by Kate Stewart
“He’s got a point,” Lucas said, siding with Z. I came to a stop at the entrance of the garage and faced them. “We still don’t know who her buyer is, and I’m not convinced it’s her pimp.”
My rage was clouding my judgment, so much so that I wanted to smash Lucas’s face in. And for what? To defend her honor? It was clear she had none from the moment she welcomed the first John between her legs.
“Besides…” Z smirked when I glared. “She’s your target, not your damsel.”
Chapter 12
MIAN
Eight Years Ago
My scraped hands rested loosely against my sides as I limped home.
No.
Not home.
It was just the place my father dumped me so he could rob and chase riches around the world with Uncle Art. Some days, I questioned why I still loved him despite his need to keep distance between us. I had been reduced from being his favorite person to spend time with to an obligation he checked in on whenever he remembered I hadn’t died with Mom.
I dug out my keyring when I reached the brownstone. The rough material of my shorts rubbed against my sore hands, and I hissed from the sting. My knees were just as bad and so was my busted lip from hitting the ground when I fell.
I turned the key in the lock and pushed to open the door, but it didn’t give. I twisted the knob again but the door refused to budge, and I realized the top lock must have been turned. Disgust made me forget my scraped hands and knees.
He was in there.
With a girl.
He always locked the top lock to keep me out when he was entertaining someone.
Yuck.
Except, not yuck.
Angel Knight was hot—a fact that couldn’t be denied. Not even by me. I just could never figure out why the thought of him with girls made my stomach turn. Sighing, I took a seat on the stoop and waited for him to finish. An hour later, the door opened and out stepped a leggy blonde with a satisfied smile. I turned my head when I saw her lean in for a goodbye kiss and cringed when I heard their lips meet.
A deep groan came from beyond the door, and the kiss went on.
After three minutes of nonstop lip locking, I decided I’d had enough.
I coughed and coughed again until I was pretending to have a choking fit finally gaining their attention.
“Calm down, kiddie tits. We’re done.” I heard his laugh just before he disappeared back inside without me seeing him.
I glared at the blonde as she practically skipped down the sidewalk. I shot up with a huff but then winced when my knees reminded me of my injuries.
After walking inside, I came to a dead stop when I found him standing there waiting for me with a bored look.
“What?”
“What happened to your lip?” His tone matched his face until his gaze trailed down and stopped at my scraped up knees. “Jeez, did you fall?” Dark brown eyes watched me curiously.
“You can say that.” I avoided his gaze and limped around him. There was a first aid kit in the bathroom that I desperately needed.
“Bullshit. You got beat up, didn’t you?” I heard his mocking laugh. It was closer than it should have been since I walked away, which meant he had followed me. “What’s her name?”
I stopped at the top of the stairs and whirled around to face him. “Jesse Newman. And she isn’t a girl.”
The smile dropped from his face quicker than it appeared. “Say what?”
“He’s even meaner than you. I hate him.”
I hate you.
“You’re fucking with me, right?”
“Nope.” I turned and limped the rest of the way to the bathroom. I could see from my peripheral that he was still standing at the top of the stairs. Stupidly, I met his gaze. He definitely wasn’t laughing anymore.
I walked through the front doors the next morning dreading school. Last night, I bandaged my palms and knees and treated my busted lip as best as I could and forced myself through my homework assignments. I hadn’t heard a peep from Angel after I told him I was beaten by a boy. Was he upset that he wasn’t the only one getting a kick out of making me miserable?
Angel never did seem like the sharing type.
I found the object of my thoughts standing at the bottom of the stoop, dressed in a white muscle shirt, black shorts, and a frown. “Took you long enough.”
Was he actually waiting for me?
“Are you waiting for me?” My brain screamed for me to move, but my feet refused the command.
“What was your first clue?” He tilted his head as if he really expected an answer.
“Why?”
“I’m walking you to school.”
“Why?”
“That the only question you know?”
“Okay… what for?”
“Just come on,” he bit out showing his impatience. Five quick steps later, I was standing beside him. Rolling my eyes didn’t make me feel any better, so I looked up with a quirk of my eyebrow—God, he was tall—and waited. He started walking, and I followed. We made the fifteen-minute walk in ten with his long strides and me practically running to keep up.
He had never walked me to school before even though he was supposed to be protecting me. It was no secret that we couldn’t stand each other, so we limited the time we spent together. He taunted me occasionally, and I tattled to my dad to get him trouble. That was the extent of our interactions.
The schoolyard was already busy with kids rushing from cars and school buses to hurry inside the building. Some loitered around with the intention of skipping as soon as the teachers and their parent’s backs were turned. Jesse Newman would be one of them.
Maybe he would be waiting around for a second helping of his foot in my ass. I tried to fight back, but he was just too big, and the other kids just egged him on. I didn’t even have Erin around to help, not that she would have. She would have been even more scared than I had been. Jesse decided to turn his bullying on me when I stopped him from kicking the shit out of some kid who had run off as soon as Jesse’s back was turned.
Big mistake there.
With no one left to punch, he’d socked me a good one and called me a nosy cunt. Some kids laughed and egged him on while others stood around too afraid to say something or even call for help. I fell when his fist connected with my lip. When I got back up to face him, someone from behind pushed me, and I fell forward. It was how I got my scrapes.
Mr. Phillips, my math teacher, finally noticed the commotion and hurried over. Jesse and his posse wasted no time kicking rocks. I didn’t want a repeat the next day so when my teacher questioned me, I told him I’d fallen and limped home before he could ask any more questions.
“Do you see him?”
My head flew up to meet Angel’s hard gaze. “See who?”
“Jesse,” he answered through clenched teeth.
Naively, I scanned the crowd until my gaze fell on the blond hair and pudgy face of Jesse Newman. Angel followed my gaze, and a split second later, he was moving in his direction.
Oh.
I ran to keep up even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop him. Jesse and two of his goonies were standing on the side of the building, away from the crowd and teachers, while they pushed around the same boy from yesterday. I guess he liked to get a head start on his quota for the day.
He was wearing his signature faded blue hoodie that he never took off, even in the heat—even if it made him smell rank. I don’t think he even knew what deodorant was. Rumor was his parents were not only poor but also abusive. He probably used his size over his classmates to make himself feel better about it and stole lunch money to eat.
After yesterday, though, it was hard to sympathize with him.
“You Newman?” Angel demanded when we were close enough
“Who wants to know?” Jesse mouthed. That was before he looked up. I took great pleasure in watching his eyes bug out of his head. “Do I know you?”
“Do you want to know me?”
/>
“I—” He looked around and shuffled his feet. His two friends, carrot top and shaggy, had already put space between them and Jesse. The kid they were pushing around looked up in awe from the ground. “I don’t think so.”
He looked ready to piss his pants, and Angel hadn’t done anything other than stand there.
“But you know her, right?” It wasn’t until Jesse’s accusing blue eyes landed on me that I realized he was referring to me.
“N—no.”
Liar!
Angel pointed to my busted lip. “Hm,” he said in that way that let me know shit just hit the fan. “So, this isn’t your handiwork?”
“I never touched her! I swear!”
“Funny. She says you did.”
“She—she’s lying!”
“Say what?” Angel took a menacing step forward. “Let me hear that again? She’s…?” He waited.
Tears gave Jesse’s eyes a glossy sheen.
Jesse Newman was actually crying.
I grinned.
“Tell you what. I’ll give you a chance to apologize.”
Jesse didn’t hesitate. His head whipped toward me. “S—sorry.”
Angel shook his head and smiled. “I don’t accept that kind of apology.” His tone never lost its calm, but I could hear the sinister edge beneath it.
“What do you mean then?”
“You’re going to let her return the favor.”
What?
“B—but—but—but—but… I can’t let a girl hit me!”
Angel’s fine shoulders lifted in a careless shrug. “Okay then.” I watched his powerful hand as he balled it into a fist and took another step forward.
“Wait!”
“What? You don’t want a girl to hit you, right?”
“Please, sir.”
“Ah… I see. It’s not fun when they’re bigger and stronger than you, is it?” Stupidly, Jesse shook his head. “So, what will it be?”
He looked between Angel and me weighing his options. I knew what he decided when he sniffled, and his body slackened. “Okay.”
“Okay…?”
He quickly pointed a chubby finger at me. “She can do it.”
Angel’s grin was slow and scary. “Good. Because she’s not going to stop until I’m satisfied.” Jesse gasped and looked ready to bolt, but Angel was no longer paying attention to him. He was staring at me now. “Do your worst, kid.”
“Um.”
His stare went from hard to impatient. “It’s not an option.”
It was then I realized that I was just as much a pawn in Angel’s game as he was. If I refused him, Angel would likely pummel him, which wouldn’t fare well for Jesse. Angel would leave permanent damage. Beating up Jesse in front of his friends would be doing him a favor.
After stealing another glance at Angel, I squared my shoulders and tried to look tough. Jesse didn’t look particularly worried about me. His terrified gaze was still locked on Angel.
I swung, landing my first punch on his arm. I stepped back, hoping it was over. Jesse didn’t move, but his face said he hoped it was over, too.
I should have known better.
“Again.”
I didn’t hesitate this time. I punched his shoulder, this time, harder. I could tell he felt it this time when he winced.
“Again.”
I chose his chest. Rearing back, I put my weight behind it this time. This time, I was rewarded with a low oomph.
Angel didn’t need to direct my next hit. The rush I felt spurred me. I delivered blows, again and again, choosing tender spots, and giving it all I got until he was on the ground trying to escape the pain and humiliation.
My arm was too tired to continue, my breath was coming in and out hard and fast, and I had built up a nice sweat. Feeling good, I looked behind me, hoping to see approval but found his expression impassive as if I’d just completed a crossword puzzle rather than beating the shit out of my bully.
“Are you satisfied?”
He smirked and shook his head slowly.
Jesse was crying now, and my guess was he’d seen Angel’s answer, too. What more did he want? I glanced at Jesse’s friends and wondered if they stuck around out of loyalty or fear, and then I wondered which one pushed me yesterday.
“Class is starting—”
“You came home bleeding yesterday,” he interrupted.
“Yeah?”
“I don’t see blood on him.”
My stomach turned. I was the one assaulted, but Angel was the one out for blood. What if I couldn’t make him bleed? Would Angel do the deed himself?
I searched Jesse’s face for his most vulnerable spot and then swung my leg over Jesse’s prone body. I cocked back my elbow and let my fist fly. He screamed and clutched his nose but then screamed louder and removed his hands. His nose and upper lip were now covered in red.
I did it.
I didn’t mean to smile, but it felt good.
I actually made someone bleed.
If I wasn’t careful, I could become addicted.
“What is going on here?” My victorious moment was shattered by the shrill outrage of the intruder. Mrs. Rogers, my English teacher, stood a few feet away sporting a scowl. Her crooked red glasses, red lipstick, and dull brown hair pulled into a hideous undo did nothing to help her appeal. “Jesse? Why are you on the ground? Oh, my God! You’re bleeding!” That’s when she noticed me. Fist balled and standing over him. “Miss Ross, in the principal’s office now! Mr. Newman, we need to get you—”
“She’s not going anywhere but to class. Do what you want with him.” I looked back in time to see Angel flick his hand to Jesse.
“Excuse me? Who are you and why are you on school property?”
“I’m with her.” He moved closer behind me until I could feel the heat from his body and smell his body wash.
He said he was with me.
Angel Knight is with me.
Why did that send tingles up my spine and unleash butterflies in my stomach?
“I don’t care who you’re with, young man. She is going to the principal’s office, and you will leave school property before I have you arrested.”
“Call them. We’ll do it from Principal Field’s office.”
He knew the name of my principal?
Sweeping out his arm, he sent her a smug smile. “Shall we?”
She stomped away in her ugly brown heels with Jesse in hand but not before demanding I follow. I did because, Angel or no Angel, I was in trouble that Angel couldn’t fix. He couldn’t very well demand I beat up a teacher or even the principal to make a statement.
We were shown inside the principal’s office after Jesse was escorted to the nurse’s office. I could feel Angel at my side the entire time.
“Mr. Fields, I have Mian Ross with me, and her friend.”
But he wasn’t my friend. He was my babysitter.
It didn’t escape my notice that he didn’t bother to correct her.
“Mrs. Rogers, what is this about?” Mr. Fields demanded impatiently. His sharp gaze landed on me and then slid up to Angel, and I could have sworn I saw him pale.
Glancing up, I searched Angel’s face but his gaze gave nothing away. He looked bored again.
“I found Miss Ross outside beating up Jesse Newman while he,” she thumbed in Angel’s direction, “watched. He says he’s with her.” I could hear the disgust in her voice. Oh, God. Did she get the wrong idea? Did she think Angel was my boyfriend? That would be insane since he’s seven years older than I am. He was turning eighteen next month, which would legally make him an adult even though he never acted the part.
“I think we should suspend her and ban him from school grounds—.”
Mr. Fields held up his hand, silencing her tirade. “I will handle this from here, Mrs. Rogers. Please return to your classroom.”
“But—”
“Now, Mrs. Rogers.” His tone was much harsher this time. Mrs. Rogers huffed, and stormed away, leaving a c
loud of stale perfume and hair spray.
Once she was gone, Mr. Fields sat back, but he wasn’t paying attention to me. He and Angel were having a silent argument, and I was invited.
“What are you doing on my school grounds, Knight?”
Wait… They knew each other?
“Why was she attacked on your school grounds, Fields?”
Whoa.
Angel’s voice sent a chill down my spine. I shivered when the temperature in the room seemed to drop below zero. Mr. Fields appeared flustered despite it.
“I wasn’t aware of an altercation involving her had taken place.”
“It wasn’t an altercation. She was beat down. End of story.”
“Like I said—”
“I heard you the first time,” Angel cut in. “But her father didn’t pay you twenty grand so you could sit on your ass and not know shit. Someone had to be held accountable. You’re lucky it wasn’t you.”
Twenty grand?
Oh, crap.
I wasn’t even aware my father had that type of cash.
“Now just a minute, young man—”
“We’re done here. Mian is going to class, and you aren’t going to do shit but ensure this doesn’t happen again.” I watched, entranced, as Angel dominated a man at least three times his age. I felt heat on my cheeks and in my belly and didn’t understand how it got there.
“I won’t take orders from a child!” For the first time since we arrived, I saw Angel react, as infinitesimally as it was. His jaw ticked.
“I can call my father if you like?” Angel’s voice was calm and low despite the muscles working in his jaw.
“No. That won’t be necessary. I’ll take care of it.”
“I’m sure you will.” Without looking at me, he said, “Go to class, Mian.” I wasn’t sure why, but I hesitated until his head turned and repeated the demand with just his cold gaze.
I left the office and dragged my feet down the hall. I’d just turned the corner when I heard the familiar fearful cry of one Jesse Newman. Peeking around the white brick wall, I saw Jesse was trapped between Angel’s tall frame and the wall. He was bent low so that he could talk in Jesse’s ear. I strained to hear, but he spoke too low. A second later the hairs on my skin rose, and I realized I was being watched.