Page 44 of Ruthless Legacy

He nods, looking bored with our company. “No. I just like the uniform,” Chester says, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He climbs to his feet. “I’m off,” he tells his mum without a glance in mine or Kit’s direction.

“How come he is joining Hawk Bay?” I ask Alexis.

She looks up from her phone and sighs. “He outstayed his welcome at his last school.”

In other words, they kicked him out. Interesting. Maybe I do need to keep a close eye on Chester. Could he be the one who trashed my room? But then what would he have to gain? I am getting paranoid about everyone now, seeing them all as a potential suspect.

The three Aces are holding court under the arches to the entranceway at school when we pull up outside. Their group of hangers-on surround them, including Georgie and her bitch twins. Vee waves at me when she sees me, all smiles and light. It’s a stark contrast to the three cold egos beside her. Vee bounces down the steps and meets me halfway, linking her arm through mine.

“Girl, you were amazing last night in that ring,” she tells me with a smile and a wink.

“Thanks,” I reply, stifling a yawn. I feel her steering me towards the boys and I push her towards the main doors. “I can’t deal with those three this morning. My head is fucked up enough as it is.”

Verity frowns, but she doesn’t protest when we move past the Aces and through the main doors. I won’t look Archer’s way, even if it kills me. He reminded me last night that his business was his own. As we head inside, I can feel his eyes burning into the back of my head.

We reach my locker and I load in my books for my afternoon classes. I am fighting wanting to ignore Archer and wanting to walk over and demand to know if I have him to thank for last night. My curiosity wins out in the end.

By now, the boys have sauntered into the hallway and are heading our way. I slam my locker shut and storm over to meet them. I need to look him in the eye and ask him.

“We need to talk,” I announce when I come to a stop in front of them, stopping them in their tracks. Archer stands there, hands in his pockets, glaring at me.

Seb grins. “Are you ready to admit you want me, baby girl?”

I roll my eyes at him. “In your dreams.” I gesture with my head at Archer. “It’s this idiot I need to speak with. A word please,” I say, turning my focus back to him.

He continues to glare at me; with an irritated expression, he gestures with his head towards the classroom door closest to us. I don’t wait for him; I stride inside and lean against one of the desks and he comes in behind me and closes us in.

“What is it, Scarlet?”

I eye him for a second, looking for any signs of guilt, but let’s be honest, Archer’s face never displays much emotion.

“Was it you?” I sigh. “Is this just some sick and twisted game for you?”

He shrugs. “Am I supposed to know what you’re talking about here?”

I scoff. “The message your little cronies left me in my bedroom.”

The look he gives me makes me doubt my suspicions that it’s him. Am I way off the mark here?

“What message, Scarlet?” Archer asks me. Right now, he looks deadly. Like he could murder someone with his bare hands.

I pull my phone out of my blazer pocket and pull up the photo of my trashed bedroom and hold it out to him. His frown deepens as he snatches the phone from me.

“When did this happen?”

“Last night,” I sigh, “after you dropped me off. The message is in animal blood, just for effect,” I say with a nervous laugh.

I yelp when Archer grabs my wrist and pulls me against his chest. “Why didn’t you call me straight away?”

I pull at my wrist, but he holds me firmly in place and I raise my chin to meet his angry glare. “Because, Savage, we aren’t friends. I’ve never needed anybody and I sure as hell don’t need anyone to rescue me.”

“Have you any thoughts about who it could be?” he asks me as he taps the screen of my phone.

“What are you doing with my phone? And no, I have no clue. Have I pissed people off in my life? Hell yes. I’ve stolen a few cars, robbed from shops, but have I pissed anyone off enough to follow me to this goddamn weird-arse Bay to write in blood on my walls and trash my room? No!” I huff out a breath after my tirade of words.

“You done?” he asks me with a scowl. “I’ve forwarded the photo to Seb. Are the police involved?”

I nod my head. “I have to go straight home tonight as Detective Boyd is coming over to speak with me.”

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