Page 4 of Kings of Westbrook High

Katherine lifts her eyes from her phone when I break the silence, raising a perfectly waxed brow. “Excuse me?”

I lick my lips and lean back on the leather bench seat opposite her, watching her closely like she holds all the answers to my unspoken questions. I shouldn't care, I don't really, what’s done is done, but I can't help but wonder..

“Why did he call you?”

She smirks at that, folding her arms over her chest. “Took you long enough. You haven't said a word to me all night.”

“I was sleeping.”

“You're a terrible liar.”

“And you're fuckin' asshole.”

She sighs and cocks her head, eyeing me curiously. “You have my eyes.”

“Lucky me.”

“That's all, though.” She observes, moving her eyes over my face. “The rest of you is all him. Your dark hair, your golden tanned skin, your full lips, your petite frame and your natural curves most girls would kill for. You sure as hell didn't get those from me. Mine were bought and paid for.”

“By the same sorry son of a bitch who gave you that ugly ass rock on your finger?” I tip my chin, gesturing to the blinding princess cut diamond on her left hand.

“Your personality, though?” She ignores the cheap dig, raising a brow. “That's all me. Your attitude, your whit, your stubbornness, your fire..”

“Awful full of yourself, aren't you?”

“You're mistaking those for compliments, my dear.” She leans forward, patronizing as fuck. “We're not in Vegas anymore, Callie. In a city like Westbrook, your big mouth will only get you into more trouble than it's worth. I advise you keep your head down and your mouth shut if you want to survive here.”

I lick my lips, not missing the warning in her tone. But if she thinks I'm about to listen to a word of her advice, as she called it, she's dead wrong.

I don't bother telling her that, though.

She'll find out soon enough.

“Why did he call you?”

She leans back, considering her words carefully before she speaks. “Your father was a complicated man.”

I don't bother to hide my eye roll because yeah, no shit.

“He was a good person once.” She goes on, sighing a little. “He was raised in a shitty place with shitty people, but he wanted to be better. He was better for a little while.. until he wasn't. But even after all the mistakes he made with you, he wanted to do right by you in the end, Callie.” She lies, looking me dead in the eye as she does it. “He didn't want you to end up getting lost and forgotten about in the system. He didn't want you to be alone. He called me because he wanted me to give you the chance you deserve to make something of yourself.. finish high school, get a decent college education and live a good life.” She pauses, glancing off and up at something through the tinted windows. “The life you should have had all along.”

I glare, following her line of sight, and fuck me, my eyes bug out of my head before I can stop it. “Holy shit.”

The limo slows to a stop and I slide my eyes back to Katherine, watching her smirk like the evil little snake she is - pleased with herself and my reaction, no doubt.

“Home sweet home.” She grins, sliding over just as the driver opens the back door for her. “Come, Callie.”

Half stunned, half disgusted, I follow her out and look up, craning my neck to eye the huge sign on the twenty five story, five star hotel standing in front of me.

Kingston Palace.

Kingston motherfucking Palace.

As in Katherine Kingston..?

This is one of the most expensive hotel chains in thecountry, owned by one of the richest and most powerful men on the west coast. Eyeing the building, I notice it's all black glass and gold finishes - the same theme as the Kingston Palace back in Vegas - large floor to ceiling windows and a wide set of shiny black steps leading up to the entrance.

Just then, I look to the side when I spot some hot Hispanic guy wearing a black button down taking my case from the car and carrying it up the front steps.

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