Page 106 of Science Project

“But my father?—”

“He rapes you, Nicole,” I said. “You should never apologize for that. You didn’t?—”

“If I wasn’t as pre?—”

“Stop,” I growled, biting back a hiss of pain. “Don’t apologize again for this.”

Tears wavered in her eyes. “B-but?—”

“Promise me,” I said, pulling her face closer. “Promise you won’t apologize for him. Promise me that you’ll start loving yourself. And most of all, promise me that you’ll never say that you want to die again.”

Her entire body tensed, and she burst out into another fit of tears and sobs.

“I don’t want to die,” she cried. “I want to be with you. I want to be normal.”

I pulled her down onto my chest and held her tightly. “Then, be normal with me, Nicole …”

I lied and promised her a life that we would never have, a life we could never have because of who our parents were. But I would do anything to give her the world, to fulfill her wishes, to love her the way she needed to be loved.

CHAPTER

SIXTY-THREE

AKIO

After my first day back at Redwood, I clasped my hands around my backpack straps and headed to my car. Nicole was staying with Jamal Simmons for a short period of time to hide from her father, which pissed me off because I wanted to protect her.

But it had been obvious that I couldn’t do that. I balled my hands into fists. And I hated it.

As I walked to the car, Imani whizzed by me. I lifted my head a couple of inches to look over my shoulder and spotted Kai watching her drive off. He glanced my way, and I cursed under my breath.

He might’ve helped me escape the other day, but he still had it out for me. Nicole had convinced him to help me, only because I had saved Imani a few weeks ago while down by the beach. That had to be the reason.

Kai walked my way. “Did you find any information on your parents?”

“No,” I said, stuffing my hands into my pockets. “Nothing yet.”

While he had wanted as much information on them so Poison could finally pluck them from their Redwood throne, I’d honestly wanted to be as far away from them as possible these past few days. Nicole wasn’t the only one hiding out. I had been cooped up in Kai’s basement for as long as I could.

“Your father showed up while we were out shopping yesterday,” Kai said.

“He did?”

Kai grabbed me by the collar and slammed me against my car. “Don’t fuck with me.”

“I’m not,” I said, holding up my hands. “I swear, I didn’t know. I don’t know anything about what they do. I’ve been trying to find something without them being suspicious. I’ve never wanted to be part of the family.”

He knew that.

“After Nicole left the other night, we made a deal,” he hissed. “You promised me that you’d get information for a place to stay.”

“I will,” I said, pushing on his hands. “I promise, I will.”

Because now, I owed Kai. Not just for saving me, but for protecting Nicole.

“What do you know about Nicole?” Kai asked.

“What do you mean?” I asked, furrowing my brow and attempting to look confused.

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