Page 3 of Charming Cruel Boys

I try to shove him away, but he doesn’t budge.But holy shit, his abs are rock hard.“You’re hurting me,” I whimper, tears welling in my eyes.I hate how weak that makes me look, but Knight’s completely caught me off guard and I have no time to slip into the toughened mask my father has helped forge.

A snarl curls his lips as he tightens his hold around my throat. “You know nothing about pain,” he growls.

“What are you talking about?” I croak, trying to suck down precious oxygen.

“Duke wasn’t there because ofyou. Because he was too busy bloodying your sheets. He wasn’t there when I needed him, and it’s your fault. I hope the fuck my brother gave you was worth it because he’ll never touch you again,“ he says quietly, only an inch or two from my face. The threatening tone in his gravely voice makes me want to curl into a ball in the corner. He gives me a rough shove and stalks away, walking right out of the main doors and into the parking lot. Knight leaves me crying and confused and trying to call Duke repeatedly in the girl’s bathroom.

He doesn’t answer a single time.

2

Remi

One Year Later

Firstdayofsenioryear. Only nine months left at this rundown school, and then I’m free to skip town and never look back. Never seehimagain. The boy who broke my heart.

You can do this, Remi.Just one more year, and then I’ll be chasing my dreams of becoming a publisher in some big city far away from everyone who’s let me down. Just keep my head down, don’t piss off my dad, and make good grades. Should be easy... Right?

My hands shake as I scoop spoonfuls of fruity, sugary cereal into my mouth. Thinking about running into Duke at school today has me nauseous. I got lucky last year and we didn’t share a single class together. I hardly saw him, except for at lunch sometimes. Well, and that one time he cornered me and asked to talk. We didn’t have enough time, though, so we agreed to do it after school. Somehow, Knight found out and locked me in the boys’ bathroom for hours to keep me from going and then Duke avoided me the few times I tried to explain…

But this year could be a whole different story. Will we have any classes together? Has he found a new girl to spend the summer with, seducing and cherishing her like he once did with me? Will she be on his arm every second of the day, parading around as a couple?

“Are you listening to me, Remi?” my father barks from across the kitchen.

I straighten my spine as I snap myself out of my self-pity. I look at him, leaning against the honey oak cabinets with his arms crossed over a crisp white button-up shirt. “I’m sorry, what?”

Irritation ignites in his gray eyes as he stares at me. The same eyes as mine, except they only ever project anger. For as long as I can remember, my father has hated me. I used to hope and yearn for his love, but I think that finally shriveled up and died when I was thirteen and he yelled at me for killing my mom. She died giving birth to me. I haven’t brought her up since that day.

“I said we’re going to dinner tonight. At that steak place you like downtown. So you’d better not be late getting home from school because you’ll need to shower and make yourself presentable. Can I trust you to pick out something appropriate or do I need to choose your clothes to make sure you don’t look like a cheap whore?”he asks harshly.

I furrow my brows, fighting against the urge to chew my nails; he hates it when I do that. It takes a whole lot of restraint not to argue. I have never dressed provocatively in all my life. Not that there’s a single thing wrong with wanting to show your assets, but in my case, it would get my ass spanked. I take a deep breath. “What’s the occasion?”

He gives me an empty smile. “You’ll find out tonight. See you at school.” He leaves the kitchen without another word. My father has been the principal at Star View High in our sleepy suburban town of Mountain Ridge, Nevada for ten years. He used to be a teacher and we lived paycheck to paycheck, but the new job came with a raise and now we’re able to make ends meet and afford a few extras. Like my rusty, paint-chipped car. Even though we’re going to the same place, he hasn’t driven me since I turned sixteen. I walked outside one day and found the yellow Volkswagen Beetle sitting in the driveway, and we haven’t shared space in a car since.

My phone pings with a text from my friend and neighbor, Sara, letting me know she’ll be over in five and then we can head out. Her parents moved in next door over the summer and we became fast friends. I adore her, and sunbathing in her backyard all summer was a fantastic distraction from the memories trying to surface every time I thought about how I spent the previous summer with Duke. And even better, she never asked me to spill every time my mind wandered away.

Sara lets herself in through the front door a few minutes later and calls out to me. “Let’s go, Remi. Time to make senior year suck our dicks!”

I bark out a laugh and gather my things. Sara is a wild child, for sure. Crass and brave and ano fucks givenattitude. And totally boy crazy. Making my way to the front door, I look her over with raised brows. “Uh, you know we’re only going to school, right?” I tease.

Sara’s wearing a leather, skin-tight skirt that is dangerously short, with a cherry red long-sleeved shirt and black pumps on her feet. Her bleach-blonde hair is curled and flows down to her butt, and her brown eyes are covered in black liner and thick mascara. She’s gorgeous and brave, and every guy at school will pounce the second she walks through the doors.

Compared to my white skinny jeans, flip flops, and dusky pink top... “Maybe I should change?” I mutter. My dark brown hair is straight, and my makeup is minimal, only mascara to enhance my gray eyes. I run my hands down my thighs, trying to think of any outfit I might have that would rival hers.

She shakes her head. “Don’t go changing on my account, honey. You look like a picture of innocence, and those jeans do so many things for your figure. I bet you’ll have guys creaming their pants all day.” She winks and heads back out the door toward Chip, my car.He got the name due to all the chips in his paint, but I adore him anyway. Sometimes, damaged things just need extra love. I would know.

***

Walking through the double doors at Star View High with Sara by my side gives me a much needed confidence boost. I can totally tackle senior year without letting Duke drag me down. Hell yes.

I move through the crowd with my head held high, not looking around for a familiar set of deep blue eyes that make my heart seize. We get to our lockers — Sara managed to snag the empty one right next to mine — and unload all the stuff we won’t need for the first few periods.

I’m busy thinking over my class schedule, not paying mind to anything around me when Sara sucks in a breath. When I don’t give her any attention, she elbows me in the ribs.

“Ow,” I mutter, rubbing the spot she hit and scowling at her. “What?”

“Who thefuckare they?” she whispers, pointing down the hall.

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