Page 34 of Charming Cruel Boys

Charles leans forward in his leather chair, lacing his fingers together and running his tongue over his teeth. “That’s a bold choice of words, Knight. But I’m calling your bluff.” He smiles at me, a cold, detached slash across his face. “Because if you start spilling secrets, then I might get angry. And you know who I’ll take that anger out on?”

Standing, I press my palms flat on his desk and lean in to snarl at him. “I don’t care what you do to me, you son of a bitch. I’d risk it all for her safety.”

Charles laughs right in my face, sucking all of my bravery out of my body. “Not you, stupid boy. But Duke? Something tells me you wouldn’t risk putting him in my sights. After all, that’s what has kept you in line thus far.”

A cold dread washes over me, stealing the oxygen from my lungs. I fall back into the chair behind me and chew my lip as I think.The office is stuffy and dark this early in the morning. I feel trapped and claustrophobic even though I know I could reach the door before Charles could do anything.

“Now, since we’re having such a pleasant chat, why not get some things straight? Because you might know that I put my hands on my daughter last night, but I wasn’t the only one, was I?” he says, a harshness filling his deep voice, his mask off and showing the evil that hums through his veins.The eyes he shares with his daughter are dark with sick intent, a deep scowl pulling down his thin lips.

I glare pure death at him, wishing he’d drop like a sack of shit.It would solve a whole fuck ton of problems for me.

“You think I don’t know what goes on in my own home, Knight? That I don’t realize how the two of you want to use her like some worthless slut? I know the three of you tucked away in Duke’s room last night and I can only imagine the things you delinquents convinced her to do.”

“It was a one-time thing,” I argue even as the words taste like acid on my tongue.

“It better be. Remi isn’t going to be dragged down by the two of you. She’ll make straight As, go to a top-notch university, and when the time is right, she’ll marry a man of my choosing. A rich man who will pay dearly for my precious,virgindaughter.”

I scoff, sitting forward and resting my elbows on my knees. “You know Remi isn’t a virgin.”

“A fact that I can keep quiet so long as she’s nice and tight when the time comes,” he practically purrs, a slick smile on his face. “I’ll make sure she’s on her period when they fuck, and he’ll never know the difference. But that’s only possible if she’s not handing out her pussy to every boy who makes empty promises. I’ve kept a tight leash on her at school. Nobody wants to get into bed with the strict principal’s daughter, after all. But the two of you are making things difficult for me. So you and Duke will stay away from her, and I’ll stay away from each of you. In fact, I want her so heartbroken that she’ll swear off men completely. It’ll make things much easier for me when she goes to college. If you don’t ruin her, smash her to fucking dust beneath your boot, I’ll do it. But I don’t know if she’d survive me.”Charles arches a brow and flexes his fingers before fisting them like he’s gearing up to beat his daughter right this second.

“You’re sick,” I snarl, digging my nails into the arms of the seat so I don’t jump over the desk and strangle this motherfucker. I’m caught between disbelief and pure horror right now, my body vibrating with violence and fear. I will die before he sells Remi. It’s a sacrifice I’d gladly make if it would secure her and Duke a happy, safe future. Mom too. All I’ve ever been is the aggressive, fucked up twin. The least I can do is protect everyone with my dying breath.

“Maybe, but who’s going to tell?”he answers with smug satisfaction.

I storm out of the office with weak legs and panic threatening to send me into a dark place. A place I haven’t been to since my last private conversation with that dirtbag. My mind whirls as I stumble up the stairs and race for the bathroom, barely making it in time before I vomit.

“I noticed your grades last year slipped quite low,” he said to me. “Unfortunately, the football team has strict requirements, Knight. If you can’t get those grades up this year before the season starts, I’m afraid you’ll be cut from the team.”

“I understand, Mr. Williams. I’ll get them back on track,” I promised, wondering how the fuck I was going to manage that. I couldn’t lose football. I couldn’t lose the chance to go to college and make something of myself.

“I could help,” he offered, smiling triumphantly like he held all the answers to every one of my problems.

Hope rose in me, and I looked at him in awe. “You can?”

He nodded slowly and said, “I just need something in return.”

How stupid that hope was. How foolish and naive and ridiculous of me to have believed in him. Now I know the kind of monster that lurks underneath his skin.

At least I had one night with Remi. I got to taste her lips and relish in her moans and pretend for a few hours that everything was right in the world.

Except I know better. Nothing ever goes right for me. And now I have to break Remi all over again. I have to build up those walls, strengthen my armor, and become a bigger monster than ever just to keep us all safe.

The hardest part will be driving a wedge between her and Duke. Again.

I’m so tired of acting like I’m not in love with her and like I can’t stand Duke anymore. I just want a break. Another few hours like I had last night to soak in their presence and pretend everything is normal. That I’m not fighting against an enemy with more power and cruelty than I could ever match.

What the fuck am I going to do?

24

Remi

Afteraquickshower,I gingerly walk down the stairs, smiling to myself as I go. Last night was incredible.Knight was something out of a dream and I’m trying not to get my hopes up, but the way he looked at me makes me think everything is about to change. There was a softness behind his navy eyes that I’d never seen before and it was all for me.

I smile wide as I walk into the kitchen, spotting Duke and Knight already eating at the table. Duke’s sitting straight up, taking the time to chew and swallow before the next bite. Knight’s slouched forward, shoveling food into his mouth like a freaking slob. I have to try hard to smother a laugh. It describes their different personalities so well. “Morning guys. What’s for breakfast?”I ask cheerily, forcing my feet not to literally skip into the room. I can’t help it. My heart feels so light.

“I made eggs and toast, nothing fancy,” Duke answers through a yawn, politely covering his mouth and then shooting me a soft, adoring smile. I return the look, ignoring the way my cheeks heat before sitting down and looking over my options.

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