Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles #5)(46)

We arrived at the secretary’s desk. She motioned for me to take a seat on one of the chairs.

“Antonia, you have to wait outside,” she then said. Toni gave me an encouraging smile before she left.

The door to the principal’s office swung open and he motioned for me to come in. I strode inside and sank down, knowing what was coming. I’d probably be banned from school for a few days. “You know we have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to violence, and what you displayed today was an intolerable act of brutality toward one of your fellow students. You realize that Will’s parents will ask me to remove you from this school.”

My eyes widened. “Forever?”

He gave a stern nod. “This is no small transgression.”

I blinked, stunned. Dad would be furious, and Mom would cry fat ugly tears as if I’d personally stabbed her in the heart. “But… things like this have happened before.” This was a school filled with kids from Made Men, or kids who were in the process of becoming Made Men. Violence did happen. Of course, I was a girl and my family wasn’t one of the leading families of the Camorra. Only mere soldiers. And Will’s parents owned several hotels and had an assload of money and influence. They sponsored many school events.

“I already called home. I left a message for your parents because I couldn’t reach them and also a voicemail on your brother’s phone.”

Oh great. Diego would be delighted. “Will insulted me.”

“What did he say?”

I frowned. My engagement wasn’t public yet, so I wasn’t sure how much to say. “He called me names.” I couldn’t even say the word ‘whore’. It was the worst insult anyone could throw at a girl in my circles.

The principal frowned. “If you can’t be more concrete, I can’t help you, and even if Will insulted you, that’s no excuse to punch him. From what I hear, you broke his nose, Gemma. His parents might press charges against you.”

I sunk deeper into the chair. A Made Man would die before he admitted that a girl had beaten him up. But Will would probably tell it to anyone who wanted to hear it.

“I need to have a word with Will in the infirmary now.”

Will definitely wouldn’t say anything in my favor. I walked back out and took a seat on one of the chairs across from the secretary’s desk. I wanted to scream in frustration.

I wasn’t sure how much time passed but suddenly Diego appeared beside me, looking like he was close to exploding. The secretary looked up. “Name.”

Diego glared at me, then at her. “Bazzoli. I’m here to pick up my sister.”

The woman frowned. “Where are her parents?”

“Not here,” Diego said sharply. He was wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt, and was sweaty as if he’d been called out of fight training. His Camorra tattoo was on display.

With a glance at it, the secretary gave a nod. “Your sister is suspended from school until Friday, at least. But expulsion is very likely.”

“We’ll see,” Diego muttered. He grabbed my forearm and pulled me to my feet then dragged me out.

“Diego,” I hissed. “Stop, you’re hurting me.” He loosened his hold but didn’t stop pulling me along. He steered us toward the boys’ restrooms, poked a head in, then dragged me inside. He released me and headed toward the only locked door. He hammered his fist against it while I regarded the urinals to my right in disdain. I’d never been in a man’s restroom before.

“Get the fuck out of here and take your shit elsewhere or I’ll climb over that fucking stall and drag you out.”

After a moment, the stall was unlocked and a freshman boy whose name I didn’t know came out. One look at Diego’s expression and his tattoo, and he rushed outside.

“Do we have to be in here?” I asked.

Diego advanced on me and grabbed my shoulders. “What’s wrong with you? What the fuck has gotten into you? I knew allowing you to fight was a huge fucking mistake.” He’d never said that.

“He got what he deserved.”

Diego’s eyes flashed with anger. “Did he? But you’ll be the one who’ll get punished. That fucking guy’s parents are going to do everything to get you expelled.”

“But… you and Dad can do something, right?”

Diego laughed darkly. “I could beat him up, cut him a bit, I’m sure then he’d change his mind but his parents own huge hotels that pay us for protection. They aren’t anybody. They deal with Remo Falcone personally because of how important they are. I can’t do anything without getting the permission of my Capo. Or I could ask Savio to talk to his brother for me, but I’m not sure I want to ask him for that kind of favor because you can’t get a grip on your fucking bitchiness. The engagement isn’t even public yet and you’re already messing things up.”

“You’re an asshole,” I bit out. I’d thought Diego would be on my side, had thought he’d smooth things out for me like he always did. Having him this furious at me, made me feel horrible.

Diego only glared down at me.

I swallowed. Why did Mom have to hand down her emotionality to me? I wanted to be tough like steel. Tough like Diego and the other guys who I always only ever got to watch fight.

Diego released a breath. “Are you going to cry?” There was still anger in his voice, but also something gentler.