Page 60 of Charming Cruel Boys

I’d be swimming in disappointment if I wasn’t already filled to the brim with worry and stress.

***

I’m home for all of ten minutes after school when there’s a knock on the door. Groaning, I pause halfway up the stairs on the way to my bedroom and shoot a glare at the front door. Duke walks out of the kitchen with an apple, chuckling at me as he takes a bite. “I got it, baby.”

I start to head for my room again, too stressed to deal with whoever it is, but I stop when a female voice rings out.

“Hi, I’m Officer Kay Francis with MRPD. I have a few questions for Duke Ashbury and Remi Williams. Is there a parent or guardian around?”

“Oh, hi. I’m Duke. Remi’s right here.” He hooks his thumb over his shoulder in my direction as I slowly slink down the stairs. Stopping beside him, I take in the cop on the front porch. She’s maybe early thirties, with red hair and freckles all over her face, large sunglasses covering her eyes, and a soft, kind smile.It puts me at ease instantly.

“Hi,” I say with a smile. “Rose, Duke’s mom, is home. Come on in. I’ll go grab her.” Rose usually works until about six every night, but since the party and everything that happened, she’s taken a few days off to be here in case any of us need her. My father hasn’t said a word to me aside from the fight when he found Knight in my room, but Rose has been attentive and worried, mothering me right along with her boys. It’s been a small comfort in the midst of all this pain.

The officer nods and walks in, taking off her sunglasses to reveal a pair of warm brown eyes. I lead her into the kitchen with Duke right beside me, his fingers barely grazing mine before he pulls his hand away. I leave the two of them there and go find Rose in her office upstairs.

Knocking gently, I push open the door and wave awkwardly. She tells whoever is on the phone that her daughter needs her. Not stepdaughter, not daughter-in-law — although, that would be a bit weird, I think — butdaughter, like she’s claimed me and cares for me the way any mother would. I blink back tears and drop my gaze to the floor.Pull it together, Remi.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Rose says once she’s finally off the phone. She stands and comes right over to me, rubbing my shoulder softly. “Are you okay?”

I nod, sniffle, and curse my reddening cheeks. Clearing my throat, I say, “I’m good. Can you take a break and come downstairs? A cop just showed up to question us about the party.”

“Oh, sure. Of course. Everything else can wait.” She follows me back downstairs and into the kitchen. Duke is sitting ramrod straight and strumming his fingers on the table while the officer makes polite small talk with him. Rose and I sit down and I prepare myself for a rough conversation, chewing on my nail while I wait.

“How about we start with the events that lead up to the two of you getting drugged? Knight gave us his version of everything, but I’d also like to hear your sides. Remi, can you tell me if Sara was acting out of character that night, if she had said anything that felt off to you? Was there any indication that she was planning to do what she allegedly did?”Officer Francis says.

Duke tenses beside me. As I open my mouth to respond, he cuts in. “Allegedly?” he snaps. Rose and I share a look and I ache when I catch her wiping tears dry. “Sara locked Remi in a closet and tried to—“ Duke sucks in a sharp breath, and I reach out for his hand, lacing our fingers together. He doesn’t flinch at my touch and I relax a bit. “Sara had her hands on me. There’s no doubt in my mind that if Knight hadn’t shown up when he did, she would have raped me while Remi was forced to watch from the closet,” he says in a cold, detached tone.Almost clinical, like an observer instead of a victim.

“I apologize. I don’t mean to sound doubtful at all. I just need to get all the facts before charges can be decided. Right now, it’s Sara’s word against Knight’s. Since he was not a victim that night and was not there from the beginning, it’s not looking good,” the officer says calmly, looking between the two of us.

“Wait, are you saying she could be released?” Rose asks, wiping her palms down her thighs and chewing on her lip. My heart skips over itself and it’s suddenly hard to breathe. No, that can’t happen.Please, no.

Officer Francis shakes her head, giving us a sad smile. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but Sara has a difficult record already. She was expelled from her last school after harassing a fellow student. They were intimate. Friends with benefits, I believe, was the term he had used when filing the restraining order. According to him, she got it in her mind that they were dating, and she became obsessive... Now don’t mention that to anyone. Let’s get back to what happened on Halloween. I realize the two of you were not in your right mind for most of the night, but any detail, no matter how small, could help ensure Sara gets the sentence she deserves. She’s caused enough trouble. I don’t want to see this happen again.”

My muscles relax, and I agree with a reluctant nod, recalling every minute of that fucking horrible night in my mind. Duke and I spend the next hour sharing our stories and experiences and then she gives me a card, promises to call with any news on the case, and heads out.

As I watch the cop car pull away through the window, Duke says, “I hope Sara rots in prison. I’ll be glad when she’s fucking dead and rats are eating her remains.”

I turn to face him, worry rising like a dangerous tide as I take in his pinched, angry expression. “Hey... You can talk to me. It’s okay if you’re not ready, but I’m here. Always.”

Duke smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m fine. I don’t remember it, seriously. I’m just upset about what you went through.”

I nod, sucking in my bottom lip so I don’t push him too hard. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

“Yeah,” he answers flatly.

But when I reach for him, he flinches. It’s so small that I don’t think he realizes I notice.

We’ll be okay, Duke, I think as I watch him head back to his room.I promise.

40

Remi

Fridaynight,I’mcomplainingunder my breath as the crowd cheers again for an entirely unknown reason. I’m not into sports, and I know nothing about football. The ball is kicked and thrown and caught, and then the crowd goes nuts. Big whoop. There’s a reason I’ve only attended maybe two football games throughout all of high school.

But this is me trying. Going out on a limb, stepping out of my comfort zone, and all those other phrases that mean I’m going after what I want.

I’m wearing a long-sleeved shirt, thick black leggings, and tennis shoes. Nothing fancy because it’s freaking cold tonight. I have Knight’s jersey number drawn on the front of my shirt, my hair is in french braids, and I even painted those black smudges under my eyes.

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