Page 627 of Filthy Elites

“I kind of mentioned the run-in you had with him to my father. I didn’t give specifics; I just thought it would help if someone kept an eye on him. I figured you were going through enough as it was settling in, and you didn’t need any bullshit from that neanderthal.”

My spirits lift, and I’m in awe that she would think of me in such a way.

“I hope that was okay?” she adds tentatively.

“Thank you. And, of course. Thanks for doing that for me.”

“No worries. You sure he hasn’t done anything else? You seem really on edge. I know you were sick and you have other stuff going on, but I feel that something else might be up.”

I stare back at her, wishing I could say something, anything, but I can’t.

Even if I told her the milder parts of my problem—which was practically making out with my bully—she’d think I was insane.

This problem of mine is something I need to figure out myself.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Okay. But do tell me if I can help with that or anything else. Even if it’s just to have someone to talk to. As you can see, I don’t have that many friends. People don’t like hanging with the principal’s daughter, and my social life took a nosedive when my dad threatened to kill the last boy I liked.”

“Wow, that happened?”

“Yes, very embarrassing. So, I barely date, and until I leave for college, he has to know who I’m with. You haven’t really had the pleasure of meeting him properly. He’s principal material, but he can be a little scary for obvious reasons.”

She means because of the Bratva.

My curiosity piques, and I think to ask her a little more about the things I’ve always wondered about.

“What is it like?” I search her eyes when they widen slightly.

“You mean my life?”

“Yes. Of course, don’t answer if that’s prying too much.”

“No, it’s fine. I get it that you must be new to this. First, let me ask you what Cal is like.”

I bite the inside of my lip as I wonder how to answer. “He’s nice. He… takes care of us.”

Isabelle smiles. “Well, then I imagine him to be like my father. So, the answer is life can be weird sometimes, but it’s good. I like knowing I belong to people who can protect me, but I guess that’s given my past.”

“Your past? What happened?” The moment I say the words, I want to take it back because I am definitely prying with that question.

“My mother was killed.”

My hands fly up to my mouth. “Oh, Isabelle. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you.”

“It’s okay. It’s common knowledge.” She nods, and her eyes cloud. “We were all born into that life. I can’t exactly escape it, so I have to live with it the best way I know how. You might not feel the same way because you got dragged into it.”

I nod thoughtfully, taking in her words which are distracting me from my more pressing issue.

“Yes. What about Raventhorn University? Are you going?”

“I am. They have an amazing art course. I wanted to study in Italy at first, but I get the best of both worlds at Raventhorn because they try to tailor the course you want if they can. So I’ll be spending my second and third years in Italy.”

“That sounds good.”

“It is.” Her phone beeps, and she frowns. “Time to go back.”

Yes, time to go back to my hell.

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