Page 107 of A Dead Man's B-Side
But Callum had other plans. I went to move around them and finish down the hall when he stepped forward and blocked our way out. His cronies watched from behind us.
Even now, they didn’t speak. How strange.
Ajax, however, didn’t look bothered. He let out an annoyed sigh and leaned one shoulder against the wall, settling in. “God, give me strength.”
With an arm still circled around August’s shoulders, I tilted my head. “Is there something you need?”
Callum slid his hands into his pockets and let out a breath. His features were more unsettling now that they were set, and I almost missed his manic smile. At least there was a way to decipher how he was feeling.
Now, he looked vacant. As if his entire humanity had been sucked out of him.
“Callum…” Ajax spoke cautiously before straightening, and that only seemed to heighten my senses.
What was he up to?
In any other situation, I would have poked that dead look out of his eyes. I wouldn’t have clenched my jaw in wariness. Because I was always in control.
And yet.
Callum had the name, the power, the influence.
I would be an idiot to pick a fight now.
For now, I’m forced to wait.
Slowly, the boy in question’s lips twitched before a slow smile spread across his lips. It looked entirely haunted.
His smile turned into a dark chuckle before he lifted his hands, as if in surrender. “Alright. I’ll let you have it your way… Alexandr.”
He shook his head and went to move past me, placing his hand against my shoulder on his way before squeezing. In turn, my arm tightened around August’s, but I was sure it wasn’t to reassure him.
I watched him move from over my shoulder, watched as Ajax’s eyes hardened when Callum went to meet his.
The entire ordeal was so tension-filled, I didn’t know I was holding my breath until my heart began pounding in desperation, begging for air by the time the last crony made his way around the corner after Callum.
I subtly gulped in a breath before shaking my head.
“Er… thank you. I could have handled it, but… thanks.”
Ajax scoffed. “I’m late for Ms Ransom’s extra lessons for lukewarm gratitude.”
I couldn’t seem to get my head in order when Wolf came marching down the other side of the hall with a glare as strong as a thousand suns.
August whistled, fixing his rumpled uniform and shrugging off my arm. I didn’t take it to heart and let it drop to my side.
“What happened to him?” Ajax mumbled, coming to stand by our side.
I shrugged and said, “I guess we’ll find out,” before fixing the boy with a stare. “What’s got you in such a sunny mood?”
Wolf’s frame got closer, but he didn’t seem to be stopping, walking right past us and muttering loud enough for us to hear, “Rain Atlas Jett is what.”
We watched him go, and August shuffled nervously. “Is he going to do something he’ll regret?”
I groaned and ran a hand through my hair before taking off after him. “I guess we’ll figure that out too.”
I called out after Wolf, but he didn’t stop. Barely acknowledging me, the bastard.
Ajax laughed before following, dragging a surprised August after him.
