Page 297 of Evil Boys

My cheeks heat as I blush. Admitting this to my father is a big deal to me.

“But what about Jason?”

“He wasn’t there for me when I needed him, so I ended it, and then he tried to hurt me,” I explain.

His nostrils flare. “I will have him expelled.”

I shake my head. “That’ll only anger his parents, and I don’t want anyone else coming for Spine Ridge or the Rivera family. Let him stay, and I’ll ignore him as best as I can. He’s out of the Skull & Serpents anyway.”

My father caresses my cheek with his thumb. “I just want to protect my little girl.”

Tears well up in my eyes. “I know.”

“That picture was not easy to see,” he says.

I’m embarrassed, but maybe I’ll survive this.

“I’m sorry.” I avert my eyes. “I didn’t want it to end up in the wrong hands, let alone yours. I never wanted you to see me like that.”

“What about that body? Is that—”

I inhale sharply. “That was a guy who hurt young girls. Consistently. And I couldn’t let it slide.”

My father’s eyes twitch with curiosity.

“Maria?”

An assistant steps in.

“Bring in Nathan, Kai, and Milo.”

My eyes widen. “You already brought them here?”

“You think I haven’t watched you while you were here on these campus grounds?” He smiles. “You underestimate your own father’s obsessive need to keep track of the dangers his kids put themselves in.”

I snort and hide my laughter behind my hand.

Of course, he’d be just as deranged as me.

A knock on the door follows, and in step all three boys … along with my brother.

The assistant peers over their shoulders and says, “Your son is here too.”

“Felix?” I mutter as they all step inside. “What are you doing here?”

“Dad asked me to come.” He closes the door behind him. “What’s this about? Why are they here too?”

“I’d wanted to ask if you knew anything about that picture.” He eyes all of the boys as his hands dive into his pockets. “I don’t want any of you hiding things from me.”

Felix leans back against the wood with his arms crossed. “I’m not hiding anything.”

“And you …” My father narrows his eyes at Kai, Nathan, and Milo. “You took a picture of my daughter in a precarious position and shared it with the world?”

“It was a mistake,” Nathan mutters.

“An accident,” Kai adds. “It wasn’t on purpose.”

“Right. But it did happen.”

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