Page 181 of Zero Chance

When she nodded, I leaned toward Thane to add, “And she’s Katherine Breeker.”

Thane whirled back to furrow his brow in question.“The counselor at Northside?”

When I nodded, he mulled that over in his head for a moment before turning back to Ms.B.“You and I have corresponded a few times over email, comparing notes on transfer students.”Bobbing his head professionally, he introduced himself, saying, “Thane Eisner.”

“Thane…” Her eyes flared with recognition before she blurted, “Oh.”Her gaze drifted over him as she added, “I had no idea you were so young.”

He didn’t respond to that, just nodded in confirmation before murmuring, “I take it you’re here at Haverick for the same reason I am today.”

She nodded.“I was just showing a video of rape victim testimonies to a group of students to prepare them for?—”

When I growled at her, shaking my head savagely and sending her a hateful glare, Thane interrupted her by saying, “No.No, you weren’t.”

“Ex-excuseme?”Waverly’s mom bit out, blinking at him in shock.

“I received the list of approved classes we could talk to.”Shaking his head, he added, “And Keene doesn’t take any of those classes.He takes Nursing Fundamentals this hour, except Nursing Fundamentals wasnoton that list.”

Son of a bitch.Shehadtargeted my class on purpose.To reveal Waverly’s past to me.I felt dizzy and sick to my stomach, hating the fact that my girl hadthisfor a mother.

“But nursing is also social work,” she tried to argue.“And people in that fieldwillhave to prepare for dealing with victims who?—”

“That’s not why you chose that class, though,” Thane bit out harshly.“Is it?You chose it because your daughter’sboyfriendwas a student there, and you have a personal vendetta against him, which is the most unethical thing I think I’ve ever heard.In fact, I bet one call to your principal could have you dismissed by the end of the day.”

Shit.Thane didn’t make idle threats.But hurting Ms.B would hurt Waverly, so I warned, “Thane,” in a worried, shaking voice.

“And another thing,” he added, taking an intimidating step toward Waverly’s mom, making the already pale woman gulp audibly.“Keene isnothinglike his father.He is his mother’s son, and hecanhandle the weight of all the trauma Waverly’s been through.I promise you.”

Glancing back at me with a slight smile on his face and a proud glint in his eyes, he sent me a respectful nod before adding, “Hell, he’s spent the last decade helping patch together seven broken boys, himself included.We never would’ve made it this far without him in our group, always entertaining us with his half-baked, amusing antics and hilarious, asinine comments.He was the smile and laugh we always needed when everything felt hopeless and lost.And I for one am grateful he’s been in my life to help me through the most painful thingsI’vepersonally had to go through.”

Well, damn.I’d never felt all that integral to the group before.I’d always been the annoying one, the loudmouth they had to whack on the back of the head for saying inappropriate shit.Secretly, I’d kind of thought they’d be better off if I wasn’t around.But hearing Thane claim he’d fuckingneededme made me damn-near teary-eyed with emotion.

When the hands of my other friends landed on my shoulders and back and arms, supporting me, I sniffed out an overly emotional breath and glanced at their faces, glad I had them.

Turning back to Ms.B, Thane murmured, “You could only be so lucky if he was there for your daughter, as well.”

His words cracked me.Overwhelmed by his unyielding loyalty, I splintered into pieces and had to clutch my chest as a sob ripped through me.

Alec threw an arm over my shoulders and gathered me to his side, and without him there, I probably wouldn’t have been able to remain standing.

“Now you should go and think about what you’ve done here today, Katherine,” Thane was saying in front of me.“And focus on how you can fix this mistake.Alright?”

“That means, get lost,” Parker bit out.

I heard her footsteps as she hurried away.Then Thane’s voice was in front of me.“Keene?”

I looked up at him, blinking away tears.“Thank you,” I mumbled, brushing a fist over my cheeks to dry them.“Thank you, all of you.”

“Dude, whatever.”Hudson jostled my arm.“You know we got you.”

“Always,” Damien confirmed.

“What the hell happened, though?”Foster wanted to know.“What did Waverly’s mom tell you?”

Alec just watched me with worried eyes.

Glancing around at all of them, I drew in a long breath before admitting, “I don’t—I don’t even know how to say it.I just—I can’t believe this happened to her.”

Feeling the rage of her past rip through my chest all over again, I clenched my teeth and shook my head, only for Thane to cup the side of my face to calm me.

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