Page 25 of The Devils They Are

"Tone, Ms. Spencer," he growls. "Now, as I have said, this is your final and only warning. You will behave while at Willowbrook or else we will have no choice but to pull your temporary enrollment. At this point in the year, that would likely mean not graduating."

I stand up, dropping my arms to my sides. "I'm not afraid of a shakedown, Dean Lannister. We came into Willowbrook agreeing to peace, but if your students try to force our hand, we will retaliate."

His sharp green eyes remind me so much of Hunter's. It's easy to tell they are related. Especially with the glare he's giving me right now—like father, like son.

"One more word, Ms. Spencer and the disciplinary action will increase to two weeks. You're excused."

There's a threat in his tone, one that as our current educational supervision he can't voice. But I can read between the lines well enough.

Scooping up my bag, I don't bother to close the door behind me. Ms. Stuck Up Power Suit can do it.

She grunts in annoyance as I skip down the stairs to the now empty hallway, and I do everything to control the rage threatening to break loose.

I was going to play nice. This didn't have to be difficult. But the time for pleasantries is over.

“The arson report came back,” Arch announces, dropping a piece of paper on the desk in front of me.

Intrigued, I pick it up, quickly scanning the words.

Fire is estimated to have affected at least forty percent of Cedar Height Academy's structure. Extensive damage was found in the administration office, with traces of accelerant. There appears to have been multiple sources of initial ignition spots. One in the administration building, one in the library, and one in the main Ridge wing where majority of classrooms are situated.

Investigators obtained a copy of footage from the night of the attack. However, footage appears to have encountered technical difficulties. Recording ceased approximately thirty minutes before the fire initiated.

"Well, that just confirms what we already suspected," I sigh.

Archie slumps into the seat across from me. The library is oddly quiet for the middle of the day. Besides us, there's a few other Cedar students lurking around, but not a single Willowbrook face.

"Yep," he answers. "Cops have put out a statement requesting people come forward with information—"

"But they won't," I finish. "Willowbrook twits protect each other."

He nods. "What did they have to gain from it though? That's what baffles me. They didn't want us here."

"Maybe they didn't expect we'd be shoved here. Probably just trying to stop us all from graduating."

Arch leans back in his chair. "So, what was this morning about?"

I give him a look somewhere between a smile and a sneer. "Detention for a week for snapping acrylic nails."

"What?" he asks, perplexed. "From last week?"

"Yep," I grumble. "I suspect it's to do with ignoring Beckett's request and the fight at the warehouse. They are punishing me."

"Did you tell them about your bag?"

Laughing, I raise an eyebrow at him.

He sighs in defeat. "Good point. Wait," he pauses. "Circle back. What message from Beckett?"

"It doesn't matter," I finish. "It just means we're going to start hitting back. I'll put a post in the Facebook group later."

"Bex," Arch warns.

I lean forward, lowering my voice. "Arch," I mimic his tone. "If we don't do something now, then they are going to think they got away with it. They won't just be coming for me. Everyone will be a target."

"We need to play it safe though. If you're on the dean's radar, it's just going to make things worse for you."

His worried expression is wholesome. It's nice to know he's worried about me—I'm not though.

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