Mayhem At Prescott High (The Havoc Boys #3)(113)

Wow.

What a building to hold a party in.

On a positive note, the money from the Oak Valley Prep kids has helped hide the decay and rot and general feeling of sadness that permeates this building. There are balloon arches, a photobooth, round tables with white linen cloths, and an entirely catered menu being served off of a buffet table. There’s even a ‘bar’ serving Shirley temples and shit. If you know the right passcode, the bartender will add booze under the table for five bucks a shot.

“I feel stupid being here,” I admit to Hael as we walk inside, arm in arm. Vic takes up the rear of the group for once, with Cal just behind and to my left, and Oscar mirroring him on the other side. Everyone turns to look at us when we walk in, just like they always do. They, of course, notice that Aaron’s missing within about two seconds, and rumors start to fly.

Within twenty seconds, I hear one being whispered at a table nearby about how he likely switched schools just to get away from the rest of us. My lips twist into a scowl, and I feel suddenly stupid for wearing a pink dress with such a short skirt. And why did I pick high heels again? Oh, that’s right. Just in case I need to stab a bitch in the eye, the stilettos should come in handy.

“Don’t,” Hael says, looking around for any of the key members of the Charter Crew. The only one I can see is Billie, and she doesn’t look every excited to be here. As soon as I see her, I feel something inside of me snap a little. I am done. I am just completely fucking done. “We’re here for a reason, Bernie. If Aaron can get here tonight, by any means, he will. He’d know we had to come.”

I nod, but I’m not really listening because I’ve already decided what I’m going to do.

I’m going to beat Billie Charter’s ass. I might just kill her, too.

“Let’s go,” I tell Hael, dragging him through the crowd and straight toward her. She sees us coming and tries to run, but I let go of Hael’s arm and start running, too, shoving open the door to the hall and sprinting in my motherfucking heels.

That’s when you know a bitch is just done, when she runs full-speed in stilettos.

Billie doesn’t even make it around the corner of the hallway before I’m on her ass, tackling her into the ground as she screams. Her jaw cracks against the floor as I haul her over onto her back and straddle her like a fucking maniac.

When Penelope was hurting, I tried to go about things the ‘right way’. I told my mom. I told my principal. I called child protective services. She still ended up dead. Well, guess what? I’m not wasting my time with the ‘right thing’ ever again.

Someone has hurt my family, and I’m taking that shit seriously.

“Where is Aaron?” I grind out from between clenched teeth as I grab Billie by the front of her dress and slam her head into the tiled floor. She’s already bleeding, clawing at me and screaming. But guess what? We’re in one of the hallway dark zones. There are no cameras. No administrators. Even the lightbulbs could use changing.

That, and I’ve got four of my boys with me.

Billie Charter must know that she’s screwed six ways to Sunday.

The guys form a loose circle around me, watching me do my thing.

“Told you she was dangerous,” Hael mutters, but I’m not listening to him. Instead, I’m intent on pinning Billie’s arms to the floor above her head.

“Where is Aaron?” I ask as she flails around beneath me like a madwoman.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?!” she screeches, but in reality, she started this. Her brother made up this stupid new crew and chose to challenge us. They just couldn’t let Havoc rule these halls the way we were always supposed to do. Well, fuck that, and fuck them, and fuck all of this shit. I slam Billie’s head into the ground so hard that blood spatters and she chokes out a cry of genuine pain, her bravado fading as quick as it came.

“Where is Aaron?” I repeat, holding her up by the front of her dress. “I’m not going to ask you again. I know you’re working with Ophelia Mars, and I know you have him.”

“Ophelia who?” Billie asks, and I crack her head against the ground again.

“Careful, Bernie, or the doll will break,” Cal says, but I honestly don’t care at this point.

“The woman who’s paying all your bills, that’s who. She has Aaron. I want to know where he is.” I keep my voice low; there’s no need to shout. Apparently, the sound of it must creep Billie the fuck out because she gives an uncontrollable shudder.

“I don’t know any of that stuff; only Mitch, Logan, and Kali do.” Billie gasps as I adjust my hands from the front of her dress to her throat. “Please, I don’t know anything. I just do what I’m told. My brothers are assholes, you know that.”

“Where is Aaron? This is the last time I’m going to ask you that question.” I squeeze Billie’s throat just a bit harder, and she chokes, sputtering on excuses.

“If they have him, he’s probably with Kali. She’s in love with him, always has been.” I release just a bit of pressure so Billie can keep talking. “She hasn’t told me anything about it, but I also haven’t seen her since the night you guys came to the racetrack. I swear, that was the last I saw her. By the time we figured out what the hell was going on, she had already left and taken her new car. Mitch was furious.”