Page 280 of Knox Academy Omnibus
I look over the first three photos. “They’re all guys.”
“I thought you might say that,” Kalen announces. His brothers look over at him. “I’ve found someone who may be of use.”
“But?” I ask.
“She’s a little bit rough around the edges.”
“And?” Because with Kalen there’s always more than meets the eye.
“She may not exactly want the job.”
“So why are we bothering? I'm sure there are plenty of willing candidates.”
Kalen kicks back in his chair, swinging back so far I wince at the thought of his chair tipping backwards, even if it would serve him right.
“She’s your first recruit to Knox Academy. I was smart enough to see her potential. We can either force her to attend classes through the courts or give her a job. And I happen to know for a fact this one needs the cash because she has a sibling to support.” Kalen throws a file my way and it lands perfectly in front of me. His smirk makes me want to strangle him and ride his face at the same time, if that were even possible.
Opening the manilla folder, the picture of a girl no older than me looks back at me. I can tell by her hardened stare that she hasn’t had an easy life. I flick to the next A4 size photo of a small boy – I would guess around eight – his smile lights up his entire face. The other papers are of crimes committed by her, petty bullshit really, but with a history this long it’s only a matter of time before she’s convicted. And her school records are abysmal at best. Her brother on the other hand has good grades and looks to be active in sports. It even looks like she is about to be evicted, so we may be able to swing a job on her and get her to agree.
I look up at the guys waiting for my response. “Fine, we can give her a shot but I still don’t like our chances; she isn’t going to agree easily.”
“That is why we’ll attend her court date. I’ve made calls to the courts myself, and it’s all organised. Stealing cars isn’t something they will overlook this time because she is raising her brother alone.”
“No, it needs to be done before that. I felt ambushed and threatened when it happened to me. I’ll go and break the news to her myself.”
Onyx grumbles and isn’t happy about the idea, I can tell none of them are, but they really don’t have a choice anymore. “I’ll take Jasper with me in the morning before school. We have plenty to catch up on anyway.”
“You do realise you don’t have to befriend the staff?” Onyx snaps. Well, someone pissed in his cereal today.
“You’re just jealous that he gets to spend the day with me.”
“No, he’s still pissed Jasper touched your ass,” Kalen adds, a smile pulling at his lips while a scowl comes from Onyx’s.
“So it’s all sorted then. Sawyer let’s go. I’ll see you three at school tomorrow.”
“What? Why does he get to take you home? I feel like I haven’t spent any time with you at all!” Kalen whines. Oh how quickly he’s forgotten having me all to himself for two weeks. I definitely need a Kalen break for a night or two.
“Because you’ll make me late if I plan to meet with this girl, the twins will want me to be the meat in a twin sandwich, and I’m still sore from that thing…” Sawyer cuts me off by covering my mouth with his hand.
“Too much information,” he complains, removing his hand. “Let’s go, and I’ll massage all your sore spots.”
Sawyer winks at his brothers, earning him some choice words back. We all leave the way we came. I’m excited to finally have some alone time with Sawyer. He’s always so patient and understanding. The glue that holds us all together. Without him, I think we would all be lost.
Chapter Four
Amelie
Jasper picks me up before the sun has even risen. The drive is a little out of the way, but I feel like it’s necessary for me to make the trip. I’m still unsure what Kalen’s interest in her is, but I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.
“So…” I say to Jasper once my first coffee of the day has hit my system.
“So…” he mimics, knowing what my next question is going to be. “Nothing happened.”
“Not what a little birdy told me,” I say, starting on my second coffee.
“If that little birdy is Kalen, he really needs to get his facts straight first, I swear he lives in a fairy tale.”
I laugh because it is true. “He may have heard fromsomeonethat you spent a lot of time with Elsie while I was away. I’m going to ask her, you know that, right?”
