My phone buzzes violently in my pocket.
The sharp ringtone is jarring, an electric jolt through my already-frayed nerves. I fumble for it, my hands trembling so badly I nearly drop the damn thing. The screen flashes the name of Leo’s school, making panic shoot through me instantly.
I swipe to answer, pressing the phone tight to my ear. “Hello?”
“Ms. Bennett? We need you to come to the school right away. There’s been an incident with Leo.”
My stomach drops so hard I nearly double over. “What happened? Is he okay?”
“I’ll explain when you get here. Please come quickly.”
I catch the brick wall beside me with one hand to stay upright. Maksim is instantly grabbing me, holding me up before I can collapse onto the dirty ground.
“What happened?”
I force the words out past the panic rising in my throat. “We have to go. Something’s happened with Leo.”
His face hardens in an instant. Gone is the soft pleading from before. In its place is cold and laser-sharp focus. “I’ll drive. My car’s out front.”
For once, I don’t argue.
26
MAKSIM
Ibarely register the streets we cut through and the red lights I ignore while horns blare in my wake. All I hear is Ivy’s breathing beside me, shallow and fast. All I see is Leo’s face in my mind, pale and terrified, the way he looked when Mikhail held him like a pawn.
I grip the steering wheel tighter, knuckles bone-white.
Not again.
I don’t care what it takes. I won’t let anyone else put fear in my son’s eyes ever again.
When we arrive, I screech into the parking lot and cut the engine. Ivy is already unbuckling her seatbelt and shoving the door open before I pull the keys out of the ignition. She rushes toward the school’s front entrance. I follow, longer strides catching me up to her by the time we reach the doors.
Inside, the walls are plastered with cheerful artwork that feels obscene compared to the dread knotting in my chest. Areceptionist looks up, startled at seeing us storming in, then quickly points us toward the principal’s office.
I brace myself for the sight of Leo hurt and crying. My heart pounds, heavy with guilt. I wasn’t there when he needed me to protect him most, and if that’s happened again… if someone’s laid a hand on him while I’ve been busy wallowing in my own heartbreak, I’ll never forgive myself.
When we reach the office, instead of seeing Leo, we’re met by a balding man in a pressed suit. His glasses are perched low on the bridge of his nose, and he squints at us like we’ve interrupted a meeting he didn’t want to have in the first place. He waves us inside a small office, shutting the door behind us as soon as we enter.
My eyes catch sight of the brass nameplate on his desk that reads,Principal M. Harris.
He motions for us to sit. “Mr. and Ms. Bennett, I presume?”
“Yes,” I say curtly, sinking into the chair. Ivy does the same, and to my surprise, reaches over the space between us and takes my hand. She wraps her fingers tight in mine, giving them a subtle squeeze that grounds me.
Principal Harris folds his hands on the desk, expression serious. “Before we bring Leo in, there are a few things I’d like clarified.”
“Is he okay?” Ivy demands.
“Yes,” Harris says, holding up a hand. “Physically, Leo is fine. But there was… an altercation on the playground.”
I sit forward. “What kind of altercation?”
Ivy lets out a soft gasp beside me. Her hand flies from mine to press against her chest, eyes wide and stricken with surprise.
Harris replies carefully, choosing his words with the same caution you’d use when walking across cracked glass. “I understand that this might come as a surprise… however, he did do it. There were multiple staff members who witnessed it. The other child is unharmed, just suffering from a bruise. But we felt it necessary to contact you not only because of the physical aspect, but because of something else he said during the confrontation.”
