My voice is quieter now. “He was holding my hips. Grinding against me. I told him to stop, but he didn’t. That’s when Luca stepped in.”
Dean Everett turns to Luca. “Is that true?”
Luca leans back, arms folded. “Yeah. I saw she wasn’t okay, so I got in the middle. Told him to back off.”
“And then you hit him?”
Luca’s mouth twists. “No. He shoved me first.”
Dean Everett looks at River again. “Is that accurate? Don’t forget I have footage.”
River glares at me. Then at Luca. Then down at the floor. His jaw moves like he wants to spit out something vile—but instead, he mutters, “Yeah.”
Dean Everett leans back in his chair, fingers steepled. “Miss Ashthorne, thank you for your honesty. I understand this wasn’t easy to talk about. Given the context, it’s clear this was a defensive escalation rather than an unprovoked fight.”
His gaze shifts back to River. “Mr. Hale, you are suspended for one week, effective immediately. Any further incidents, and you’ll be removed from Blackmoore entirely.”
River’s fists clench on his knees. But he doesn’t argue.
Everett nods to the rest of us. “You’re all dismissed.”
We stand slowly. River doesn’t move. Just before we step out of the room, Everett calls, “Miss Ashthorne?”
I turn back.
“I appreciate how you handled this. You showed maturity. That matters here.”
I nod, too numb to answer. Then I walk out, the boys falling into step around me.
29 FREE
The second the classroom door opens and Dean Everett’s assistant calls my name, my stomach drops.
Every eye follows me as I rise from my seat, shoving my things into my bag with more force than necessary. I catch Dakota’s concerned glance, but I don’t stop. I just need to get out of that room.
The walk to the dean’s office feels longer than usual. The hallways are quieter. The air colder.
When I open the door, my pulse stutters at the sight of Lucian standing by the tall window, arms crossed, framed by morning light. His posture is stiff, jaw tight. Dean Everett stands as I enter but doesn’t say much—just nods and steps out, leaving us alone.
Lucian turns. The look on his face tells me its nothing good.
“What happened?” I ask, my voice flat, throat dry.
“Daniel has made bail.”
My mind empties. A buzzing starts in my ears.
“Bail?” I repeat, as if I haven’t heard him right.
Lucian nods once, every line of his face tense.
“W-what? How?” My body feels like it’s been disconnected. “The detective told me he was denied bail.”
“He appealed and the judge granted bail. He has shown good behavior while in jail.”
“But he has no money.”
“It looks like he was wired money from offshore accounts. I’m still trying to trace it back.” Lucian runs his hand down his face. “The important thing is that you’re safe here,” Lucian says. “Blackmoore has layers of protection. He can’t touch you.”
