Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
But that didn’t make it any less the truth. He wasn’t a nice man. At all.
He was a judgmental asshole.
When they arrived at the school, she’d been in such a panic that she couldn’t even remember how to get to the admin building. Luckily, Steele was excellent in a crisis. She’d even told him he could put that on his CV if he ever needed to get another job.
Of course, then she’d realized he owned his own businesses. And there were rumors that he was also The Boss. But like she’d told him, she didn’t listen to rumors.
When they’d gotten to the admin building the secretary had given her a sympathetic look before taking them through. She’d really expected Steele to leave. She was convinced he had far more important things to do than stick around a high school.
What she hadn’t expected was for him to walk into the principal’s office with her.
The principal was a wizened older man who looked like he should have retired about twenty years ago. He was wearing a suit two sizes too big, and obviously no one had told him that mud-brown was not his color.
She was uncertain that mud brown was anyone’s color.
When they’d entered the room, he’d looked her up and down dismissively. Rude asshole. This school was the best in the city, and she’d been so happy when Brooks had won a scholarship to come here. But Effie hoped that he hadn’t been putting up with this sort of attitude from teachers and other students.
Brooks had been sitting off to the side, holding an ice pack to his face. She’d gone straight to him, gasping in shock at his black eye and the blood under his nose and on his white shirt.
She’d immediately demanded to know what had happened. And that’s when Mr. Cleary, the principal, told her Brooks was being expelled.
Like hell.
“Ms. Stephenson, this has nothing to do with being nice. He was caught fighting. That is against the rules of St. Augustine. And it is clearly laid out in the terms and conditions for his scholarship. We ask that he pack up his locker immediately and that you let us know where he is going so we can send his records there. Good day.”
She just gaped at him. Inside, she was quailing, she wanted to run and hide. But this was Brooks. No one messed with her kid.
She felt Steele come up behind her and place his hand on her lower back.
“Maybe you want to tell us what happened before you start laying down judgment,” Steele told him gruffly.
“What happened won’t change the outcome,” he said huffily. Although he was eyeing Steele nervously.
Steele’s touch gave her the boost of courage she needed.
“Actually, I think we have the right to know what happened,” she said. “Brooks? Were you fighting, honey?”
“I fought back when I was ambushed by three guys.”
“You were ambushed?” she whispered. She tried to rush over to him again, but Steele grabbed her around the waist, squeezing with his hand.
Right. They needed to hear the rest of the story. Then she could fuss over him.
“I was walking along the hall after school when I heard these three guys picking on Stella. They were making fun of her. Calling her names. So I stepped in and told them to leave her alone. They got in my face. One of them reached out to touch her and I pushed him back. That’s when Darrin, he’s the leader of their little group, hit me. Then they all attacked.”
“Three boys attacked you? And are they expelled?” she asked the principal.
“There is no evidence that they attacked him first. They said that he started it. He provoked them and threw the first punch. That he went crazy and they were just defending themselves. They also said they weren’t bullying the young lady in question.”
“What?” she said faintly. “Well, where are they? Where is she?” Her heart raced with fear and anger. How dare these boys lie? And why did the principal believe them over Brooks?
Actually . . . she knew exactly why.
“Effie, it’s all right,” Brooks said. Getting up, he came to her. “Everything will be all right.”
“Actually, it’s not all right,” Steele said. “I’d like to see these boys and that girl. Get their side of the story.”
“And who are you?” the principal asked snootily right before the door to the office slammed open and two boys walked in.
They were identical, but not. Oh, their features were the same, but one of them had his dark hair longer and messier. His blazer was open and so were half of his shirt buttons. She could see a T-shirt underneath. His shoes were scuffed and there was a wicked grin on his face.
Trouble. Total trouble.
His brother, on the other hand, was dressed impeccably. His hair was cut shorter and styled. He had his blazer buttoned, shirt done up with a tie, and there wasn’t even one scuff mark on his shoes.