Page 49 of Jett in Jeopardy

My hands on the tabletop squeezed into fists. “Beforeyougot me fired.”

“You got yourself fired, Jett.” The perpetual look of confusion lifted, but that empty grin remained. “You just couldn’t stop hitting on the customers.”

“You and I both know that’s not true. You lied to Paula to get me fired.”

“Why would I have done that?” His grin stretched wider. “I liked working with you.”

“You can stop the act. I know who you are. Who yourfatheris.” For the first time, that grin faltered, and his features morphed into something dark and burning with rage, only for the grin to return as bright as ever. I continued, anyway. “I know it was you breaking into our house, stealing my shit. Grier broke his arm and got a concussion when he fell down those stairs. You’re hurting people who have donenothingto you.”

“Your friends sound unlucky. I wonder what bad luck they have in common.”

I was going to do it. I was going to haul off and punch him for that last remark—fuck, for all of it. For five months of messing with us, for setting fire to our house, for nearly killing Alistair and his cat, for Grier’s fall, and for not giving a shit about any of it.

I jumped out of my seat, my hand clenched into fists at my side. Simon’s smile widened, his dark eyes glinting like shards of glass. He wanted me to do it. Maybe so he would have the excuse to hit me back. Or maybe so he could call the cops and have me charged with assault.

I drew a steady breath, and when I released it, let go some of the tension gripping me. “I’m going to the police and tell them who you are and who your father is and everything you’ve done.”

“I think you have me confused for someone else,” he said, that grin looking strained and ready to crack.

I smirked. “You and I both know that isn’t true. It took me almost no time at all to figure out who you are and who your father is. The police shouldn’t have any trouble validating everything I tell them.”

His grin finally dissolved, his gaze barreling. “Don’t talk about my father. You don’t know anything about him.”

“I know he’s a predator, and I’m not the only one who knew it, either.”

Without waiting for a response, I turned and stormed out of the cafeteria, striding through the halls and second guessing my decision to meet with Simon. He knew I knew who he was and what he’d done. Maybe that and my promise to go to the police would be enough to send him running back to Colorado.

Somehow, I didn’t think I was that lucky.

I made my way out to the parking lot at the rear of the school. The wind was icy, stinging my hands and face. The dull gray clouds overhead were as bleak as my mood.

There were only about a half-dozen cars parked in the back lot, and not another soul around. I wrapped my arms around my middle, tucked my chin to my chest against the sharp cold, and hurried to my car.

I was almost at the door, when I caught movement reflected in the window and something hard connected to the back of my head. Pain exploded across my skull. The suddenness and impact sent me stumbling forward, but I managed to throw my hands out to keep from landing face first on the ground. I slid over the rough asphalt, scraping the soft skin on the palms of my hands and up my wrists.

I barely had time to process that someone had hit me in the back of my head when a booted foot pummeled into my stomach. Pain rolled through me like a wave. The air in my lungs vanished, and I curled into a ball, desperate to drag air into my empty lungs, gagging at the same time.

Simon leaned over me. Any trace of his empty grin was gone. All that remained was rage warping his features.

“You dumb fuck.” He gripped my hair and dragged me up a little from the ground. “How stupid do you think I am?”

His fist connected with my nose, pain exploding across my face, blood flooding my nasal cavities and dripping down the back of my throat. He let me go, and I fell back onto the pavement, choking on my blood and struggling to breathe.

“Did you really think I was just going to confesseverythingto you? Did you think I honestly didn’tknowwhat you were doing?”

I didn’t answer him. I could barely think past the pain gripping me.

“Did you think I would just confess because you asked me nicely, you piece ofshit!” He kicked me again in my thigh, this time, sending a fresh wave of agony shooting up my leg like an electric shock. I screamed in agony before I could stop myself.

Simon leaned closer, and I flinched back, earning a chuckle from him. “Here’s your confession.Iset your house on fire, and I wishedyouwere inside burning. Did you honestly think I would feel bad about your friend? He deserves what he gets if he’s going to let human garbage like you into his life.”

Get up, a voice in the back of my head shouted.He’s going to kill you. Get up!

I tried to get my body to move, crawling closer to my car. Maybe I could roll under, and he wouldn’t be able to reach me.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Simon stomped down on my reaching hand, grinding it beneath his boot. I heard the bones crunch, and I howled. Firey pain shot up my arm. I jerked my hand back and tucked it protectively against my chest.

“Stop,” I tried to say, but the blood in my throat made the word garbled.

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