Page 107 of Reign of the Queen
"Fuck! You should run, Theo. I should take you back to Benny, and you should get the fuck out of here. You know he's likely to kill you." I go to turn the car around in the direction we just came in, and he grabs the wheel.
"You know I can't, and you know why. He will come for her, you saw the way he watched her, his evil eyes so intent on her every movement. When she defied Mack, he lit the fuck up. I watched him as he watched her, she’s prey to him. He’s going to come for her to hurt her. She isn’t safe and neither are you guys."
“Does she mean that much to you? I question with a heavy heart. I know the answer before he utters it. It’s the same one I have, probably the same one Mateo and Carter would have too.
“She’s my everything. I need her to be safe, Finn.”
“What about Stella? Maybe she could help?” I plead with him, hope rising in my chest.
“Stella needs to protect Mia and hopefully Carter. I won’t risk putting Mia in any subsequent danger, and if Stella tries to help me that’s exactly what will happen.”
I know he's right, but it doesn't make it any easier knowing I'm driving him back into Casbury to his psychotic father, who's going to hurt and possibly murder him. I also know I have to protect Carter, Mateo, and now Mia. Theo's right, chances are his dad will come for us. A sense of dread fills my body as we enter Casbury county lines.
I pull into Casbury Prep’s parking lot already late for the first period, filled with aggravation and just about done with this day and it’s only just after nine in the morning. It took forever to leave my house today with Carter acting like a clingy three-year-old, demanding I stay home with him. Nurse Mary hasn’t cleared him to resume school activities, so he’s bored and strung tight.
Last night’s activities, followed by this morning with Carter and Theo, have messed with my damn head. I almost gave into his demand to stay home, binge-watch movies, and snuggle with him this morning—the temptation was real. CarterandNetflix and chill? That could end up in so many sinful scenarios.
I know Carter’s scared of what will happen today with Theo, and he doesn’t want to be left behind or be a burden to anyone. The anxiety radiating off of him made me slightly waiver in my decision to go to school. The desire to hide from the world with Carter, forget all the bullshit outside of the walls of my home tempted me. The kiss he gave me at the door almost had my knees buckling and my body heading back inside with him. I had to force myself to walk away and leave the property.Where is the nasty bitch Mia and who is this girl who’s letting her pussy rule her?
Thankfully, Raegan’s been blowing up my phone nonstop since I went into lockdown with the kings. She threatened to head to the house instead of school if I didn’t make an appearance immediately. She wants me to spill the tea. I haven’t been able to tell her what’s going on over text. I’m not looking forward to her smug look when I tell her Carter is effectively living with me.
Theo left this morning with a glum look on his face after sharing a cup of coffee with me out on the patio. He looked stressed about returning to his father, a part of me wanted to beg him not to go. The fear at just the thought of what his father may do to him, making my insides shake and bile rise up the back of my throat. I had to bite down on the inside of my cheek to prevent the words from leaving my mouth, begging him to not go back and stay here with Carter and me. My heart is torn in half, the desire to protect him quickly eating away at the side that wants to destroy him.Do I even want to hurt him anymore?
When Theo left Carter and me at the door, he never looked back, steeling his spine as he made his way to his car. I know that Tom gave him the gun he had been practicing with last night, so at least he has some protection against that crazy fuck of a father of his. I just worry it won’t be enough.
My grandmother also left this morning with her entourage after giving the three of us a stern talking to. She reminded me of my promises to her like I could forget that knife hanging over my head and future freedom.
Tom and his team will no longer hide in the shadows and will be with me every moment I am not at home. There goes the rest of my freedom, I guess. I have no one to blame but myself at this point. I allowed all of what’s happening now to steamroll right over me. My desire for these kings have by far outweighed my common sense.
Stella threatened to hog-tie Carter if he didn’t behave and let nurse Mary assist him with his recovery. The little freak made her promise she would hog-tie him herself, causing my strong, aristocratic, no-nonsense grandmother to blush a pretty shade of pink. Theo, she just gave a sympathetic expression to and reminded him that as long as he’s within Stratford property lines he is safe from his father. I think she wanted to say more to him but forced herself to hold her tongue.
Finally, she whispered into my ear before leaving with Clark at her heels. “You must remember why you came here, Mia; you are strong. You are a Stratford.”
Speaking of Tom, he and the other security detail are speeding into the parking lot right behind me. I might have tried to outdrive them this morning, needing a little semblance of freedom and wanting to spite everyone who’s ordering me around. Based on Tom’s stormy expression as he gets out of the car, he is not amused with me.Oh fucking well.
“Miss Stratford, Mia, you cut that shit out.” He storms to where I’m getting out of my car. I have a moment of guilt, which doesn’t last, and then I’m laughing.
“Come on, Tom. It was just a little bit of fun on this beautiful, sunny day. I knew you and minion number one would catch me... eventually.”
Tom just shakes his head, but I see him trying to restrain the little smile on his face. He falls into step with me as I enter the front doorway of Casbury. Everyone should be in classes now, so the hallway is mostly empty. I get a couple curious and fearful looks from a few stragglers, but other than that, no one says shit to me.Just how I like it.
I know Finn and Mateo are here somewhere. They both sent me flirty texts this morning inquiring if I was coming to school. Mateo sent me a selfie of his beautiful, pouty mouth with a tag saying that he couldn’t wait to kiss me. I grin like an idiot at the memory and how Carter reacted to seeing it. He was filled with jealousy while trying to tempt me with his pierced cock,the fucker.
“Are you going into class with me?” I inquire as I pull up to my first-period classroom.
“No, I will be out here, waiting for you, and “minion number one,” Adam, will be outside the school patrolling.” He grins.
“Suit yourself.” I turn and open the door to my literature class and step into the classroom. The hush is immediate. Even the teacher stops speaking mid-sentence and waits for me to take my seat. Once I pull out my stuff from my bag, he continues with his lesson. I can feel eyes on me, the sensation of ants crawling across my skin unnerving, I force myself to ignore them.
I look over at the seats that should be occupied by Theo and Mateo and instantly notice they are both empty. Maybe they never made it to first today? I ignore the slight sense of unease that skates down my back and focus on what the teacher is rambling on about.
By lunch, the unease has grown into full-blown anxiety—no Mateo or Theo in first and no Finn in second period. I’ve texted all three and got nothing back. What could have happened to them? I’m starting to really worry. I don’t want to alarm Carter by asking if he’s heard from them, but if they don’t turn up soon, I’m going to have to. I really should be questioning why I am so worried about four guys that I came here to destroy, but I’m avoiding that thought like Serena fromGossip Girlwould, taking responsibility for her actions and constantly self-destructing. I’m starting to feel a kindred spirit with that chick.
Raegan and I have just sat down in the cafeteria with our trays for lunch. We’re in the middle of discussing her dad’s new living situation as Melinda comes storming across the cafe to our table, her eyes flashing with malice. “Where is he?”
I look up from my tray at her; her blue eyes are red and swollen. She’s definitely been crying, her pale skin is blotchy and her mascara is all smudged across her eye lids. “Whom are you screeching about?” I scoop a fork full of wild rice, trying to get some food into me.
I haven’t been eating well the last couple of days, and it’s starting to stress me the hell out. Carter is a terrible influence with eating nonstop junk. The revolving door of Uber Eats junk food is grating on my nerves. I don’t understand how he stays so slim with the amount of garbage he puts into his body. I shudder just thinking of the large meat lover’s pizza he ate by himself last night.
