Page 23 of Reign of the Queen
Looking around the hall; some people stare back at me with vicious smirks and grins. They’re clearly enjoying this spectator sport, with their phones recording the mess going down. Just knowing they’re recording me, hoping to humiliate me causes my blood pressure to rise.
Evan, Jessie, the football players that used to sit with us at lunch, Spencer, and a few girls from my classes, refuse to meet my eyes. Looking directly down at the ground, obviously not enjoying themselves but not willing to put themselves at risk to come to my aid either.
Melinda slithers up to Carter, and he wraps his arm around her waist, kissing her head while giggling into her hair. I watch the other two, things one and two, move up between Mateo, Finn, and Theo, wrapping themselves around them.
“You should just leave, you dirty whore, go back where you came from.” Melinda grins at me.
My gaze shifts between the four kings as I shake my head and tsk.Really, this is quite hilarious…fucking not.“So, okay, got it, dirt beneath your feet, dirty whore, should go back to where I came from, is that all?” I tick each vile comment off on one of my fingers. I’m trying to squash the urge to dig my sharp nails across Melinda’s face.
Raegan shifts her body, moving closer. Her hands are clenched into fists and a streak of red spreads across her golden-tawny cheeks. She’s vibrating with anger and looks ready to spring forward at any moment to beat down the kings.
“RaeRae, you should walk away girl; you’re one of us, albeit a poor relation. You don’t belong with her. Come here RaeRae, and all will be forgiven.” I peek at Raegan from below my lashes. Her eyes are large, and her lips tremble with suppressed rage. Carter beckons her with his hand, tapping his outer thigh like she’s his dog or something.MOTHERFUCKER!
“Yes Raegan, if you move away from Mia and drop her ass like the dirty whore she is, I won’t have your dad fired, and you won’t have to leave Casbury during your senior year. We all know you’re counting on getting a scholarship from here to go on to college.” Theo steps forward into Raegan’s sight line.
“My fa-father? Are you kidding me? You would get my dad fired because you don’t like Mia?” She’s breathing so hard that I’m starting to fear for her and everyone around us.
“I would do whatever needs to be done; collateral damage be damned.” Theo positions himself directly in front of me, scrutinizing me, his eyes fixed on mine, the dark blue depth trying to suck me into his orbit. I see no regret or hesitation in his gaze; he’s out to hurt me for his own satisfaction.
Nothing has changed in all the years I have been gone, he’s still a piece of shit who enjoys hurting others and playing sick games. Thing is…I am no longer that poor little scared girl. I’ve grown vicious claws and teeth, and I don’t plan on restraining them.
I lean toward him and lower my voice so only he, I, and Raegan can hear what I have to say. “You think you’re so slick, Saint-Lambert? You’re not the only one with power in this world now; remember that term, collateral damage.” I see his eyes widen slightly, but he doesn’t respond or step back.
Taking a step to the side, I return my gaze to Melinda and Carter. “Melinda, you leg-spreading hoe, do you know what happens to those with power and money when someone comes for them?” I hear Raegan gasp behind me. I turn around to glance at her, eyebrow raised, grinning and she winks back at me.
“No, what skank, what happens?” She smiles and runs her hands up Carter’s chest, oblivious to the destruction I can wreak. She’s about to learn, though.
“Well, you dumb cunt, the more powerful they are, the harder they are to kill. You’re looking at the top apex creature in this school, in this shitty little town. You just haven’t figured it out yet, but you will.” I reach into my purse and pull my phone out, disregarding everyone standing around watching and still recording me. I hit a number and then put it on speaker phone, and while it’s dialing, I look for my first victim. Theo quirks an eyebrow, obviously confused at what I’m doing.Don’t worry dick, all is about to be revealed.
“Hey Maria, hmm, your parents own a whole bunch of bookstores throughout the country, right?” I tap my red pointed finger on my lips, my smirk still firmly in place. The stupid bitch just looks at me. Of course I’ve done my research, not only on the kings but on everyone. You can’t win a war without having the proper ammunition, and I’m just full of ammo. The apocalypse is coming to Casbury, and when I’m done, there will be no one but me and Raegan left standing.
I know running to my step-grandmother isn’t really fighting fair, but it is fighting fire with fire. All these rich kids know is money, so in order to be a player on the board, I have to be able to fight dirty like they do. I also have to be a fucking savage, more powerful, and ruthless.
“Whh-what?” She finally finds her words just as the person I was waiting for to answer picks up.
“Mia, my darling, to what do I owe the pleasure?” The voice on the other end asks; her voice is smooth and sophisticated like the highest quality silk.Trust me…silks got nothing on her.
“Hello grandmother, I just wanted to make a quick request. It seems I will need to remind people of their manners here at Casbury as well as the weight and power of the Stratford name.” I let an evil smile grace my lips.
“Really darling, in that backward little town, someone thinks they are more powerful than the Stratford’s? Make your request my dear, and I shall, of course, grant it.”
“XMID Books and its subsidiaries… gone grandmother. All of it, not a single bookstore or employee left, all just wiped away.” I smile, looking only at Maria. I watch her frightened eyes; she doesn’t know if this is real.Oh, it’s real bitch. Bet you’re regretting throwing that drink now.
“Done. Anything else, my love?” I hear my grandmother’s amusement through the phone. She has repeatedly taught me to be ruthless in the last six years. No one, and I mean no one, takes on the Stratford’s. After all, we end people, lives, and legacies.
“Grandmother, when you speak to the owner, Lucent Dias, after demolishing his and his family’s life work and legacy, make sure that their savings and investments are gone too. Please let him know his charming daughter, Maria, was the catalyst for us taking everything. This way he knows where to vent his displeasure.”
“WHAT! Oh my god, no, please! Please! I’m so sorry!” Maria comes rushing up to me, about to grab me by the arms, but Raegan comes from behind and shoves her so hard she falls on her skanky ass.Guess Raegan has had enough too.
“Mia, is that everything my love? I have a company to rip apart and someone’s life savings to donate to charity.” Grandmother laughs like the sadistic, amazing, powerful woman she is.
“Yes grandmother, I’ll see you in a few days, all my love,” I say, and then I hit the end call button.
Whirling around, I see people’s eyes are frightened, jaws are hanging open, and Theo is so stiff that he looks like he might break.Good. They need to learn; I will not tolerate bullshit, not anymore. They will bow, or I will end them all.
“Let that be a lesson to anyone else who comes at me. Your precious kings that you all fear do NOT hold all the power here.” I survey around me. “I will destroy each and every one of you and your families if you try to harm Raegan or me. I’ll do it with no hesitation, so pick your sides wisely. The past of kings controlling this school is over. They are not the most powerful beings at this school anymore.”
I glare at a couple of faces nearest to Raegan and me, shock registering across their features. They are too frightened now to meet my gaze. I turn my gaze to Theo and meet his frigid stare. “You all have a new queen, and I will rule alone, so tread very lightly. I am not overly compassionate where not warranted. The reign of the queen has begun.”
