Page 195 of Knox Academy Omnibus
He gives me one of his signature smirks and walks into my room without waiting for an invite, so what choice do I have but to close the door and join him?
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask, but he doesn’t answer, he just glances around like he’s searching for something. When he seems to have found whatever it is he’s looking for, he grabs my computer chair to stand on and unhooks the fire alarm, pulling something out. He drops it to the floor and stands on it, crushing it under the heel of his boot.
I open my mouth to say something, but close it again. I’m not sure how to explain that I knew the camera was there but was having some fun teasing the guys, or more so Onyx, with little strip teases and sexual noises.
“Here,” he says, pulling out a yellow envelope. “I don’t usually do favours for free, but for some reason I like you and would even go as far as saying you’re a...friend. I don’t have many friends because that adds complications.”
“I knew you liked me,” I tease, taking the envelope from him.
“Don’t push it,” he warns in a serious tone, but his smirk gives away his uncharacteristic playfulness.
“What’s in here?” I ask, waving the envelope around.
“Something everyone in your life should have told you a long time ago. I found it in your file.” I didn’t even read my file, I gave it to Baxter on the USB drive, along with all the others. He agreed to destroy it when he was done.
“Okay, thanks.” I don’t know what else to say. Baxter nods and leaves without another word. I shake my head at how weird he is.
Taking a seat on my bed, I open the envelope and pictures fall out. I sort through them – they mostly seem to be of the same woman I don’t really recognise – but there is a group picture with people in it that I do recognise. My dad and Monty, and I swear an older, faded version of the twins and maybe...Sawyer? What the hell is this? My father and Monty never mentioned that they knew each other.
I check the envelope and see that there’s a sheet of folded paper inside. I pull it out; It’s a birth certificate.
It drops from my hands and I watch, numb, as it floats gently to the ground – like it’s simply an innocent, harmless piece of paper, rather than a bomb threatening to detonate my entire world.
I frown, trying to comprehend what I just read. Laura isn’t my real mother. That means she…and my father have lied to me my entire life. Why?
I can’t breathe.
The rapid beating of my heart has me gasping for air. My door flies open and Jasper comes running inside. Everything starts to fade, my vision blurry.
I need to call Smalls. There’s no way he and Aadi knew about this...right?
Jasper is at my side, but whatever he is saying doesn’t register in my brain. I pull my phone from my bra and speed dial Smalls. I don’t even know what time it is there, nor do I care. It rings a few times and the call goes through.
“Is it true?” I force out between gasps, my voice barely a feeble whisper.
“Is what true, what’s happening?” Smalls asks, worry in his voice.
I pull my legs up close to my body, the world around me fades out. “That bitch, Laura. Is she really not my mother?” I manage to get out. Smalls goes quiet.
“Shit,” Smalls curses under his breath. “AADI!” he yells.
Did everyone know except me? I hear whispering, as if Smalls has covered the speaker. I drop the call, throwing my phone against the wall. Annoyingly, it just bounces, which isn’t satisfying at all. I want to break...something.
All those years she hurt me, all the heartache I suffered wondering why I wasn’t good enough, wishing I had a proper mum around...it all could have been avoided. If everyone knew, then why did they send me here, to her? How much reach doesthis Order have, for me to be hand delivered to my abuser? I can’t believe my father would do that to me. Why?
I rock as these thoughts swirl around in my brain. Nothing makes sense.
“Amelie,” Slate says, placing his hand on my arm, bringing me back to the room. I jerk and when I look around I see that everyone is here. Everyone except Sawyer.
“Don’t touch me,” I warn, scooting myself backwards. “You all knew! You promised no more lies!”
“Actually, we promised we would tell you everything we could. You just need to connect the dots,” Onyx says and I glare at him as I get to my feet. I refuse to cry in front of them. Not over another betrayal. Anger. Anger is good. I can use that.
“And how is Laura not being my real mum something Ididn’tneed to know?”
“It’s complicated,” Slate adds, concern in his eyes. I scoff. What a cop out.
“That’s another thing! You lied about her too. You said you would help me get rid of her if I stayed!”
