Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose.
Connor: Who are you?
Dolos: Unimportant right now. Are you ready to make a deal?
Connor: Yes. Whatever gets me dirt on Coleman.
Dolos: Your task is retrieval. Locate Coleman’s house, get it back with proof, then we’ll be ready to do business.
An image attachment comes through the chat. It’s a necklace. A heart locket with the initials CT engraved on the front. After seeing those comments and the way Coleman’s creep factor turned up to eleven today, the sight of the locket makes an uneasiness settle in my gut.
Who the hell are these guys and how are they connected to Coleman?
Connor: Get the necklace and you’ll give me what I need?
Dolos: That’s the deal. Take too long and it expires.
Connor: Wait! I’ll need time. Coleman is evasive and good at covering his tracks.
Dolos: Fine. By the new year, or we’ll have to introduce ourselves to that pretty redhead.
I stand so fast to slam the desk, the whole thing almost overturns. A growl tears from me as I grab for the monitor to stabilize it. The desk left a dent in the wall. I type with all the force of the anger coursing through me.
Connor: Touch her and I’ll kill you.
Dolos: Better get to work then.
My screen goes black and non-responsive. When I do a hard reset to reboot the computer, the chat window is gone.
“Damn it!” My throat burns as I drag in air, breathing hard to regulate the fury.
Once I have myself under control, I collapse on the bed. The first thing I do is run a search for Dolos. My snort jerks my head when the results populate. It turns out Dolos is from greek mythology, a god of cunning trickery and deception. Fitting.
“Edgelords,” I mutter.
Next I text Devlin. I’m going to need help to pull this off. I doubt I can get Chief Landry to convince a judge to issue a warrant for Coleman with circumstantial evidence, even if I emptied my investment accounts for the bribe.
Connor: Feel up for some recon?
Devlin: Playing Batman again?
Connor: This is bigger than that. I’ll explain. I’m on my way over.
Devlin: Can you give me like an hour?
Connor: This is serious, man! You can get your dick sucked later.
Devlin: My parents just left town again sometime today, dude. You’re killing me [skull emoji]
Connor: You can last a few more hours. Bring her with us if you want, Blair might have more insight into what I need to plan.
Devlin: Which is?
Connor: Surveillance. Probably some B&E.
Devlin: [smirking devil emoji] That does sound like something she’ll know about.
Some of the tightness loosens in my chest. I knew my best friend would have my back. Grabbing my keys and wallet, I head out the door. On my way, I text Thea to check in on her.
Connor: How’s shopping? Find the one?
Thea: Pretty sure I can’t show you the dress before the big day.
I snort, leaning against the driver’s side of my car.
Connor: Babe, that’s a wedding dress. You angling for wifey status?
Thea: [flustered emoji] Stop teasing me!
My heart does a little flip. She always gets me smiling.
Connor: Have fun. I’m going to hang with Devlin. Call you later?
Thea: Ok [heart emoji]
Climbing into the car, I pull out and head for Devlin’s place to figure out a plan.
Twenty-Six
Thea
The last month has been such a whirlwind. Before I know it, it’s the week of the dance. Between my planning committee duties, studying, baking about a million pies for the Thanksgiving dinner at the local shelter, and trying to have a life, time has slipped by me.
Everything is in chaos at school with the semester ending, midterms looming next week, and the excitement for the winter formal at the end of the week to give the students a break before our winter vacation.
Connor and I have barely had time to sneak away to our secret haven in the pool house over the last few weeks. He was wrapped up in his own thing with the end of the soccer season, and being there for Devlin when his relationship with Blair ended abruptly after Thanksgiving.
They’re back together now, or at least that’s the impression I got when I walked in on them making out in the English classroom before anyone else arrived. Those two burn hot and fast, like exploding stars. I quickly stammered an apology, but I’d already seen Devlin’s hand fisted in Blair’s hair, holding her head back, and the huge hickey on her neck. They didn’t even stop, just gave me matching smirks as I backed out of the room and bumped right into Connor’s chest.
The gymnasium is in a state of havoc as the committee members direct our helpers with the decorations. Connor promised he’d bring the soccer team to lend a hand, and I’m waiting on them to drape the silver and white fabric Maisy and I picked out to transform the room into a winter wonderland.
We’re both working on lifting a table onto the stage for the DJ, but we’re struggling with just the two of us.
“It’s too heavy,” I say.
“Oh!” Maisy pops up from her squat and heads for the door. “Hang on, I see my brother in the hall. Holden!”
Maisy’s brother stops and leans against the doorframe. Behind him, Fox Wilder looms like a deadly shadow, scowling at Maisy.
“‘Sup?” Holden asks.
Maisy tugs on his arm, a force of nature of her own making when she wants something. “Come here a sec. We’re trying to lift this, but it’s too heavy. I need to borrow your football muscles.” She peers over Holden’s shoulder and latches on to Fox’s wrist. “You too, Fox.”
She wrangles both of them, but Fox doesn’t seem happy about it. His sharp, eerie gaze tracks her as she leads them over.
“How long is this going to take?” Holden asks, dragging his feet. “I’m hungry. We were going to get food.”
“Just a minute. You’re wasting your own time by complaining about it.”
Holden groans, dropping his head back. “You’re such a pain in the ass.”
“Deal with it, my god.” Maisy flips her hair over her shoulder and sticks her tongue out at her brother. “Two minutes, or I’ll tell Mom where you’ve been going on weekends.”
“Fine,” Holden grumbles.
“Okay, help us get this over there,” she directs, kneeling to grab the end she tried to lift with just the two of us.
I get into position as Holden comes to help me support my side. Fox doesn’t move. Maisy looks up over her shoulder. Her brows hike up. He towers over her, intimidating as hell with that cold expression, his dead eyes shooting daggers at my sweet best friend.
Maisy is the kind of girl everyone likes, so how can he look at her with so much hatred?
Fox is scary. Bad boy is written all over him, from the motorcycle he rides around town on to his complete disregard for any rules. He looks dangerous in his leather jacket and messy dark brown hair. It’s hard to believe this guy is someone Maisy could’ve been friends with; he’s her total opposite.
“Aren’t you going to help us?” Maisy sighs. “It won’t take long. Then you can go back to pretending I don’t exist.”
“Maybe we can get it with the three of us,” I say, trying to break up the suffocating tension between them. “Right, Holden?”
He grunts, gaze flicking between his surly friend and his sister.
“Fox, come on. Please?” Maisy won’t give in, frowning at him when he narrows his eyes. She lowers her voice. “You always used to—”
His furious growl cuts her off. “No.”
My heart leaps into my throat. I shift to jump to my feet, but Holden puts his hand on my arm to keep me in place, watching the exchange between Fox and Maisy.
“No?” Maisy sighs, never one to get angry or spiteful. “Okay, it’s just…if you helped, we’d get it done faster. Then I’ll leave you alone.”
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Fox moves at last, getting in her face. “Always such a goody-goody.”
Maisy’s shoulders tense and she hugs herself, glancing away. Fox laughs, the sound an awful, cutting bark.
“Yeah. That’s what I thought.” He takes a lock of her hair, letting it slide through his fingers. “Didn’t your daddy teach you to run from monsters? Get it through your fucking head.”
Turning away, he kicks over a bucket of metallic silver paint we need to make the signs. It skims across the gym floor, creeping close to Maisy’s flats. Meeting her gaze, he smirks cruelly at the look on her face.
“What are you going to do about it? Cry?” Fox speaks in a deep, biting voice as he mocks her. “That’s all you are. All you’ll ever be. Maisy Daisy the Crybaby.”
Maisy stands her ground, even though I can tell she’s upset. She lifts her head.
“What happened to you?” Her whisper is watery. “You were my friend, too.”
“Playtime is over,” Fox growls. “Fuck off, daisy. Stay out of my way.”
He storms off, tearing down a mylar fringe curtain Maisy hung.
“Are you fine being friends with that jerk when he treats your sister that way?” I ask Holden.
“I don’t control him. Couldn’t if I tried. He’s not even my friend, he just showed up again and started hanging around me.”
I shake Holden’s hand off my arm and go to her side.
“Holden, get the paint,” I say while I wrap Maisy in a tight hug. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Maisy says softly, tucking her face in my shoulder. “I don’t understand why he hates me so much now.”
“Maybe it’s best if you stay away from him. He seems…”
“I know.” Maisy groans. “I’ll go pick up another can of paint.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Holden? Give me a ride to the hardware store.”
Holden stops mopping up the silver paint. On their way out, he puts his hand on Maisy’s head and ruffles her hair, leaning close to murmur to her. She nods as they pass through the door.
With a sigh, I motion over two students from the planning committee. “Can you two work on this? We’ll get more paint for the signs. I’m going to find someone to help lift this.”
As I’m pulled in different directions, Connor appears in the double doorway with Devlin and the rest of the soccer team at his back, all dressed down in their SLHS athletic gear. I push out a relieved breath and wave him over.
“Your very hot labor team has arrived,” Connor drawls. He captures me in his arms and drops a quick peck on my lips. “Give us your orders.”
Smiling softly, I dip my fingers beneath his t-shirt, smoothing them over his skin. “Thanks for helping.”
“Of course, sunshine.” Connor winks. “What my girl needs, she gets. Ain’t that right, Dev?”
Devlin huffs out a laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah. Real attentive lover type, you are.”
Connor clicks his tongue and shoots me a finger gun.
“Okay, if a few of you could head to that corner to set up the photo booth station,” I say, addressing the soccer team. “We need help to hang the decorations from the rafters, so speak to the custodial staff. Then the rest of you will help with the draping.”
“You heard her, guys. Chop, chop,” Connor says.
He doesn’t move right away, keeping me in his embrace. His gaze darts around, sweeping the room like he’s looking for a threat.
“Has Coleman been around?”
“He went to pick up the lighting rental. Why?”
“Just checking.” He’s being evasive and keeps looking around, as if he expects something to take him by surprise.
Connor is odd like that for the rest of the afternoon, on edge and wary of everything. He barely leaves my side, hovering over me as soon as he finishes the tasks I give him. Despite my shadow, we’re able to get most of the decorating done, and I walk out of the gymnasium at the end of the night feeling a sense of accomplishment.
With the logistics taken care of, I can finally allow the excitement for the big dance to creep in.
Twenty-Seven
Thea
Seeing the room all set up and walking in the night of the dance are two different things. It steals my breath as Connor and I pass through the shimmering curtains draped in the entrance.
For once, I feel completely confident. Like the goddess I’m always telling myself to be, dressed in a flowing pink dress that makes me feel amazing, my hair down in soft curls, and my handsome boyfriend escorting me. The flower crown he presented me with when he picked me up helps with the goddess vibes, a beautiful mix of yellow anemones and pink roses sitting on my head. He’d said he wanted to give me the sun, but this was the closest he could get to suit a queen. My heart hasn’t stopped glowing with warmth since.
Connor’s hair is combed and styled the same as it was the night of the benefit for the children’s hospital, and he looks so good in a gray suit that complements his eyes.
“Wow, it really came out nice,” I murmur in awe.
“Of course it did. You were the brains behind it all.” Connor kisses my cheek. “Nerds, right? The best.”
“Oh, now they’re the best?” I tease. “Your tune’s changed since I found out about you being a computer nerd.”
“Like I said. The best.”
He chuckles, drawing me toward the balloon installation—a pearlescent white and silver arched confection—to set us up for a selfie. He wraps me in his arms from behind, playing with the material of my dress, and I lift my hand to touch his face as he leans over my shoulder.
Once he takes a couple of us smiling, I turn his face to mine for a kiss. We take a few more photos, then dive into the fray of the dance. It’s perfect and amazing.
“Thea! Oh my god, you look so pretty!” Nina, one of Connor’s friends from the popular crowd, gives me a big hug. Her friend Bailey holds up her phone and takes a photo of the two of us. “Bishop, take one of the three of us.”
These girls were never outright mean to me, but they never made an effort before I began dating Connor, either. I was invisible to them. We’ve reached a point where we briefly talk in the mornings when we all pull into the student lot.
Bailey hands off her phone and comes to pose on my other side.
“You both look amazing, too,” I say.
“Thanks,” Bailey says as she squeezes me between her and Nina.
They work it for the camera as Connor obediently captures us. I hesitate for a second, then laugh as we get into it.
“Just what the world likes, hot chicks rubbing up on each other,” Connor says.
“Connor!” My cheeks heat.
He laughs under his breath, handing the phone back to Bailey. “Just calling it like I see it.”
The girls giggle and go through the pictures he took. More of his friends join us.
When I see some of mine, I peel away from his side to talk to them. I’m in the middle of talking to a girl from my culinary class when Connor materializes next to me, looking annoyed.
“What’s wrong?” I follow his gaze to Mr. Coleman, deep in conversation with a girl from our class.
Connor’s hand fits to my waist, guiding me further away. “Let’s go grab a table over here.”
His friends join us. For a while we watch the photo booth nearby, laughing at the funny ideas people come up with.
I’m having a great time, but Connor’s good mood chips away as the night goes on.
Not long after, all of his friends have left us alone at the table while they spread out, grabbing refreshments and dancing.
I hold Connor’s hand and play with his fingers while he zones out. “Want to make plans for winter break? We haven’t had all that much time together lately.”
It takes him a minute to register my question. He’s distracted, glaring across the room at Mr. Coleman while he hovers at the edge of the dance floor, smiling at the students having a good time.
; “What?”
“I was just saying, maybe we could go to one of the holiday markets or something? Like a mini date adventure.”
“Uh, yeah. We’ll figure something out.” He gives me a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes before he settles back in his chair, watching Mr. Coleman while he chaperones.
I drop his hand and rise from my seat to get a drink.
“Where are you going?” Connor’s voice stops me before I make it two steps.
“The refreshments table. Do you want anything?”
He gets up and hovers at my back, more like a bodyguard than my date. “I’ll go with you.”
Getting tired of this putting a damper on our night, I spin to face him, tilting my head. He looks fine, but something is bothering him.
“Are you okay? Things started out great, but you’ve been weird since we got here.”
Connor blinks. He cups my face, his brows pinched. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? You can tell me if you’re not having a good time. I don’t want you to suffer for my sake.”
“Yeah, of course. I’m here with you, aren’t I?” He bends his head down, kissing me tenderly. “I’m sorry. Let’s go dance.”
Connor laces his fingers with mine and draws me onto the dance floor as a slow song starts up. The worry plaguing me eases when he smiles at me, a real one this time. Nearby, Blair and Devlin dance together. She looks amazing tonight in her sleek dark gray dress that sparkles when the light hits it, and Devlin looks very dapper beside her in his suit. The two of them are absorbed in each other with twin smiles full of fondness.
Ruthless Bishop: Dark New Adult High School Bully Romance (Sinners and Saints Book 3) Page 22