Page 48 of Unspoken Truths

“The door is locked, don’t fuck with her while she’s sleeping. Ever,” I growl, moving the knife to his throat. It’s his fault for leaning over me and giving me access. My fingers release his joggers, snapping against the base of his cock as I grab his hair to keep him in place.

“Shit,” he yelps. “This is a little more pain than even I enjoy, Lili. I promise I won’t fuck with her while she’s sleeping, okay? For all I know, she sleeps with the damn taser.”

“She does,” I lie. Rachelle told me some of what happened when Colton came into her room and sexually assaulted her. I plan to move really slowly with her, find out what she likes and what her limits are.

My girl is working on herself, going to therapy every single day in Mr. Emil’s office with the doctor he found. I don’t want anything to set her back. Ignacio and his friends need to keep their hands to themselves.

“If you continue on this path to get rid of Rachelle, I will slit your throat and remove you as Mr. Emil’s heir,” I say softly, my lips now against the shell of his ear as I hold tightly to his hair. “Maybe he’ll just adopt her and not mourn you at all because you’re such a morose asshole. Be better than this, Nacio.”

Snarling at me, he yanks his head back like a damn bull, but I hold on even tighter to his hair as he stands tall. My feet are dangling in the air because Nacio is six foot two, but my upper arm strength is keeping me in place, my knife perfectly positioned against his throat. Unlike Rachelle, I’m not allergic to exercise.

My father has me running every morning in school, training with his men sparring when I get home twice a week, and shooting practice on the weekends. I may not have killed anyone yet, but I won’t hesitate. I feel emotions deeply, but death is merely business, unless it’s for revenge.

It’s inevitable in my life, even if my dad isn’t sure about if I’ll be his heir yet. That’s more because he wants me to have the freedom to choose my future rather than have it laid out for me. I’m very fortunate.

“This is all I have,” Ignacio says, his arm wrapping around my waist to hold my weight off his hair and scalp. Probably for the best if he doesn’t want to end up bald. “Rachelle doesn’t belong in our world. It’s cruel to let her believe that she does.”

“I think you’re underestimating her,” I grunt. “She’ll show you what she’s made of.”

“Then she better do it soon,” he says as I release his hair.

Dropping me onto my feet, he nearly manages to slice himself open with my knife because he does it so abruptly. Gasping, my hand twists so it’s no longer facing him as I glare at him.

“Good night, Lili,” he says, turning away to disappear into his room, leaving me shaking from the adrenaline as it cycles through my system.

Fucking asshole.

CHAPTER9

RACHELLE

The next week passes in a blur as I learn the ropes at the newspaper, we end up with Mrs. Hartwell as the interim headmaster, and they merge two of the English classes together in one of the auditoriums. The upheaval of the administration changes overtake the gossip mill during that time, and it’s like a breath of fresh air that I didn’t know I needed.

I spent lunch several times this week in the tower with Liliana, laughing so hard my sides hurt, and practically floating down the stairs when I head back to classes. She walks with me as often as possible simply because we enjoy each other's company, and not due to thinking I may be cutting.

I’m not. I don’t need to, and I’m not spiraling. I’m actually happy lately, something I didn’t think was possible while attending school here. My therapist did tell me that life is full of ups and downs. He suggested I prepare for the downs with the coping skills I’m learning with him, because high school is brutal.

He’s not lying.

One entire week of peace, it had to end sometime.

Walking across campus outside after school to take photos of the lacrosse team during their practice for the newspaper to excite the school for their next game. Liliana is going hard on team spirit with the news team, and said that attendance at games recently for the lacrosse team has been down. I’m off to be a good girl and fix that.

My lips twitch at the way she sent me off with a kiss on the cheek, making them heat.

“You’re way too happy these days, Little Mouse,” Elijah says, falling into step with me.

I’m an idiot. I didn’t pay enough attention to my surroundings, simply happy to be walking outside. It’s not raining, the air is cool, but the fields are a trek from my side of the school.

“Go away,” I murmur, my hands at my side. My stun gun is still in my pocket, which helps me keep calm.

“Do you even know who I am?” he asks.

I know, I’m simplynot in the mood to play his games.

“One of the Kings,” I say instead. “You all tend to meld into one, and I try to stay away from you.”

“You know Jared and Nacio,” he accuses me, his arm pulling me tightly to his long body.

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