Ruthless Idols: A Paranormal High School Bully Romance (Gifted Academy Book 2)

by Michelle Hercules

  The second bouncer’s aggressive stance buckles, and he glances warily at his coworker. That’s right, the clientele is king in his place. Also, only an idiot would pick a fight with Rufio. I guess I’m one since I’ve done it several times.

  “She broke my nose!” the first bouncer replies indignantly.

  “I don’t fucking care. Get. Lost,” Rufio grits out, lifting his hand in a menacing way. Dark veins have covered his palm, and I sense an ominous energy concentrating there.

  That display of power finally deflates the Fringe’s bravado. He sends one more death glare in my direction before stalking away.

  “Thank—”

  Rufio turns to me. “Don’t thank me yet. What are you doing here? Missing the stage already?”

  His gaze is hard, and there’s venom in his tone. All his animosity does is fuel my anger.

  “What I’m doing here is none of your business!” I shout, regretting it immediately. Not because I’m afraid of Rufio but because now everyone is staring at us. Curious patrons give me once-over glances, making my skin crawl.

  I turn around with every intention to get out of here when Rufio grabs my arm again and steers me toward the back of the club. My instinct is to fight, but I can’t give these people more reason to pay attention to us.

  Rufio doesn’t stop until he takes me to Mr. X’s office and closes the door. Finally alone, I yank my arm from his grasp and massage the sore spot.

  “What the hell!” I yell.

  “Did you seriously break that bouncer’s nose?” Rufio ignores my outburst.

  “Yes. He wouldn’t let me in.”

  “How?” He stares intently at me.

  “With a kick to his face.”

  His eyebrows arch for a second before they furrow together. With large steps, he approaches, stopping mere inches from me. I tilt my head to keep glaring at him.

  “Why did you come here?” he asks again.

  “I had business with Mr. X. Why did you?”

  As I pose the question, a sliver of jealousy pierces my chest. I shouldn’t care about what Rufio does in his spare time, or who he fucks for that matter. So he likes to screw strippers. Not my problem.

  “I needed to get you out of my head. You’re here all the damn time”—he taps the side of his forehead—“and it’s distracting.”

  I suck in a breath, not expecting that answer.

  Watching me with eyes filled with bad intentions—the best kind—he runs his hand over my cheek, caressing my lips with his thumb.

  “But you’re determined to follow me everywhere, so fuck it,” he says, a breath away from my face.

  He brings his lips to mine, searing my mouth with a passionate kiss that changes the emotion in my chest into a different kind of fury. Violent flames lick my skin, sending my body ablaze. I want to melt into his arms, meld myself to him. It would be easy to succumb to this raw need that’s clouding my judgment, but somehow, I’m still in possession of my faculties. With much effort, I break the kiss and push Rufio back.

  “We can’t do this,” I say without a lot of conviction.

  “Why not?” He keeps his gaze trained on my mouth.

  “Because I have to put my selfish needs aside for once.”

  He lifts his eyes to mine. “You lost me.”

  I pull my hair back, staring at Rufio’s chest now because it’s way less distracting than his face. “My friend Felicity was attacked by a Fringe gang.”

  The revelation takes more out of me than I expected. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m telling Rufio, a cruel boy who couldn’t possibly relate to my pain, or if it’s something else.

  “Is she okay?” he asks after a moment.

  Surprised by his question, I look into his eyes. “She’s in bad shape, but she’ll recover. It doesn’t matter though. Those fuckers need to pay for what they did. That’s why I came here, to ask for Mr. X’s help.”

  Rufio’s eyes flash with a different emotion now. I can’t decipher what it means.

  “You could have asked me.”

  “Why would I ask you to avenge my Norm friend? You hate our kind.”

  “I don’t hate you.”

  I open my mouth to call him out on his BS, but he adds, “Anymore.”

  “Because I slept with you.” I hug my middle.

  “No. And don’t ask me the reason. But I’m here, willing to avenge your friend. So how badly do you want to destroy those motherfuckers?”

  “Very badly. I want them gone.” I lift my chin higher. I just voiced out loud that I want to kill those men, and I don’t feel an ounce of remorse.

  The corners of Rufio’s lips twist into a cruel smile. “Obliterating things is my specialty. Who are the culprits?”

  “All I know is it was a motorcycle gang that has a flying skull symbol.” I close my eyes for a brief second. “They branded her chest with it.”

  When I meet Rufio’s gaze again, his blue eyes are electric, and small dark veins have spread through his cheeks. That’s the sign of his terrible power. He’s destruction, pure and simple.

  “Where did the attack happen?” he asks in a tight voice filled with danger.

  “Outside a shady bar in Emelton. It’s popular among motorcycle gangs.”

  Rufio squints a fraction, then pulls his phone out.

  “Who are you calling?”

  “No one. I’m looking online.”

  I scoff. “You can’t possibly find out who those men are by doing a simple search.”

  Rufio smirks and shows me his phone. “Are you sure about that? Does the symbol you saw on your friend match this one?”

  My eyes widen. “Fuck. It does.”

  Rufio’s grin turns into a chilling smile. “All right, then. I have an address. I can drop you off at the diner on my way.”

  “You’re not going there by yourself.”

  He gives me a droll look. “Daisy, I can handle a few measly Fringes.”

  “I know you can. But I’m coming with you, and don’t give me that look. Felicity is my friend. I want to be there when the assholes who hurt her get their dues.”

  Rufio doesn’t say a word for a couple of beats, just stares at me in his intense way.

  Finally he says, “You would make an excellent Idol, Daisy.”

  31

  Rufio

  Damn my fucking libido to hell. I’ve been sporting a boner since I kissed Daisy in Unearthly Desires. I didn’t think I could obsess more about her until I discovered her thirst for revenge. She’s ruthless, brave, loyal. I meant what I said that she would make an excellent Idol.

  But she’s only a Norm, so whatever is going on between us won’t end well. Idols and Norms aren’t fated to last. No wonder Bryce is losing his mind over Morpheus’s vision. If Bryce could care that much for Daisy that he’d form an infinity band with her, it means he’s going to break hard when she’s no longer here.

  A heaviness settles in my chest when I imagine a day when Daisy isn’t with us. This isn’t normal. A fuck, no matter how great it is, shouldn’t get me all sentimental and depressed.

  Don’t think about Daisy dying, Rufio. Think about the destruction and pain you’re about to unleash.

  The thought manages to cheer me up a little. Only a demented person like me could get happy about the prospect of killing. Well, they’re criminals; no loss there.

  Shit. I think I grew a conscience too.

  I peel my eyes off the road to look at Daisy. Her jaw is set hard, and her brows are furrowed. She’s determined to see this through. It’s easy to see that she’ll walk through fire to protect her loved ones, no matter the consequences to herself. I used to loathe people like her—martyrs, selfless bastards who put the needs of others above their own. The opposite of me. Not anymore. Daisy has changed everything.

  The sun is just beginning to set, and the hole-in-the-wall bar is slowly beginning to fill. The bikers come in groups of four or five, all wearing different symbols on their jackets. I know little about the way of
life of motorcycle clubs, but one detail I know for sure—they love their precious bikes.

  I parked across the street to scope out the place first. I don’t have Morpheus’s super-enhanced senses, but I can gauge someone’s level of power from a distance. And every single person who entered the bar is a low-level Fringe. So they’re truly scum.

  With a grin, I turn to Daisy. “Should I start by turning their bikes into dust?”

  “Can you do that from here?” She rounds her pretty eyes.

  “Sure can.”

  She switches her attention to the building. “Maybe we should take care of Felicity’s attackers first. Then you can do whatever you want with those bikes.”

  “I know you want to see this through yourself, but I want you to wait for me in the car.”

  “I said I was coming with you,” she grits out, ready to fight me on this.

  “I know what I can do, Daisy, but that crowd is rough, and they’re also carrying guns. Using my gift requires a little bit of concentration. That will leave you unprotected for a moment. I can’t take that risk.”

  Her stubborn gaze doesn’t release mine. I’m about to do something I’ve never done before. Plead.

  I cup her face and lean in. “Wait for me here, please.”

  She nibbles on her lower lip and averts her gaze. It takes a paramount effort not to turn her face back to mine so I can savor her lips again.

  “Okay,” she says in a voice so soft, I almost don’t hear it.

  I let out a relieved breath. Now that Daisy has made the right choice to stay out of the way, I feel a thousand times better. I wasn’t lying about her safety, but I have another reason to not want her around. I’m about to release the monster. Until now, she’s only seen glimpses of it, and I want to keep it that way.

  Another group of bikers approaches the building and parks right in front of it, a spot that was reserved for the VIPs, I guess. And they’re wearing the symbol Daisy saw branded on her friend.

  “It’s them,” she says.

  Six of them. All Fringes, but they’re more powerful than any of the other vermin who entered the establishment. It doesn’t matter. I can handle all of them with my eyes closed.

  With my hand on the door handle, I say, “I’ll be right back.”

  I sprint across the street, and as I’m walking between two motorcycles, I can’t help gliding my fingers through their bodies. They’re nothing but piles of dust by the time I reach the curb. Oops.

  Once inside the bar, I’m assaulted by the most awful combination of odors: beer, sweat, and BO. The guys sitting closest to the door stop their conversation to glance in my direction. I can immediately sense their tension. That’s right, bitches. You should fear me. But those assholes are not the ones I’m looking for.

  I stride with confidence toward the bar. The bartender stops polishing the counter to watch me with suspicion.

  “We don’t cater to your kind here,” he says.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not here for you.”

  “And who are you looking for, heh, preppy boy?” A tall man sporting a Mohawk and ugly-ass nose ring approaches me.

  He’s one of the gang members who hurt Daisy’s friend.

  “As a matter of fact, I’m looking for you.” I grab the man by the throat and crush his windpipe. I could have easily turned him into nothing, but that wouldn’t be that much fun to me.

  He clutches my hand, trying to pry free from my hold.

  “So you thought it was fun to beat up a puny Norm, huh?” I ask.

  The hairs on my neck stand on end, announcing the approach of more enemies. I turn around as I slowly begin to disintegrate the asshole’s throat. He’s gone by the time I face the crowd, and my stomach coils tightly. The five other members of the gang have formed a wall, blocking the exit. But that’s not what’s making me fucking anxious now. They have Daisy with them. There’s a gash on her forehead, and blood has dripped down.

  “Let her go,” I grit out while the fury of the gods runs through my body.

  “You just killed one of our own. I say we need to get even,” the man holding her by the arm says before pressing a knife against her throat.

  I lock gazes with Daisy, finding no fear in her eyes. It’s almost as if she’s telling me to do my worst. I focus on the knife at her throat, willing it to fly out of the Fringe’s hand, but it won’t budge.

  What the hell?

  I can’t send a destructive wave his way because it’ll hit Daisy too. Fuck.

  “What’s the matter, boy? Can’t use your Idol powers on me?” The man cackles.

  What happens next has my jaw dropping to the floor. Faster than I can blink, Daisy pulls the dagger away from her throat and bites his wrist. The Fringe lets out a roar before throwing her against the table nearby. She hits the surface hard and slides down to the floor.

  My heart constricts painfully in my chest, but I can’t run to help Daisy yet. With her out of the way, I unleash my power at the gangster, but instead of turning to dust, he remains standing. No scratch, no nothing. Impossible.

  “That’s right, fucker. You can’t touch me.” With a movement of his arm, he sends a gust of wind my way.

  It would knock an ordinary man down, but I’m not a Norm. I’m a fucking Idol. I grab the table at my side and hurl it at him with all my strength. He tries to change its course, but he’s not strong enough, and the piece of furniture hits him square in the chest. He goes down with a loud bang.

  A sense of satisfaction, albeit small, runs through me. But Daisy’s scream cuts the emotion like a knife. I whirl around to see that one of the gang members has her by the hair. From the corner of my eye, I catch another attacker coming at me. I stop him midleap, making him explode in a shower of dust.

  So only the leader is immune to my gift. Good to know.

  I turn two more assholes into dust when a sharp pain in my back sends me down on my knees, howling.

  “Rufio!” Daisy yells, but the world around me is spinning out of control, and I can’t pinpoint where she’s coming from.

  Bracing myself on a chair nearby, I get back on my feet.

  “Behind you,” Daisy warns.

  I turn just in time to block another jab at my back. The leader of the gang has something sharp in his hand, a dagger that looks very similar to the one Daisy had. Fuck me. It’s a lightning-glass weapon.

  My muscles strain as I attempt to keep the pointy end from my eye. This asshole shouldn’t be able to best me in a muscle fight, which means the stab served to diminish my power somehow.

  Someone howls in pain behind me, but the only important thing is that it wasn’t Daisy’s scream. In another second, my arms are going to give out, and the Fringe knows it. He smiles victoriously, but then his eyes become rounder and his hold on me slackens. Spewing blood from his mouth, he staggers back and drops his gaze to the rod sticking out of his chest.

  He finally drops to the floor into a heap of useless meat, revealing Daisy behind him, breathing hard with a manic glint in her eyes.

  But the fight is far from over. Two more criminals are coming for us.

  “Duck, Daisy!” I yell.

  She drops into a crouch, and I slam the Fringe behind her. He doesn’t pulverize on the spot, but he drops like a fly. I’m out of juice, so I had to resort to a good old-fashioned punch to get rid of the last guy standing.

  My breathing is coming out in spurts, and my vision is still not a hundred percent. But I can see Daisy as clear as day as she unfurls from her crouch. Her eyes connect with mine for a brief second before she turns her attention to the man she killed. The motherfucker is still holding his damn dagger.

  “Go ahead, take it,” I say, guessing she’s staring at the weapon as well.

  Bending forward, she pries the object from his hand, still caked in my blood. She wipes it clean against his leather jacket and then stands up. I amble toward her, trying to ignore the pain in my shoulder.

  “You’re hurt,” she says.

&n
bsp; “So are you.” I touch the blood smeared on her forehead.

  “Just a scratch. We need to get you help.” She hooks her arm with mine and guides me toward the exit.

  I never thought I would be in a situation where I’d lean on a Norm, but here I am. The front of the bar cleared out. There are only a few bikes left, probably the ones belonging to the gang Daisy and I slew. But when we cross the street, I begin to get a picture of what happened to Daisy. The passenger window is smashed, and the door is ajar.

  “They came out of nowhere,” she says, guessing where my thoughts are. “I’m sorry.”

  “Why are you apologizing?”

  “You’re hurt because of me.” She opens the back door, but I dig my foot into the ground.

  “I can drive.”

  “No you can’t. He got you good with that dagger, and we don’t know the extent of your wound.”

  I peer into her eyes, and the electric spark in them turns me to flames. Forgetting for a moment where we are, as well as the burning pain on my shoulder, I pull her to me and crush my lips against hers. My tongue invades her mouth savagely, without mercy. Daisy grabs the front of my T-shirt, curling her fingers around the soft fabric.

  There’s so much urgency and need in this kiss that I wish I could teletransport us to a different place.

  She eases off and breathlessly whispers, “Get in the car.”

  32

  Daisy

  I’m still riding on adrenaline, but there’s also something else making my body tremble. The kiss Rufio just stole from me. I wasn’t expecting it, but I sure as hell regret ending it so soon. My heart is beating a staccato rhythm, and my knuckles are white from gripping the steering wheel too tight.

  “Where should I go?” I ask.

  “Just take me back home,” Rufio groans, his voice laced with pain.

  “No way. You need medical attention. Which hospital caters to Idols?”

  We’re on the highway, at least half an hour from school. It’s late, so the nurse is probably gone already. I wish I remembered the way to her house.

  “Daisy, you need to pull over,” Rufio says.