Page 3 of Kings of Westbrook High

She scowls, struggling to rein in her obvious temper. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” I tip my chin to dismiss her, taking a long hit. “Get out and fuck off back to wherever you came from. I'll take my chances in the system.”

“I'm afraid that's not an option. I'm your official legal guardian and you'll be living with me and my family until you graduate from Westbrook High this summer.”

I feel the sudden urge to puke.

Her family?

Westbrook High?

“We live in Westbrook, California.” She explains, checking her fancy diamond watch. “Run along and pack your things, Callie. I can't fly you home with me because you don't have a passport so I've arranged a car service for us. You can sleep on the way and you'll be attending your new school first thing tomorrow morning.”

I ignore all of that and slide my eyes to Dean, frowning. “Is this legit?”

He nods, looking a little confused because there's no way he doesn't see what I'm seeing.

And I thought my heart was dead.

I finish my joint and toss the roach in the ash tray, feigning boredom while I consider my options a moment.

There aren't many.

I could make a run for it right here and now, but I doubt I'd get far, and even if I did, where the hell can I go where she won't find me? The group homes, the cops, the school - they'll all hand me over to her the second I show my face, and it's not like I can live a good life as a runaway minor with no real job and no high school diploma. I could argue, plead with this woman to reconsider, but just looking at her tells me this isn't up for negotiation. Plus I won't give her the satisfaction of hearing me beg.

Fresh out of options, I admit defeat and stand to do as she told me to, not missing the sly grin pulling at her fake lips. I walk over to the hole in the wall I call a bedroom and toss all my clothes in a black suitcase, hiding my gun, cash and weed in the inside zip pocket, then I pull my long, dark brown hair up into a messy knot and take a second to look at myself in the mirror, eyeing the engraving on the cheap, heart shaped silver locket around my neck.

My Angel.

And yet here I am, headed over to the fucking devil herself, allowing her to drag me off to my newest version of hell.

Oh, the irony.

“Callie.”

Half way to the front door, I lick my lips and turn to face Dean, bumping his raised fist.

He catches the look in my eyes and sighs, discreetly slipping me my cut from earlier tonight. “It's only five months, babe.”

“Three.” I argue, shoving the cash in my pocket. “And I better be seeing you a helluva lot sooner than that.”

He frowns, looking from me to Katherine and back again. “You still wanna work?”

“How else am I gonna buy shit, dumbass? Money doesn't grow on trees.”

He snorts at my stupid joke and shakes his head at me, lightly knocking my chin. “Be good, okay?”

“Aren't I always?” I grin, tossing a wave over my shoulder before following Katherine down to the black limo parked out front.

Be good, he says.

Right.

Chapter 2

Callie

“Why you?”

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