Page 29 of Wicked Nasty

Becca glares at me before charging forward, her fist connecting with my chin. Kaiden grabs her again and stands between us.

“Becca. Enough. What the fuck is going on between you two?” His voice is firm and commanding.

Cat nods and steps closer to Becca. “What did Danny do?”

“Me?! Who says this has anything to do with me?” I protest, my hand pressed against my throbbing jaw.

Cat rolls her eyes. “Come on, Danny. Don’t try to fool us here.”

I let out a sigh as Becca wipes away a single tear. “I didn’t do shit.”

Becca spits towards me in disgust. “Piz’dets ka’tyonku.” She turns to Cat, her eyes dark and full of rage. “He told my secret. My secret that wasn’t his to tell!”

“I…” I start, but am quickly cut off by Becca’s sharp tone.

“Exactly. You did. I told you not to fucking tell and you couldn’t even last twenty-four hours!” Her voice cracks with emotion.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. “Becca… it’s not like that.”

“Well, it is now! And now I’m being bombarded by my father. My mother won’t stop fucking calling and screaming at me, and now I have no choice. No choice in what I do or stay! All because you have a big fucking mouth!” Her words are laced with anger and pain, her fists clenched by her sides.

Cat instinctively puts her hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Okay. We can work this out. What secret did Becca tell you? Talk to me, Becca. Maybe I can help with something?” Her voice is calm and level, but there is a tinge of concern in her eyes as she looks at Becca.

Becca’s glare intensifies, her body tensing up like a coiled spring. All emotions seem to disappear from her eyes and body, leaving behind an icy coldness that sends shivers down my spine. But Cat remains unfazed. The ice princess has no qualms about taking on the queen of black hearts.

Kaiden breaks the tense moment by whistling lowly. “Okay... so Danny. Wanna talk over here?” He guides me away from the girls who have now sat down and are whispering to each other.

He taps me lightly on the back. “You good man?”

“Yeah,” I reply, rubbing my nose gingerly. “Not my first broken nose. It’s good now.”

He shakes his head in disbelief. “So what’s going on? What fucking secret is she talking about?” His tone is laced with frustration and confusion.

Becca rises to her feet with a sharp rustle of fabric, Cat following close behind. Kaiden stands in front of me, Cat with a smirk playing on her lips as Becca cackles.

“I’m not going to hit him again. Is poor little Danny scared of me?” she taunts, her voice dripping with venom.

Cat suppresses a laugh, her expression turning serious. “Danny, what you did was not okay.” She turns to Becca, her tone gentle yet firm. “But we can’t go around clocking people in the face. Especially on school grounds. You have too much at stake.”

Kaiden crosses his arms over his chest, his brow furrowed in confusion. “Can somebody please tell me what’s going on?”

I let out a heavy sigh and meet Becca’s sneering gaze. “Becca is homeless,” I confess, my voice filled with guilt. “I found out by stalking her... and then accidentally let it slip to my mom.”

Becca points an accusatory finger at me. “But you were telling someone! And now I’m stuck living in your goddamn house.”

“What? No, that’s not what I wanted,” I protest, feeling a knot form in my stomach.

She shrugs nonchalantly. “Well, neither of us are happy about it now. You can thank yourself for that one. Maybe next time you’ll learn to keep your fucking mouth shut.”

Cat places a comforting hand on Becca’s arm. “I’m really sorry. That sucks.” Her eyes soften with understanding.

“Yeah,” Becca mutters bitterly.

Kaiden steps forward, his expression concerned. “What exactly happened?”

Becca lets out a weary sigh. “Danny will just tell you anyway... my mom kicked me out and sold the house. She’s always hated me.”

Cat purses her lips in sympathy. “Oh, you’ve got one of those too? Trust me, it’s best to just get away from her.”

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