Tirone (The Night Skulls MC #2)(23)

The principal of Westfield High School—one of the most expensive schools in North Houston—had an odd, almost petrified, look on his face when Furore predicated us into the office.

The principal stood and gestured with a trembling hand at the seats across his desk. “Mister Lazzarini, welcome to Westfield High. Please, have a seat.”

Furore let me sit first, pointed to the farthest chair for Ty to sit, and then took a seat next to me. “Right. This is my boy Tirone. He’ll be joining you this year. He’s a senior.”

“I…didn’t enter last semester’s exams,” Ty corrected.

“In Frisco. It doesn’t count,” Furore said, casting a menacing glance at the principal. “Right, Carson?”

What?

Principal Carson baggy eyes popped, stunned for a second, before he cleared his throat and pretended to be examining the papers on his desk. “We can make an exception for such a brilliant student. He’s maintained an impressive GPA before that. I’m sure he can make up for lost time.” His smile shook at Ty. “We’ll be honored to have you in Westfield.”

My lashes fluttered. I hadn’t been teaching for long, but this was the first time I saw a principal afraid of a student…let alone one that hadn’t been admitted to their school yet. Tirone was bright, yes. No question about it. But his face was worse than ones in mug shots after the fight. Violent troublemaker was written all over him in black and blue, but Carson would just accept him in the most expensive school in the city with no questions asked? What did Furore do to this poor man? How could he make an esteemed educational manager his bitch?

I knew Furore was powerful and dangerous. I met him in a prison. He almost beat a man to death. To see that side of him in action, though, was a whole different story.

Furore’s thumb jutted toward me. “And this is—”

“Jo Meneceo,” I introduced myself as I should be doing at an interview. “Thank you so much for accepting to interview me for the English teacher position.” I handed him my resume. “I haven’t been informed when I can present a class demo. I don’t want to take more of your time. If you can guide me to the Head of Department’s office to make an appointment—”

“Baby, I told you there’s no need for all that hassle. It’s all covered. You already got the job,” Furore interrupted me and glared at the principal. “Right, Carson?”

The poor man swallowed, again pretending to read my resume like with Ty’s transcripts. “Absolutely. Miss Meneceo’s resume and records are—”

“Impressive, just like Ty’s GPA, and you’ll be honored to have me here.” I saved him the lies.

He nodded once. “Yes. I’ll take you to the HR manager. She’ll take care of your employment contracts and take you to meet the English department staff and your fellow teachers.”

I opened my mouth in exclamation, but Furore spoke first. “How much are you giving her?”

Seriously? The guy had just given me a job without even looking at my credentials, and Furore was asking about money?

Principal Carson’s cheeks reddened. “Seventy-five with full benefits.”

My eyes widened behind my sunglasses. “That’s…a lot. My last salary was forty-five. I’ll be happy with that.”

“The fuck you are. And seventy-five ain’t good enough. Ninety. She’ll take ninety, full benefits and dental.”

“No! This is too much. I won’t accept it,” I objected.

“Baby, why don’t you just relax and let your old man handle things?” He kissed me on the cheek. “I told you I took care of everything.”

I scoffed, glancing at poor Carson, who was wiping his sweaty forehead now without saying a word. He just nodded in agreement.

“Dandy. And just so you know, she might still be Miss Meneceo, but she’ll be treated as Mrs. Lazzarini, yeah?”

“Of course,” Carson said.

Furore slapped the arm of his chair and rose to his feet. “Let’s roll.” Ty stood, too, following him to the door. I didn’t move, in awe. Furore tilted his head, nudging me. “Baby, we’re going.”

I scowled at him, grasping what just happened. “I… I’m not accepting this job without a proper interview.”

“Baby, it’s done. Let’s go.”

Furore might be a powerful gangster that could coerce people to do his bidding, but I realized something important. I, too, had power. Over him, my ol’ man. While I had changed my mind to teach at a school where Ty was a student for Ty’s sake, not Furore’s, my ol’ man still wanted me to go through with that plan, which made me have the upper hand here. I’d do it my way. “If I leave here without presenting a class and get approved based on being a good teacher, I’m not taking this job, baby.”

*****

The HoD, Mr. Chance, a man in his late forties in a blue suit, wearing glasses, took the lesson plan sheets I’d prepared after I finished the demo and smiled at me. “I’m not going to lie to you. Principal Carson told me this interview was just a formality.”

My fist clenched. “I insist on being treated like any other applicant. I’ll only accept this job if I qualify for it.”

“Well, in all honesty, I didn’t expect either that attitude…or that performance.” He gave me a small smile. “Miss Meneceo, you genuinely impressed me. Welcome to Westfield.”