Mayhem At Prescott High (The Havoc Boys #3)(91)

I take the apple from Oscar’s tray without asking, and he doesn’t say a word about it.

“They better not fuck up my Snow Day,” Hael says, folding his hands together behind his head as I bite into the apple, holding it in my mouth while I get a straw stabbed into my chocolate milk carton. “The snow the Oak Valley brats bring is so damn pure. If I’m only going to do coke a few times a year, I’d like to enjoy the moment.”

I give him a look, but we both know he isn’t snorting shit; he’ll be too busy trying to stay alive.

“I agree with Bernadette,” Oscar says, glancing over at the Ensbrook brothers and letting an absolutely horrendous smile spread across his lips. He winks at them nice and slow and both boys turn away like they’ve been kicked.

He must’ve scared the shit out of them on Thursday; they both look ten times worse than Oscar. Seeing as the odds were two to one, I’m impressed with the man’s capabilities. As much of an asshole as he is, I can’t deny that.

“Another coup?” Victor wonders, frowning hard. “If so, they won’t rely on Prescott kids again; they’ll bring in more hired thugs. We need to let Ophelia know that we’re onto her, throw some dirt in her face and get her to back down a little. She’s coming at us hard and fast.” Vic rubs at his face for a moment, an essay lying on the table in front of him. Despite everything, Victor has to maintain his grades, so he can stay on-track for graduation.

I wonder if his grandmother knew he’d have to work himself to the bone to even come close to getting her money? Was that her plan all along? Or did she just not realize how awful her daughter was? Maybe she did, and that’s why she wanted Vic to live with his dad. Who knows. Seeing as the woman’s dead, she’s taken her secrets to the grave.

I’m just wishing Neil had done the same.

“Well, there’s one positive to her hiring out some professional help. While we can’t mow down several dozen Prescott High students without drawing attention; we can definitely get rid of some hired thugs without worrying if anyone’s looking too hard.” Cal sips his Pepsi, playing with his usual lunchtime cigarette by flipping it around between his fingers. Our eyes meet and he grins at me.

This morning, he grabbed me while I was walking down the hall, threw me into a locker, and kissed me in front of the whole school.

I loved it, too.

“True,” Aaron agrees hesitantly. “But we also can’t predict what someone like that will do. They’re not involved in this feud beyond a paycheck. That could be a really good thing … or a really bad one.”

The doors to the cafeteria open, and a hush falls over the room.

I glance casually over my shoulder, the blood draining from my face as I notice Ms. Keating with Officer Young and Detective Constantine on either side of her. Shit, fuck, and holy hot damn. The beautiful young Vice Principal looks a hot mess, her face swollen, skin puckered with stitches. But she’s alive, and, apparently, she’s also back.

“Ms. Keating,” I breathe, rising to my feet along with the rest of the boys. I’m happy to see they show her at least a small amount of deference. “Okay, wife. You can deal with Ms. Keating—just so long as she is dealt with.” Victor is going to leave Breonna Keating to me, which I appreciate, but how the hell am I going to handle this?

I'm starting to realize my moral code is just a tad stricter than the boys'.

“Bernadette,” Ms. Keating says, pausing just a few feet from me. She often calls me Ms. Blackbird, but apparently surviving an attempted murder together has brought us a new level of closeness. I shift slightly, crossing my arms over my chest to hide my nervousness. Officer Young is watching me like a motherfucking hawk, searching for anything she could possibly use against me. “I'm so glad to see you're okay.”

“Just fine,” I tell her, forcing a sideways smile. “But shouldn't I be the one saying that to you? Welcome back, by the way.”

“I'm not back in any official capacity, not yet,” she says, her jaw so swollen that her words are a bit slurred when she talks. I'm happy to see that crafty bitch got her nails done recently though. See what I mean? There's still hope for her yet. “But I wanted to check in on things. Primarily, I wanted to check in on you.”

“If possible, I'd love to move this conversation to your office,” Constantine suggests, his brown eyes scanning the room before coming back to land on the Havoc Boys. It's pretty obvious that he knows he's a sheep among wolves in here. We might be in high school, but it wouldn't be all that difficult to turn this room into a riot and end it with his bloody corpse hanging from the flagpole outside.

“Of course,” Ms. Keating agrees, giving the Havoc Boys a cursory nod. “Mr. Channing, congratulations on your marriage to Bernadette.” Vic flashes her a white-toothed grin.

“Thanks, VP,” he purrs, in just such a way that Sara Young shudders. Not from pleasure, I don't think, but horror. The way she looks at my husband, I can tell she doesn't much enjoy his company. I wonder if she can sense that the only thing standing between her and an early grave is little old me?

“Mr. Park, Mr. Harbin,” Ms. Keating greets Callum and Hael before pausing for a moment to study Oscar's fucked-up face. “Mr. Montauk, Mr. Fadler.”

“Hey,” Aaron says, with a small wave and a forced smile. Oscar chooses not to acknowledge her whatsoever. “Call us if you need us,” Aaron adds as I leave with the vice principal and the two police officers. Vaughn meets up with us in the hallway, but he's about as useless as a wet dishrag. Glad he's working for us now, but it's like throwing a sponge against a sword.