Page 103 of A Lesson in Obedience
My dad shook his head, slapping his hands on his knees. “He needs to be dealt with. He can’t manipulate a young boy into doing his dirty work. He can’t just…”
I stood up, causing them to tilt their heads up to look at me. “For now, he can.Nakakatakot siya, Dad, but we’ve got this. Can you please trust me?”
My mom got up from the couch and puffed her chest out, almost trying to size me up. “You just told us an entire story about how you’ve been keeping things from us and now you want us to trust you to take on a grown man who’s been basically…what’s the word...” she snapped her fingers and looked at my dad who shrugged. Her eyes lit up when she had what she wanted to say. “Stalking his daughter, and trust you to make everything better?”
I searched around the room for a good, solid answer to her very valid question. “Yes.”
They both sighed, knowing that no matter what they said, I’d continue to do what I wanted. I plucked my phone from my pants and checked the time. “He manipulated more than just me and I can’t stand by and let that continue to happen, okay?” I walked around them to head for where I left my shoes.
“We can’t stop you, but I will be a nervous wreck the whole time. Give me Riley’s mother’s number. I need someone to discuss the actions our children are taking.” She pointed to my phone and I did what she asked. I leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.
“I’m sorry for not telling you the truth. I just don’t like burdening you with things, especially when you’ve already done so much for me.”
My dad huffed. “You burden us even more when you keep your mouth shut. You worry about us, hell, we worry about you.Anak ka namin. End of story.”
I gave my dad the biggest hug and then pulled away, letting myshadows wrap around my legs as I prepared to leave. “I love you guys. I’ll be safe, I promise.”
“Pssst.” That sound coming from my mom’s lips grabbed my attention. It always did, even when something else had my sole focus. She grabbed my shoulders and made me bend down so she could kiss my forehead. “Your scholarship is as important to you as it is to us, but if you’d gotten it taken away, we would have figured something out. We should have known something was up when it all happened and that’s on us. School is important, but so is your well-being. We’ve always known that and I hope you know that now too.”
I held in my emotions, not because I didn’t want to cry, but because I needed to be vigilant for Riley’s sake. “I love you a lot, Mom. Please do what the wolves say if it comes down to it.”
She wiped small tears from underneath her eyes and waved me off. “I’m still your mother. Don’t tell me what to do.Tulungan mo ang girlfriend mo”
I landedbehind a tree and when I looked around it, the witches were farther away than I’d hoped. I couldn’t hear much of what they were saying but I spotted Riley and Corrin the minute they walked up. I started to muster up my shadows so I could move closer, but I heard a cracking branch and looked over my shoulder.
Red eyes appeared from beyond some trees, and I sighed a breath of relief knowing it was Mateo. A noticed a few other yellow eyes that came and went as I scanned the area around me but at least I knew they were there. I shadowed closer to where the witches convened. I leaned against a tree and watched Riley from afar. As if on cue, she looked over in my direction. She looked like she was staring right at me, but she couldn’t know my exact location, could she?
She tilted her head to the side and tucked one of her braids behind her ear, looking away. Some of the other witches came over to greet them, one of them far too cheery for my liking. I watched them talk and it looked casual, but not exactly friendly. Corrin stepped in between Riley and one of the other girls. A cluster of other witches started to come over, curious on what the issue was.
A taller female, which I had to assume was the coven leader, started putting their hands up and talking to Riley and then turning her head to speak to the other one.
Wait. I recognized that other girl. She was the one from Leif’s. The one that I think tried and failed at hitting on my best friend.
My fingernails dug into the bark of the tree trunk as I leaned in, trying to focus my eyes on what I was seeing. I was still a little too far away to hear anything, but I honestly didn’t need to. My eyes widened when I noticed this girl get in Riley’s face and Corrin had to push her away.
The girl came back with a force and Riley started yelling back while Corrin kept trying to grab her arm and lead her to another area. I watched as Riley fidgeted and rubbed her hands together, but what I didn’t notice was her slip off her dampener.
In a matter of seconds, the other witch was clutching at her throat, falling to her knees. Her body was shot back, through the crowd of witches and slammed into a tree. If Riley was apologetic or stunned by any of it, her face didn’t show it.
38
Riley
EARLIER
My dad’s office had been completely changed and the longer I sat in here, the more I wanted to rip the wallpaper apart and flip the desk over. I would relish watching all of Lena’s ugly figurines break into a million pieces on the ground. I looked down at my phone and saw multiple texts from the guys.
RIVER
If you get uncomfortable just leave. I’ll come pick you up. Asher might not love it, but it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
I stifled my laugh, not wanting to alarm the liaison while she shuffled some papers, getting my file together.
GRAYSON
I’ll be waiting for you later, okay? You want out of this meeting and I’ll shadow you out of there. Fuck the school rules.
A small smile crept onto my face.
