Page 99 of Freestyle (Academy of Stardom 1)

“Tonight you’re going to go out there and walk away from the Breakers. Then you’ll work for me here at Rocks and when the time comes, I’ll call in the debt. If you fail to do what I ask, then your life and that of your sister is forfeit. Understand?”

“Yeah, I understand.”

* * *

By the timeI make my way back into the main portion of the club with Jeb, it’s nearing closing time, even though the club is still pumping. I walk alongside Jeb in a daze, feeling numb. I’ve gone through a gamut of emotions this evening: joy, fear, hate, desperation, resignation.

Now I feel nothing.

Self-preservation has kicked in and I’ve buried every thought, every memory of the last three years with the Breakers just so I can survive the night and do what I must.

We walk through the crowd, stopping periodically so that Jeb can greet members of his crew and business acquaintances. Every single one of them stare at me now with interest, noting how Jeb guides me through the crowd with his hand on my lower back. Finally we reach the booth where the Breakers are sitting. Xeno notices me first, standing abruptly but the second his gaze meets Jeb, he stops dead in his tracks. I drop my gaze, not able to look at the fire burning in Xeno’s eyes.

“Good evening, boys. I understand congratulations are in order?”

“Yeah, we won the battle,” Zayn says carefully. I can hear the questions in his voice and when I glance up at him, his face is a mixture of relief and confusion. He keeps looking between Jeb and me. Next to him York is watching my face carefully, his face paling when his gaze meets mine. Dax is glaring at Jeb, his hands curled into fists on the table.

“Five grand is a nice tidy sum. I was just saying as much to Penelope here. We’ve had a good chat, haven’t we, pretty?”

I nod my head, forcing my face into a mask. “Yeah.”

“Well, I’m gonna grab us all a drink to celebrate. I’ll leave you to tell them the good news,” Jeb says, and I can see the delight in his eyes as he walks away knowing that I’m about to detonate a bomb on our relationship.

“What the actual fuck, Tiny?!” Xeno growls. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere and you’ve been withJeb?”

“I bumped into him. He wanted to buy me a drink and I couldn’t say no to the leader of the Skins. You of all people should know that,” I fire back, trying to hint at the predicament I’m in without snitching. He just frowns, leaving me hanging.

“Sit down, Kid, before you fall down,” Dax remarks after a moment, his tumultuous gaze resting on my face. He knows something’s up and as much as I want to tell them all what’s happened, I can’t.I can’t.

“Too much to drink, that’s all,” I say, plastering a smile on my face as I slide into the booth next to Zayn, careful to keep my distance.

“What’s the good news you need to tell us about, Titch?” York’s ask, his voice cautious.

“Jeb has given me a job here at the club,” I respond immediately, plastering a fake smile on my face and hoping he can’t read the sheer fucking terror I’m feeling beneath the mask I wear. I’m positive I have droplets of that man’s blood covering my dark jeans.

“You don’t seem to be happy about it.” Xeno points out, narrowing his eyes at me.

“I am happy about it. I can earn some money working behind the bar for a few hours on a weekend night and then dance the rest of the time. It’s a no brainer.” I fall silent, stuffing my hands beneath my thighs so they can’t see them trembling.

Silence descends and I worry my lip not knowing how to bring up the devastating news that we can no longer be friends. Ever. Any minute now, Jeb will return, and he’ll have expected me to have done the deed. I glance over at the bar, noticing that Jeb is currently talking to one of his crew. Drawing in a shaky breath I return my attention to the Breakers.

“There’s something I need to say,” I begin, my voice trembling so much that I have to cough to keep it steady.

“Wait! Before you say a word, we wanted to give you this,” Zayn says quickly, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small black jewellery box, placing it on the table. “Happy Birthday, Pen. This is fromallof us.” There’s a smile in his voice that matches the happiness in his eyes. My heart fucking plummets. The evening had started so well, the perfect fucking birthday, winning the battle with the boys I love. Now, the only thing I know for certain is that Lena will remain safe so long as I do what Jeb and David asked.

“What’s this?” I whisper, staring at the box, knowing that whatever lies inside is going to break my heart for good.

“Open it, Titch,” York says gently, leaning over the table and pushing it towards me.

With trembling hands, I reach for the box and flip open the lid. Inside is a necklace, the thin gold change holding onto the wordBreakers. My eyes immediately swim with tears, but I blink them back. If I cry, if I give in, I might just confess everything that’s transpired tonight, and my sister will die for it.

“Well, ain’t that pretty,” Jeb says, making me jump. I snap the lid closed on the jewellery box and grasp it in my hand as he places a tray of drinks on the table.

“So, have you told them the good news?” Jeb asks, a wicked smile on his face.

“Yeah, Pen said you offered her a job at Rocks,” Xeno comments, his face unreadable.

“That’s right.” Jeb turns to look at me and it’s clear from the sheer joy on his face that he knows I haven’t dumped them yet. He hands a drink to each of us, then takes a swig of his. “So what did I interrupt?”

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