The location doesn’t matter. Not any longer. My plans were set before she capitulated, before I confessed. Before I realised that whatever we share goes a long way deeper than I could have imagined at the start.
“A brilliant plan except the head’s already reported the incident to the board of governors.”
My face turns pale. What the hell? It was just meant to be expulsion worthy, not prison cell worthy.
“Even for a first offence, you’re supplying to school children. The head informs me they’ve confiscated drugs from several year ten pupils this term. The mayor’s son landed in hospital last month with an overdose. He’s thirteen. They’re after blood.”
“So? Find someone else to pin it on.”
“And have Kari’s name come out during court proceedings?” He points back towards the cafeteria. “Because every one of those students saw her getting called into the office. Every single one of them has already texted their parents or friends or posted it on social media.”
“Well, you’re not having George take the rap.”
“Yes. I am.” He draws himself up to his full height and stalks towards me. “That’s exactly the plan.”
“No. She’ll lose her scholarship.”
He tips his head to the side. “For supplying drugs to the minors of the city’s glitterati? She’ll lose a lot more than that.” He pats her shoulder with his large hand, hard enough for her to wince. “Sorry about that, George. But so many people get shanked in prison, we don’t have time to mourn all of them.”
“Fuck that. I’ll take the blame.”
“No, you won’t.”
“It’s my fault. I planted the drugs.”
“Right.” My father has a look of utter disgust on his face. “You’re going to throw away your entire inheritance, maybe your life, for this girl you’ve barely known a month. Do I have that right?”
“She’s not taking the blame for something she didn’t do.”
His hand slaps across my face before I even know he’s raised it. The force knocks me sideways, stinging so hard that after a second the whole side of my head goes numb. My eyes water.
The humiliation hurts as badly as the blow.
“You’re going to throw your life away on this girl you barely know. You’ll destroy generations of family tradition for a fling with someone who isn’t part of our world and then what? You think she’ll stay?”
“Yes.”
“This girl?” He grabs George by the neck, raising her to herfeet and putting her in a headlock until she winces. His tone is scathing as he roars, “You’re going to fuck up everything over this one stupid girl.”
The words tear through my brain, causing carnage. To see her in pain wriggles into some deep dark place and unleashes a storm.
“She’s not stupid,” I shout, shaking with rage, knowing I’m building up a world of hurt and retaliation but unable to stop. “She won a scholarship to a prestigious school while running away from everyone and everything she’s ever known. Do you understand how fucking smart you have to be to do that? Or have you bought everything you ever wanted for so long that you’ve confused your bank account balance with your IQ?”
His mouth curls into a snarl. “If she were smart, she wouldn’t be fucking you to clear up her father’s mess.”
“She’s loyal. I thought you appreciated loyalty. Isn’t that why I’m here and Sean’s rotting in his grave?”
He roars again, louder, hauling George up until her feet leave the floor. Until she’s choking.
I lunge at him, battering his head, his wrists, kicking at his feet, stomping at his knee to drive it out from under him. I attack him like I’ve lost my mind and perhaps I have. Perhaps this is where my life ends, with me unleashing a shitstorm of fury at a man I can never beat, who’s been playing this game and winning longer than I’ve even been alive.
Who understands control and doesn’t care if he’s merciless in its application.
But my father is a better read of character than I give him credit for. Rather than retaliating, he retreats, holding George more firmly. Her face is turning a faint maroon colour, her lips are darkening like shadows.
He’s cutting off herair.
Once he knows I’ve seen, he eases up on her. “Why don’t you stay back and we’ll keep her alive for a little longer, hey?”
