Page 34 of Ruthless Deliverance

“Still trying to get that shit wrapped up?” Beau whispers, more than likely because he doesn’t want to draw any more attention to himself. The bruising around his broken nose is now worse. She really got him good. Again.

“Did you get that shit wrapped up?” I gesture to his face as his eyes look over my shoulder to Dani.

“Yeah, dipshit. It was your idea and I’m the one who got injured. You know, it hurts even more to have the bone reset the second time. And doc said he won’t fix me up if it happens a third time.”

“No, it won’t. Because I’ll handle her.”

“You’d better.” His loathing for her is almost as strong as hers for him. Only it’s Beau’s wounded pride that’s driving him. And I don’t plan on handling her in the way he probably wants. No. I have better options in mind.

“Hey, Dani,” Keith singsongs as he takes his seat in front of her, giving her a too-long look. And she returns the chump’s greeting with a smile. It’s not sincere, but it’s more than she’s ever given me, and enough to encourage Keith to believe he has a chance with her. “Did you have a good weekend?”

She lets out a low snicker. “No.”

“Ah. Well, that blows.” He glances over his shoulder, not fully looking at me, but he knows I’m watching him. And surprisingly he still has the balls to ask her. “Well, how about you let me cheer you up this afternoon? We can go get some ice cream or coffee. My treat.”

Before she has a chance to respond, I do it for her. “She’s busy. Aren’t you, Puppet?”

There’s that look again, aimed right at me. “No. I’m not.” She turns back to Keith. “Sounds good. Luna, you wanna join us?”

Damn it. Even though she’s making it a group thing, I’m still failing at this miserably. I have practice after school, but I was hoping for another round with her. Perhaps one that ended without her despising me quite as much. Highly doubt that’ll happen when Luna looks my way before agreeing to the after-school meetup.

“Attention up here!” Garbo calls out across the room, but his attention shifts between me and to my left where Dani is sitting. “It’s time for English lit, not social hour.”

Dani turns her focus to our cranky teacher while I watch her for a few minutes. I know she accepted the invite to show me she can, and that’s fine. But I’ll have to remind her soon enough who’s calling the shots. And she has to know it’s not her.

31

DANI

Standing with my back to the crowd, I know I’m having an off day. Normally I’d keep watch behind me rather than stare at the cafeteria staff passing food across the metal countertop. One of the best things about this assignment is eating lunch in the café—it has more (and tastier) options than my high school did by a mile. But today the food isn’t helping at all, and keeping my back to the hazards of the room says exactly how mentally checked out I am at the moment. And damn it. I need to snap out of it. I have to.

“What’s on the menu today?” Creed asks over my shoulder, making a point to reach around me, his frontside pressing against my back, effectively pinning me in place.

“Nothing.”

“Ah. That word again.” He reaches up, pushes my hair off my shoulder, and moves his lips next to my ear. “That’s because nothing served in this café is going to cure that hunger deep inside.”

It takes little effort to figure out what he’s talking about. And yeah. I really do need to get laid—but not by him, for damn sure. Even if Philip is going along with my theory that Creed could help get the case solved sooner, sleeping with a student, even legal, shouldn’t be on the menu. “I just threw up in my mouth.”

The worker across the counter has a slight smirk on her lips as she slides me a plate with a cheeseburger and fries. Maybe I’ve found another one of the few who can’t stand Creed. Which frankly, I believe everyone at this school secretly loathes him but refuses to say so to his face.

“That mouth is gonna get you in trouble.”

“Okay,” I state flatly, grab my tray, and move to a table on the far side of the café. Naturally, Creed follows and sits beside me.

“Something’s wrong.”

Everything is wrong. “Move. You’re in Luna’s seat.”

“Do you want my help or not?” His impatient tone sends a jolt of fury through me. He can’t be annoyed with me when he’s the dipstick making every single thing ten times more difficult than necessary.

“Yes. I want your help.” Tossing down a fry, I look over to him. “But that’s not what you want to do. You just want to screw around, get your dick wet, and make an ass out of me.” Lowering my voice, I lean closer to him. “Because it isn’t your ass on the line. Your life is set. Your pampered behind doesn’t want for a thing nor has to work for it. So, to answer your question. Yes. I want your help. If it’s a ploy to get in my pants or screw with my head in order to distract from your miserable, mundane existence, fuck off now and save us both the headache.”

His stone expression stays fixated on me. I don’t know what nerve I hit but I’ve evidently touched one. Good. It’s about damn time. And it’s a relief when he finally does speak. “I said I’d help you. And I might be an ass. But I plan to get you all the answers your bitter heart desires.”

“Good.” I pick up a fry, taking a bite as I spot Luna in line to get her food. But Creed speaks before I can instruct him to move. Again. “Cabot. He’s where we need to look.”

“Why?” I whisper, keeping my focus on my food but listening closely as he continues.