump forms in my throat at the thought of my friend but I push it away. My parents must be so relieved. Wait, my parents…

“Um,” I say, clearing my throat. “Are my parents meeting us there?”

He glances at me in the mirror, his stoic expression unreadable before looking back to the road ahead of us and humming, “Mhm.”

Why are cops so damn cold? Shit. Would it hurt to explain what the fuck is going on?

With a frown, I glance at my phone, buzzing in my hand and press ignore. It’s a message from Ramsay but I’m not in the headspace to respond. Maybe I should message my dad?

Shivering, I pull my jacket close and open a new text, typing:hey, are you meeting us there?

Of course, I don’t get an immediate response. Even in this, my parents are too caught up to worry about me. Hell, they probably didn’t even think to include me.

What if this is bad? What if it’s news I don’t want to hear?

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