See No Evil (Brotherhood Trilogy #1)(23)

I drop my gaze, focusing on the small cotton thread sticking out from the seam of my charcoal pants.

“Look at me,” he commands, his tone quiet yet forceful.

I glance up, my nerve crumbling.

“Why this reaction? It’s like you want to be expelled.”

My jaw works to the side and I look away from him.

“We don’t work that way in this school. It’s a three-strike policy. Our goal between strikes is to train you, to help you learn from your mistakes. So if your hope by insulting Mr. Adler today was to get a free ticket home, then you’re going to be very disappointed.”

Tears burn my eyes but I lock my jaw, refusing to let them show.

Shit!

“Now I’ve already spoken to your father. He happens to be nearby on business today, so he’s requested to come in and speak to you personally.”

I close my eyes.

“He was adamant that he wants you to stay at Eton and has agreed with my suggestion that we put you on in-house suspension until the Thanksgiving break. He then went on to tell me that he’s so appalled by your behavior that you’re going to be spending the Thanksgiving holiday here at Eton as well. I’m sure the skeleton staff that remains can find a list of jobs they’d be happy for you to help with.” Headmaster Williams smiles. His creamy smooth voice makes me want to throw up.

My chin wobbles as I fight the emotions raging inside of me.

“So…” He clasps his hands together. “You will be removed from Mr. Adler’s class immediately. You will spend the rest of today in the desk outside my office writing him an apology letter, then copying the school’s code of conduct out by hand. You’re on dish duty for both lunch and dinner for the next two weeks, and the weekends will be spent in your room, contemplating how you will behave from this point on.”

His gaze drills into me, daring me to stand up to him.

“Are we clear on expectations, Mr. Lorden?”

I nod.

“Good. Remove yourself from my office. Your father will be here shortly. Until then, you can get to work on that apology letter.”

Chiclet teeth smile at me.

I snatch my bag off the floor and shuffle out of the room.

*****

“Dad” shows up fuming.

Taking my arm, he asks Headmaster Williams’s assistant if there is a private place we can talk. I nearly trip over my feet as he pulls me towards the conference room. As soon as the door is shut, he dumps me in a chair and towers over me.

“What are you doing?” Rybeck thunders. “Trying to get yourself kicked out of this place? What the hell are you thinking?”

“I hate it here,” I mumble, my voice lame and tiny.

“Oh boo hoo!” He scoffs. “This place is saving your life. Don’t you get that?”

I pound my fist on the shiny oval table. “There’s got to be someplace else! Somewhere better!”

“You have to be invisible until we need you. It’s imperative you’re not found.” His face bunches with desperation. “And I’m not just talking about the case. Your life is on the line right now.” His eyes flicker with something he’s not willing to say. I narrow my gaze, searching for more, but he looks away, rubbing the back of his neck with a heavy sigh. “I know it’s hard. We’ve put you in a really horrible position, but you came to us for help. You want justice for Robbie, right?”

I slump back into the chair. The leather smells new.

Gripping the arms, my body starts to tremble. My eyes are burning again, threatening to overflow.

“It’s not forever.” Rybeck sighs. “You just need to keep your head down and stay safe. Once this is over you’ll get your life back.”

“I’m never going to get my life back,” I mutter. “I sealed my fate the second I walked into that police station and opened my mouth.”

Rybeck brushes my arm, then pulls out one of the plush conference room chairs pushed against the wall. Taking a seat beside me, he swivels around so we’re facing each other. “You did the right thing.”

“It doesn’t feel like it. I’m betraying my family.”

“You’re sending a guilty man to prison. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

I close my eyes and turn away from him. A tear slips free. I wipe it off my skin.

“Hey.” Rybeck squeezes my shoulder. “Where’s all this coming from? Are you getting bullied? Do you need me to step in?”

I shrug him off me.

“Which guy is it? I’m happy to try and get him expelled for ya.”

I snicker and shake my head. My mind bounces from Ivan to Trey. Both are dangerous.

Ironically, it’s the nicer one who poses the bigger threat.

“It’s okay,” I finally mumble, wiping another tear off my cheek. “I can handle it.”

“You’re one of the strongest teenagers I’ve ever met. You know that?”

I scoff, then sniff.

“Turns out the pre-trial date isn’t going to happen until after Thanksgiving.” Rybeck taps his finger on the table. “I’ve advised Headmaster Williams to keep you here.”

“Yeah, thanks for that.”

“It’s the safest bet.”

I make a face, showing him how much I hate it.