Page 6 of Kings of Westbrook High

“Three boys.” She explains, trying and failing to hide the snarl on her face. “Damon, Wren and Kai. They're all seniors at Westbrook High so I'm sure you'll see them around, but it's probably best you stay out of their way at school and at home if you want to survive here.”

There's that word again.

Survive.

Tension floods my veins at the clear warning in her tone but I don't let her see that. I remain mute, sipping my coffee and waiting for her to offer more about them, but she doesn't, so I sure as hell don't ask.

“Anyway..” She perks up again, sliding me a credit card and a car key across the counter. “These are for you. The limit on the card is fifty thousand dollars and there's a brand new Range Rover downstairs for you. Your stepfather-”

I stop her right there, laughing lightly. “My stepfather? You're joking, right?”

She glares and hits me with her snake eyes, opens her mouth to say something but quickly snaps it shut, deciding against it.“Elijah and I want you to feel comfortable here. This is your home now, but we will not have you embarrassing us or disrespecting our family name. The Kingston's are considered royalty in this city, that means you can pretty much do as you please, but you must be discreet about it. No partying in public, no compromising pictures and absolutely no talking to the press. Are we clear?”

“Crystal.” I lie, because she's out of her damn mind if she thinks her family name or her reputation here means shit to me. “We done here?”

“You haven't eaten anything.”

“I'm not hungry.” I shrug, lifting my coffee over my shoulder. “Imma take this to go.”

“Sit down, Callie.” She snaps, and I freeze mid step at her tone, working my jaw because she really shouldn't push me. “I want to see you eat something before you leave.”

I lick my lips and turn back to face her, struggling to make sense of this entire fucked up situation that seems to be my new reality and not some twisted dream world caused by smoking too much of the green stuff.

I'm not sure why she cares if I eat or not considering I've only known this woman for a little under six hours. The obvious and only answer is she simply doesn't care, so why..?

Something's not right here.

My mind drifts back to what she said to me in the limo about Jason wanting to do the right thing by me after years of cruel torment, and I'm sorry, but I'm not fucking buying it.

“Why am I here, Katherine?”

She stands and steps closer, speaking through her teeth. “You're here because you're my daughter and I'm deciding to give you a better life, so I suggest you drop the bitchy little act and show me some damn gratitude.”

I laugh lightly, lifting my chin to level with her due to the extra inches she has on me in those heels. “Let’s get one thing straight here.” I start, smirking when her eyes narrow further. “You might be my legal guardian because it's the law, but you are not my mother and I am not your daughter. I don't want your husband's money or his bullshit car, I don't want your fake concern, and I sure as shit won't be following anyone’s rules but my own. So I suggest you back the fuck up outta my face or toss my ass in the system. Your choice.”

She snarls for real now and I can tell she wants to slap me for that, but she won't, not if she knows what's good for her.

“Just take the car, Callie.”

“I told you I don’t wan’t it.”

“Fine.” She sighs heavily, ending our little stare off to go grab her phone. “If you insist on being difficult I’ll have one of our drivers give you a ride to school until you come to your senses. The principal’s expecting you for a meeting in her office this morning so you’ll need to go straight there. It's on the west side of the building. If you go through the main..”

I don't hear the rest of her sentence before the elevator doors slide closed behind me and she's out of earshot.

I'll find it myself.

Chapter 3

Callie

Principal Greene’s been staring at my file for several minutes like it's a puzzle with missing pieces, frowning so deeply that the tight blond bun scraped back on her head is hurting my scalp. It’s clear she doesn’t want me here, and I know the only reason I’m sitting in her office right now is because Katherine wrote her a big fat check to make it happen.

Guess the red tape isn’t so thick when you’re rolling in Kingston cash.

“Your grades are good.” She tells me, still scanning the thick manila folder in her hands. “Really good.”

I lick my lips, leaning back in the chair across from her. “You sound surprised.”

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