Page 43 of Savage Salvation

“Then why does he have the car?”

“Because I couldn’t bring myself to tell him I slept with you. And even though there was still time left, I wanted to be done with him after you sent me away. It was never about the car. It was about you.”

I turn away from him, as I utter, “I don’t understand.”

The bed shifts and I soon know why when he comes around the bed, standing in front of me. His hand reaches for me, his fingertips move under my chin as he raises my eyes to his. “It’s always been about you. God, Kinsley. There’s nothing expendable about you. You’re everything.”

I can’t respond. Too much has happened. Too much has been said. There’s no processing any of it. Thankfully, he doesn’t wait for a response. He leans down, feathers a kiss on my lips. “Please stay here with me.”

I nod. “At least for today.” Because my body aches so bad all I want to do is go back to bed. And that’s what we do. It’s already past time to get to class, not that I’d planned to go in today anyway. I haven’t missed many days so I shouldn’t have an issue catching up. The only thing is, I don’t know how I’m going to sit in a classroom with that bastard and not slit his throat. Because that’s what I want to do, especially every time I move and feel the tenderness where he inflicted pain.

Eventually, I’m able to get comfortable and drift off to sleep. With Gage. But it still feels surreal. All of it.

32

Gage

Her soft groan when she shifts in the bed claws at me. Every wince, every groan, every time I accidentally touch her somewhere tender, it fuels my need to end him.

Her phone vibrates on the nightstand again. I know the fucker messaged her earlier. And I want to know if he’s still bothering her. When I told him to stay away from her, it wasn’t an option. He will stay away.

Maneuvering carefully away from her, I step next to the nightstand and grab her phone. There’re no less than a dozen messages from him. Answer me, bitch and You know it was your fault. But the one that really gets me is I need an answer on what you’re gonna do so I know if I’m bringing honey or vinegar to the table, your choice.

This motherfucker’s threatening her, but what he didn’t realize is I don’t make empty threats. I follow through. He won’t bring anything to the table because his ass won’t be sitting at it.

* * *

I head down the corridor to the café where I know he’s at. I get a few looks as I walk through, not blending in since I’m not in the stiff uniform, but it doesn’t take me long to spot him in the crowd. He’s sitting at a table, his mangled face grinning. He has no reason to ever smile again. And once he sees me heading his way, his expression instantly morphs into panic. And it should.

He goes to stand up and flee but it’s too late as I grab his tie, yanking at it as his wide eyes look to me. “I’m here to answer your question.”

“Wh-what question?” he trembles, his body is actually shaking. Fuck, I’m gonna enjoy this.

“What you’re bringing to the table.” I wrap the tie around my fist, then grab him, hauling him with me as I make my way out of the cafeteria and to the front of the school, a trail of watching eyes behind us. And I hope every single pair of eyes in this damn school joins in.

He’s squirming, but he won’t get away. I might not get to crack his skull open, but he won’t walk away without consequence. And he will learn his lesson today. “School’s in session, so be sure to pay attention.” I tug his jacket off, followed by his shirt. Looking down at his pants, he goes to run but I catch him by the tie still knotted around his throat. “Are you taking them off or do I need to? Because you didn’t give her a choice.”

“I-I-I,” he stammers. I reach for him, take away his choice, just like he did hers, as I remove every article of clothing from his body except for the tie, leaving him to stand naked. And he’s doing just that, standing, not fighting to get away.

“At least she’s strong enough to fight.” My arm swings around, connecting with his face, as I recall the state I’d found her in. I yank his tie from his neck, then wrap it around his wrists, binding them together. He finally decides to grow a pair and makes a failed attempt at escape as I loop the fabric around the metal flagpole that flies the Sacred Creed Academy flag.

Once I’ve fastened him to the pole, his bare ass sitting on the ground, his arms bound behind him, his naked body on display. I know I should stop, but I can’t.

I crouch down in front of him, enjoying the fear and embarrassment as more and more people come out of the school. “Now, you had a question. I have your answer.” Reaching around, I retrieve the plastic jar that I had safely tucked away, holding it up. “Honey. That’s what’s on the table.”

I twist off the cap, turn the container upside down and let the thick honey drip over his crotch. Once most of it is out, I toss the jar, stand, and take a few steps over. Finding a large ant hill, I kick it his way, spreading ants and dirt all over him.

He starts screaming like the whiny bitch he is while I appreciate the show.

“Hawthorne,” Principal Cabot yells from behind me. “This has gone too far.”

Took him longer than I’d thought it would to get out here. “It’s not gone far enough.” Because the bastard is still breathing.

Cabot looks to the jackass tied to the pole who squeals for help then looks back to me. “There are circumstances even I can’t overlook, especially with witnesses.” He nods slightly to the gathering crowd circled around, their phones out and recording the action. Just as I’d hoped. Ryan will have a relentless reminder. Not that he’ll be forgetting anytime soon.

“I don’t mind an audience.”

Cabot does. And announces, “Untie him or I’ll be forced to call the authorities.”