“Problem here?” Walker asks, rolling up his sleeves.
I see his suit jacket wrapped around Salem’s shoulders and I’m glad she has him here to help her through this. I know how much Pierce cared about her. Ever since he met Salem, he’d been happier. The true kind of happiness, one that wasn’t because he was drunk or putting on a tough guy act on the football field. He seemed content in a way that made me rage at the world for taking that away from him too soon. If only he’d confided in me about the headmaster and his plans.
I rack my hands down my face knowing that getting lost in the “if onlys” would do me no good. I am far too familiar with them as it was since I’d often played that game when I thought of my mother. If only I caught the signs. If only I’d come home earlier. On and on they would plague me, never changing the outcome of what happened. I’ve been avoiding Skye the entire day while she stays close to Sloan and Graham. She looks gorgeous in a tight-fitting black dress that tempts all my resolve to stay away from her. Even though I want nothing more than to rip Graham’s hand from her lower back, I know it’s for the best.
I almost forget that the handsy man is there until I see him step right in front of me.
“If you need anything at all, feel free to contact me.” He flashes a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes as he holds out a business card.
“Who the fuck are you?” Salem asks, and goddamn I see what my brother found so appealing. I smirk, letting the man faulted before us, his hand still outstretched with the card.
Walker snatches him by the wrist as the man lets out a yelp. Salem plucks the card from his fingers and rips the card in half. He stares at us, mouth agape.
“Better close that mouth before I shove something in there.” I snap, knowing I would do far worse without hesitation. He stumbles backwards, eyes blown wide in fear, making me chuckle.
“Lukas!” My father’s harsh baritone snaps at me and I feel my spine straighten in defiance. “Stop causing a scene!” I feel Walker and Salem move closer. My father’s cold gaze flicks over Salem with palpable disdain. Walker scowls and I feel a rush of Wrath coat my skin. I embrace it, needing an outlet for all this pent-up rage and grief.
“Maybe people should be more respectful to your son.” Salem spits out. My father whips his head, swiveling like he was just slapped.
“What did you just say? Why are you even here?”
She takes a step forward, crowding his space. “I’m here, because I love Pierce.” Her usually green eyes look almost pitch black as she glares up at my unforgiving father.
“Well.” He clears his throat, glancing around at the attention we’re accumulating. “Thank you for coming. Excuse me.” He takes off with a crowd of his business associates. Salem folds herself against Walker. I lift my fist to her, and she bumps hers against mine.
“I’ve never seen my father back down from anyone before. That was badass, Salem.”
She shrugs. “He doesn’t scare me. He’s just a man in a suit on a power trip. I’ve met so many like him, they might as well be clones of each other.”
Walker chuckles, running his hand down her arm.A group of classmates hover nearby, and several girls blow their noses into handkerchiefs, letting fat tears roll down their faces smearing their makeup. Salem rolls her eyes at their overt display.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifts and a few people start shuffling nervously. I crane my neck to see what all the fuss is about. I am bumped from behind, my body absorbing the impact, and I turn to see who bumped me. My eyes catch on Emmet strolling into the tent with his father. Both men don’t have a drop of rain on them thanks to the people holding umbrellas over them. That alone would be enough to put a bad taste in my mouth, they couldn’t be bothered to hold their own umbrellas, but to show up here after what Emmet did?
Salem’s eyes turn completely black, and I feel a rumble beneath my feet. Walker grabs her by the elbow, but she shrugs him off.
“Salem, no.” He whispers forcefully, but she stalks ahead until she’s right in front of him.
Emmet looks at her, hands shoved into his suit pockets. Not an inch of remorse showing on his face as they stare each other down.
“Salem.” he drawls in that seductive Southern accent of his.
“You piece of shit. What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Saying goodbye to a good friend.”
She throws her head back with a laugh, the ground rumbles again. “I can’t believe I let you come in my ass.”
An older woman pauses mid-bite of a crudité to gasp at Salem.
“Problem here?” My father asks, flashing a smile while shaking Emmet’s hand. My stomach roils at the sight.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me with this?” Salem asks, eyes bouncing between my father and Emmet.
“Control this girl, or I’m going to need you to leave.” My father says, looking annoyed at the scene that’s unfolding. He adjusts his tie, a dead giveaway that he’s about to lose any patience he’s shown up to this point.
I wish I felt an ounce of surprise. I feel nothing but the blinding desire for revenge, to watch this man who could so casually greet one of the people responsible for Pierce’s death, get what’s coming to him. I want to watch him burn for what he’s done.
“You know that he’s the reason Pierce was down at that cave, right?” Salem asks.
