by G. Bailey
We scramble to get on top of the other, but I’m smaller and faster than he is. I manage to overpower him by straddling his thighs and grabbing hold of his windpipe. His eyes bulge into saucers and he chokes, his Adam’s apple fluttering under my grip. The most disgusting thing of all is that he’s smiling as if not a care left in the world, and I can feel his erection pressing into me.
“You sick bastard! You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
He chokes again, this time from laughing. “So…are you…”
I increase my pressure on his throat. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
“Oh, I…d-do…you’re like…me…”
His pathetic choking noises are annoying me, so I loosen my pressure enough for him to speak without gasping.
“What the fuck do you mean?” I growl, grabbing his cock with my other hand and squeezing to the point that Hunter lets out a hiss.
“You’re…you’re just like me. You like it rough.”
I roll my eyes, choking him again. “Are you deluded?”
He laughs, evidently enjoying this predicament. I can feel his cock getting harder in my hand and his pupils are blown. I bet that’s why Imogen is constantly covered in bruises. He likes to hurt girls. It’s what gets him off. I hate men like him.
I lean in slightly, bringing my lips close to his face. “I’m not like the girl you’ve forced to be with you. I’m your worst fucking nightmare, and you’ve just made my night a helluva lot easier.”
The smugness falls from his face. “What…do you mean?”
“I know all about your sin, Hunter. I know you killed Matthew just so Imogen would be with you. But what you don’t know about me is that I’m the kind of girl who poisons hearts like yours, and even should you try to fight it, it’ll be the sweetest thing you’ve ever tasted.”
Now that my words are settling in, fear takes over his countenance and he writhes underneath me. I might look small and puny but I know my strengths and this boy isn’t going anywhere so long as I’m on top of him.
“H-how?” he chokes out, swallowing hard against my tightening fingers. “How…did you…know?”
“Because it takes a monster to know a monster,” I answer simply, letting go of his cock. I bring my hand my lips and wrap my teeth around the diamond on my ring, carefully opening its secret compartment. All the while, Hunter thrashes underneath me, trying to throw me off him.
What a fucking idiot.
I dig my fingers into his throat, forcing him to gasp for air. The instant his mouth opens—completely unaware of what I’m about to do—I tip the poison onto his tongue and squeeze his jaw shut. He retches and tries to spit it out, but this poison dissolves instantly into the bloodstream the second it touches your tongue.
Bringing my lips to his ear, I whisper almost seductively, “If I were you, Hunter, I would enjoy these next few seconds of your life. They’re about to be your last.”
Hunter lets out a strangled scream that sounds like a suffocated cry. He thrashes and kicks and bucks his hips, tears and sweat streaming down his face, but I hold him there with every ounce of my being. When his body stills underneath me, I listen for his last breath, and I smile. One down, three more to go.
I push off him and straighten up, sealing the diamond again on my ring. Now how should they find his body? I look around, my gaze landing on the bed. Oh, that’ll do perfectly.
Hunter is a lot easier to handle when he’s not fighting for his stupid life. I manage to haul his ass onto the bed, then I pull his trousers and boxers down. I laugh at his little flaccid cock all shrivelled up. It looks and feels so funny as I tuck it into his limp hand. I step back to admire my work. Once more, I can’t help but laugh at how pathetic Hunter looks holding onto his precious manhood all withered up like a prune.
Cruel and undignified. What a hilarious and deserving way for him to die.
I leave him lying there, close the door softly behind me, and go downstairs to look for Anne. I make it just in time for the firework display, meaning everyone is already gathered outside and are none the wiser of the boy lying dead upstairs.
“Emergency assembly,” Daisy announces, dragging me from a lovely dream; one that involved Hunter gasping for breath underneath me. “Attention all students. Please go to the assembly hall immediately. Attention all students. Please go to the assembly hall immediately. Attention all—”
“I heard you the first time, Daisy,” I grumble, turning around in bed.
“Thank you, Miss Hall. Please go to the auditorium by eight A.M.”
Through one opened eye, I peer at the clock on the nightstand. That’s only five minutes to get ready. Ugh. I don’t even know where the auditorium is. I roll out of bed and start pulling on a fresh uniform and tie my hair into a loose plait.
“Daisy, show me where the auditorium is,” I muffle over brushing my teeth.
Daisy’s screen changes and my phone vibrates on my bed. “I have sent you directions to and from the auditorium. It is located on the first floor of the rotunda.”
“Thanks.”
I grab my phone, shove it into my bag with all my books, and hurry outside, bumping straight into a guy. We would have tumbled to the floor but he catches me, holding me to his chest like nothing happened at all.
“You should be more careful, Miss…?” he asks and his thick Scottish accent takes my breath away.
I cast my gaze over him quickly. Tall silver-fox with muscles bulging through his tight black t-shirt… Fuck, he’s hot and a quite a bit older than me. I’ve never looked at older guys before, but whoever this is has my full undivided attention. Hopefully, he’s a new teacher here that I can play with. That would also explain why he’s in the girls dormitory. But why do I feel like I know him from somewhere? I look up at rugged face and try to remember where I’ve possibly seen him before, but I’m clearly not awake yet as I can’t seem to place him.
God, I hope he’s a teacher here.
Student-teacher romance books are always so fucking sexy.
“Regan Hall,” I answer hurriedly, realising I just stared at him like a psychopath. “And you shouldn’t be wandering around outside girls rooms, Mr…?”
“Call me Rory. Good day, Miss Hall.” He lets me go and walks out of the dormitory, catching every girls attention as passes by.
Rory… I’ve definitely heard that name recently.
I’m in a daze until some girl knocks into me and I frown at her. This dormitory is in utter chaos. Girls only half-dressed scurry from room to room, slamming doors and frantically trying to get ready. I spot Anne waving at me from the end of the hall. As I make my way towards her, I see how frailer she is today. Her pale skin is almost translucent and she’s wearing a hat and scarf despite the warmth circulating through the school.
“Are you all right?”
She nods quickly. “Oh, yeah. Just tired. Last night was so much fun, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, it was, actually. I can’t believe we danced until three A.M. No wonder you’re tired.”
Anne yawns, nodding. “It’s almost eight. We should get going to the assembly.”
“Too bad we can’t eat breakfast first,” I grouse, following Anne out of the dorm.
“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure.” Anne shrugs her backpack off her shoulder and pulls out a paper bag. “I grabbed us some muffins.”
Tears prick my eyes. This is why I love Anne—she literally thinks about everything.
There’s nothing dark or bloody about her, and as I take a bite of my chocolate chip muffin, I realise that’s why I love her so much. She gives me hope in a world that repeatedly tries to destroy it thanks to my parents.
The rest of the girls follow us out and into the rotunda. Instead of going down, we walk around to where everyone is hurrying through a set of brass doors. Armed guards flank the entrance. One I recognise as Rory. So he’s a bodyguard instead of a teacher? Mmm, that’s even hotter. I try not to grin at him like an idiot as I slide through the
doors, but it’s a little hard with how hot he looks in his SWAT uniform. And that’s when I realise he’s the bodyguard who escorted me and Joshua to the Maritime Care Home!
I never noticed how sexy he was until now. Dang.
“What do you think the guards are here for?” Anne whispers, clenching my hand.
I pat her reassuringly. “Probably someone choked on a peanut and died.”
The inside joke makes me giggle, and Anne reciprocates it rather awkwardly as we hurry into the auditorium. Mrs Beach is standing on the central stage and Charlie’s Angels usher me and Anne into the middle row of seats.
“It is with a heavy heart that I have gathered you all here today,” the headmistress starts off, quieting the chatter spreading through the auditorium. “There have been rumours going around since early this morning, and I am here to put them to rest. Hunter Cross, your fellow student and a member of the Student Council, is now dead.”
The chatter turns into horrified gasps. I look over at Imogen, gauging her reaction. Her eyes are completely dry and she doesn’t appear remotely affected unlike some of the others. I don’t know why but it makes me smile. She’s free of him now.
“Last night, as some of you may already know, Hunter attended an illicit house party,” Mrs Beach resumes calmly. “This morning his body was found unresponsive in that very house. While his death is being treated as unsuspicious, for the sake of all students at Holly Oak Academy, each pupil will now be assigned a bodyguard.”
More gasps and whispering from the students.
“Now, now,” Mrs Beach says, silencing everyone with a simple clap of her hands. “There is nothing to be worried about. As I said, Hunter’s death came from natural causes, as heart-breaking as it might be. Your bodyguard is simply a precaution while Hunter’s death continues to be investigated.”
“But you just said it’s being treated as unsuspicious,” a student calls out, and all eyes turn to him.
Mrs Beach clears her throat. “Yes, that is what I said. Well noticed, Mr Bradshaw.”
Some of the students giggle at her condescending reply. They stop the instant Mrs Beach glances their way. I might not like the old bat but her dominance over this school is something to behold.
She flicks a speck of dust off her dark grey suit, and once more clears her throat. “As I was saying, your bodyguards will simply be accompanying you between classes. You will find at least one of them at the back of each classroom and outside the doors. Until I am absolutely certain this academy remains a safe place for you all, your bodyguard will also stand watch outside your bedrooms each night. Under no circumstances are you allowed to leave the school grounds without my permission. That is all.”
I start to push off my chair but Anne grabs me, whispering, “Hold up. I don’t think they’re finished.”
Mrs. Lyons marches onto the stage, blowing her whistle and signalling around the auditorium like she’s marshalling an aeroplane. The doors to the auditorium open and bodyguards start marching down the stairs. Mr Hines appears beside our row, gesturing for us to come out. Anne takes my hand and we follow Charlie’s Angels out of the auditorium and into the rotunda. There, more bodyguards await, and when I thought the girls’ dormitory had been chaotic this morning, it’s nothing compared to this. There’s so many people and voices and assignments that I can barely hear my own thoughts. Even Anne is whisked away by the turmoil and assigned a female bodyguard who looks fresh out of training. I’d be more suited to protect my best friend by the looks of that guard.
“Regan Hall?”
I blink up at Rory waving his hand in front of my face. How long has he been standing there for? With him standing so close, I can see the colour of his eyes, and they’re beautiful, burning through to my core like the sapphire glow in a smouldering flame. My gaze lingers on the gun in his leather holster and the way his muscles flex as he crosses his arms over his bullet-proof chest. He catches me checking him out and grins, flashing his pearly-white teeth. Damn, he’s got one killer of a smile. I’d happily call him my Daddy Dom any day.
“What’s up, Rory?” I ask, feigning complete ignorance to his blatant sexiness. “Wait. Are you my bodyguard?”
A grin lights up his face and he winks at me. “Aye, lass. Where am I escortin’ ye to?”
I drag my bottom lip between my teeth, looking him up and down. I can certainly think of a naughty place I’d like him to escort me to. Rory is the first guy I’ve been attracted to here without feeling guilty.
Without having to plan a way to end his life.
“I have English Lit downstairs,” I start off, peeling my gaze from his lips.
Rory looks up from my lips, too. “Classes have been cancelled for the day. Under the circumstances, you know.”
“That makes sense.”
He drags a hand through his salt-and-peppered hair, widening that cheeky grin of his. “So, where are we going?”
I think for a moment, wondering if I should go to Anne, but an exhaustion I wasn’t aware I had creeps over me, and I yawn, covering my mouth with my hand. I didn’t get much sleep last night and Daisy woke me up at the crack of dawn. It’s far too early to be awake despite that I have things to do, people to kill. I catch the silver watch gleaming on Rory’s wrist. Eight-fifteen. If classes have been cancelled today, I still have time to go back to my room for a nap.
Rory takes my yawn for an answer and puts his hands on my shoulders. “You need a good kip, wee one. Let’s get you back to your room.”
I nod, unaware of what the word ‘kip’ means. All I want to do right now is to curl up in bed and nap for a few hours, preferably with this man…and Lucas…and Nathan and Ethan and Joshua, because why choose if I can fuck them all, right?
In my dreams, that is.
Of course.
I mean, I’m an assassin. I can’t sleep with the boys I’m supposed to murder.
And I’ll keep telling myself this until I’m blue in the face. Maybe one day I will start believing the words.
I wave goodbye to Anne and Charlie’s Angels as Rory steers me down the stairs. The warmth of his hands on my body is unexpectedly soothing. It appears Hunter’s death has brought a surprising change in circumstances to Holly Oak Academy, and I couldn’t be happier.
“Shh, don’t freak out.”
Those are the first words I hear as I wake up from my nap.
I react before I can think clearly and I grab the shadow of a man standing over me on the couch. With one effortless pull, I slam him onto the ground and use my strength to hold him down, my hand wrapped around his throat. As I blink down at him and he groans, I realise it’s Ethan. He looks shocked but not actually frightened as he stares up at me with his bright blue eyes, his messy blonde hair flat against the carpet. A strange and sudden deja vu creeps into me but I can’t figure out why. A few buttons on his pale blue shirt have popped open and I have to pull my gaze away from him.
“Why are you in my room?” I finally manage to question, letting go of his throat just in case. He’s still on my list and I can’t forget it.
“We need to talk, cutie. Didn’t mean to scare you but I can’t walk through the door with the new bodyguards,” he explains, rubbing his throat.
I sit back, well aware I’m still on his lap and how hard he’s getting under me. The whole situation reminds me too much of Hunter. I climb off him and straighten my pink crop top and pale pink tracky bottoms. His eyes trail over my bare stomach and I know he’s looking at the three tiny scars that are by my hip.
“When did you learn to defend yourself like that?”
I shrug at him, keeping my voice neutral. “My parents insisted on self-defence lessons. I’ve been training since I was seven.”
“And before you were seven you were in foster care. With me.”
I almost freeze, almost reveal my utter shock at his words.
“Wh-what?” I choke out, automatically stepping back as Ethan crosses his arms. I stare at Ethan longer, this time remembering
a time in my past that I can just about reach. Most of my childhood memories are a blur, but there’s one coming to me now, something strange and familiar, and I reach out to grab it.
Ethan remains standing, his eyes locked on my own. “I understand why you don’t want to say anything. My parents pretend my adoption never happened either and they hate me talking about it. I’m guessing yours are the same.”
He knows about my adoption?
“Something like that,” I mutter, scrutinising him, and then it hits me like a train, jolting me to the core. “Wait. I… I remember you now.”
Ethan only smiles as I remember the boy I used to share a foster home with. Our foster home wasn’t a bad place but the old lady who looked after us only wanted the paycheck that came with caring for foster children. His name was Derrick before he was adopted and mine was different too. We used to play games when we were bored, but I can’t remember what right now. I just know I trusted Ethan back then, he was a good friend to me and I’d been distraught when my parents only adopted me and left him behind.
“You were adopted two months before me,” I say slowly as the memories come flooding back to me. “I missed you so much. I never thought I’d see you again.”
“Yeah, I missed you too. I tried to convince my parents to adopt you as well but they didn’t want a girl. Shame. I would have been a good step-brother.” He winks and I can only think of the step-brother romance books I’ve read and loved the shit out of.
“Why? Girls are better,” I eventually reply, still overwhelmed by this revelation.
“You always used to say that.” He smiles, and I can see him now, just a little boy sharing his lunch with me at the park while our foster siblings played hopscotch.
I rub my arm, unsure which question to ask first. I guess I should start with the most important one. “How long have you known who I was?”