Page 29 of Liars

Donovan raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as he ignored the behavior between Kreed and me. “Air? Is that what you call attempting to scale the wall and sneak out of the property?”

My mouth opened, then snapped closed. I had no defense, and the weight of his judgment was insufferable. If I hadn’t already embarrassed myself, I would have flipped Kreed off from across the table.

“It would be in your best interest,” my godfather continued, leaning forward slightly, “not to try that again.”

A shiver danced down my arms as I straightened in my chair, bristling at the warning in his tone as if a second attempt to sneak out without his permission would have consequences. I couldn’t lie; a part of me really wanted to test him, to see how far he would go, to see what kind of man my guardian was. Was he the all-bark-and-no-bite type? Something told me he would bite. “Why? Because you say so?” I challenged tartly.

Donovan’s eyes iced as his jaw tightened, not an ounce of regard or friendliness in his features. He didn’t expect me to obey out of concern but out of authority. “No. Because I believe there are people out there who would do you harm,” he stated flatly. “Who are looking for you.”

I blinked, my breath catching. “Me? What would anyone want with me? I’m not a threat. How can you be so sure?”

Amelia returned and set a carafe of coffee on the table in front of me with cream and sugar.

Donovan started to fill his plate, his expression unwavering. “Let me worry about that. You need to focus on school—getting back to normal.”

I frowned, picking at the fruit bowl, my appetite not where it should be. How the hell was I supposed to eat after a conversation like this? “Normal?” I squeaked. “You think I can go back to normal after everything that’s happened? My parents are dead!” I hadn’t meant to put so much emotion behind my words. It just poured out of me.

Donovan’s bite of eggs stopped halfway to his mouth. “I’m aware. But it won’t change the fact that you’re starting school on Monday morning.”

“Monday?” I repeated, dread pitting in my gut. “You expect me to go to school like nothing happened?”

Beside me, Maddox shoveled food into his mouth, leaving him little opportunity to get a word in.

Mason, on the other hand, smirked at me, seeming to enjoy the strife between his father and me. “Public just got a whole lot more interesting with you there.”

I wrinkled my nose at him, forcing a bit of pineapple into my mouth. It tasted sour.

“You need structure,” Donovan added firmly. “Routine. Life doesn’t wait for you to dry your eyes,” he replied. “You’ll go to school. There’s nothing left for you at Elmwood Academy. The sooner you accept that, the better. You’ve already met my sons, it seems. They’ll take you to school and show you around. I’ve already instructed the academy to send over your transcripts. Your classes will align with what you were taking as best as Public can accommodate.”

“Why do we have to take her?” Maddox complained. “Have Roman take her. We have practice after school.”

Roman?

I assumed he was my godfather’s driver.

“I’m sure Kaylor won’t mind waiting until practice is over. It will give her time to catch up on assignments. Do you watch football?” he turned and asked me.

“No,” I replied. “I like volleyball, though.”

Donovan raised an intrigued brow. “You were on the volleyball team at the academy?”

I nodded, moving my fork around on my plate.

“I’m sure Kreed could talk to the coach and get you an audition.” His attention shifted to his son across from me. “You were dating the captain. What was her name?”

“Fucking. He was fucking her,” Maddox corrected.

Donovan’s fist came down hard on the table, plates, glasses, and silverware rattling. I jumped in my seat, my gaze flying to the head of the table.

What the fuck?

“I was serious when I told the three of you things would change around here. And I meant it,” he stated, his stern voice filling the silence.

“Why do we have to change our lives because of her? We didn’t ask for her parents to get shot,” Maddox sneered, picking up his half-drunk glass of orange juice.

I sucked in a breath. How insensitive could he be? I got it wasn’t really me Maddox was pissed at but his father and the rules he set out, but it didn’t make his words hurt any less.

My head whipped to my right, and I stared at him. “You’re a prick.”

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