Empire High Betrayal Read online

  I watched Isabella stand up and walk over toward us.

  Shit. What was she doing?

  “And now she has to rub it in?” Kennedy groaned.

  I cringed as the sound of Isabella’s heels clicking drew closer and closer.

  “Hello, Matthew,” she said in her fake sugary voice as she put her claws on Matt’s shoulders.

  He turned to look up at her. “Isabella, you have five seconds to get your hands the fuck off of me.”

  “Or what? I thought you loved when I touched you.” She trailed her fingers down his bicep.

  I was going to be sick.

  Matt caught her hand and pushed it off. “You’re insane. If you haven’t heard the rumors, which I’m sure you have, I’m with Brooklyn. You’re done controlling my life. And contrary to whatever lies you want to tell, you and I were never a thing, Wizzy.”

  “Oh snap,” Kennedy said.

  Isabella laughed. “Yes, I’ve heard the rumors. You know Brooklyn slept with James, right? And then he even proposed.” She tilted her head to the side. “Wow, she has a ring and everything. She must be so excited to be Mrs. James Hunter one day.” She glared at me.

  Matt stood up. “Let’s make one thing very clear. You’re not allowed to talk to my girl. Ever again. I won’t allow it, and it’s against your dad’s rules too. Brooklyn, text your security.”

  “I’m not talking to her,” Isabella said. “I’m talking to you, Matthew. I haven’t broken any of Daddy’s rules. I’m absolutely certain of it. Talking to you isn’t talking to the trash. Oh, but I’m also talking to the trash’s friend.” She turned her attention to Kennedy. “Hey, girl. I heard you slept well this weekend.” She laughed.

  “Since when has drugging people been funny?” Matt said. “Wait. Don’t answer that. Just…don’t talk to Kennedy either. Did you really not get the hint when we ditched our usual table? We’re done. With you. And the Hunters. And anyone else who messes with our family.”

  “Your family?” Isabella scoffed. “That trash goblin isn’t your family. You’re a Caldwell for goodness sake.”

  “You should watch your tongue,” Mason said. He tilted his neck to the side, cracking it. “From here on out, Brooklyn is untouchable. She has your dad’s security now. And she has us. So you better run along back to your minions and go mess with someone else.”

  Matt and Mason both had my back. And they were right. I had the safety promised to the Pruitts and the Caldwells. I was the untouchable one. And Isabella was just…a demon person.

  I wanted to tell her that. I wanted to say something. Anything. But it was like my lips were frozen shut. Shh. Or else.

  “Wanna bet?” Isabella said. “Because I have a feeling that she won’t be with us for much longer. The poor girl literally had a target on her forehead when she walked into the cafeteria. I think her time is running out. Or maybe someone else’s is.”

  God. What the hell did she mean by that? I knew she was planning on cutting my head off. I got the message loud and clear. But someone else’s too?

  Isabella looked down at her watch like something terrible was about to happen any second.

  I was definitely going to be sick.

  There was static on the speaker system and all of us looked up.

  “Brooklyn Sanders, please come to the principal’s office immediately.”

  The words made my heart race. The last time I’d been called to the principal’s office…

  “Hmm,” Isabella said. “Looks like someone else from her family just died. Pity. I wonder who it was this time. Hopefully no one too important.” She turned on her heels and walked away.

  What? It felt like my heart was beating in my throat. Kennedy was here. And they would have called for her if something had happened to her mom. Matt and Mason were here. But she’d been talking about my bloodline. The only other family I had was…was Isabella’s family. Dad.

  She wouldn’t have.

  She couldn’t have.

  What the hell did she do?

  “I repeat, Brooklyn Sanders to the principal’s office.”

  I stood up, almost falling into Matt. He tried to steady me, but I pulled away.

  She wouldn’t have.

  She couldn’t have.

  “Brooklyn, it’s probably nothing bad,” Matt said. “She was just messing with you.”

  But I was already running.

  Chapter 17

  Tuesday

  Isabella wouldn’t have hurt her own father. That was insane. But she’s insane. I heard Isabella’s laughter echoing around in my head. I picked up my pace, ignoring my feet burning. Please be alive. Please.

  Matt caught up to me in the hall, grabbing me by the waist. “Hold on a second, Brooklyn.”

  “I can’t.” My tears burned the corners of my eyes.

  “You’re okay.” He held me so tightly that it almost hurt. Normally it would have been comforting. His strong arms were like a safe haven for me. But right now, I couldn’t breathe. I squirmed in his grip. I was running out of time.

  “Matt.” I could barely get his name out. All I could hear was a clock ticking down in my head. What had Isabella done? “She killed my dad.” The words bubbled up from my throat. And then I couldn’t stop them. “She killed him.” I kept saying it over and over again.

  “Isabella didn’t kill anyone, baby. It’s okay. You’re okay.” His breath was warm in my ear. It was usually as comforting as his arms around me, but right now I couldn’t breathe. His breath was too warm. His arms were suffocating me. It was too much.

  “She’s having a panic attack,” James said.

  I wasn’t even sure where he’d come from.

  “You need to give her room to breathe,” James added. “It’s okay, Brooklyn, just take a deep breath.”

  “I think I know what I’m doing,” Matt said. “You’re just making it worse. Get out of here.”

  “You’re the one making it worse,” James said. “Get off of her.”

  “I swear to God, James. Leave us alone.” Matt held me even tighter.

  “I can’t breathe,” I gasped.

  Matt let me go, like my words singed his skin. He was staring at me like I was broken. Like he broke me.

  “Brooklyn,” James said and put his hand on my back. “Take a deep breath.”

  He wasn’t supposed to be the one comforting me. I kept my eyes on Matt. He was hurt. And I wasn’t sure if it was because he thought he hurt me. Or because it seemed like I wanted James to help me calm down. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want any of this.

  “Breathe,” James said.

  I couldn’t handle James’ gentle touch. Or the look of torture on Matt’s face. Instead of taking a moment to catch my breath like James suggested, I started running again. I knew what I needed. And I needed my dad. I needed him to be alive and healthy. I needed to get Isabella’s words out of my head.

  I burst into the principal’s office.

  The school receptionist gasped.

  No. Please, please, no. I couldn’t lose anyone else. I couldn’t. I was gasping for breath as I put my hands on the desk to steady myself.

  “My word, what’s going on?” she asked.

  I tried to catch my breath. “Aren’t you supposed to be telling me that? Where’s my dad? Is he okay? Is he hurt?”

  “Dear, your father’s been waiting for you outside. Didn’t Isabella give you my note? Your father called this morning to let me know he wanted to take you out of school for lunch. I saw your sister walking by the office and gave her the early dismissal note.”

  What? “He’s alive?”

  “Of course. He’s right outside. He’s been waiting for a while, that’s why I made the announcement. I was just on the phone with him…”

  I ran out of the principal’s office. I heard yelling down the hall. James and Matt’s voices echoing in the empty hallway. I cringed. I didn’t want them to fight. I don’t want any of this.

  I pushed through the front doors of Empire Hi
gh. My dad was leaning against his town car, his cell phone pressed against his ear. He looked up at me as I ran down the stairs.

  “I’ll have to call you back,” he said and ended the call as he ran over to me. “Princess, what’s wrong? What happened?”

  I threw my arms around him and sobbed. And sobbed. And sobbed. I clutched at his perfectly pressed suit like he was my lifeline. “I can’t lose you,” I said through my tears.

  He ran his hand up and down my back. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise, princess.”

  He couldn’t promise that. No one could promise that. My whole body shook as I cried. But he didn’t seem to care that I was wrinkling his expensive suit. Or crying on his silk tie.

  “I thought she killed you,” I said. I was finally catching my breath as he held me.

  “What? Who?”

  “Isabella. She said she was going to end my bloodline. I thought…I thought…”

  My dad snapped his fingers at the bodyguard standing next to him. “Call Miller. Get him to remove Isabella from the school immediately.”

  “Yes, sir,” he said. He was already pulling out his phone.

  “No.” I tried to clear my thoughts when all I could think about was that my dad was okay. “You can’t. She’ll kill me.”

  “Isabella’s not going to hurt you.” He gently ran his fingers through my hair. “I promise.”

  Another promise that I wasn’t sure he could keep.

  “You’re shaking. Should I call Dr. Wilson?”

  “No,” I mumbled into his chest as I tried to catch my breath. “You can’t take Isabella out of school.”

  “Take a deep breath,” my dad said. “Can you do that for me?” He ran his fingers through my hair, just like my mom used to do when I was upset.

  I knew students were probably looking out the window at the weird new girl hugging her dad. And I didn’t care one bit. They could call me a prostitute behind my back. And draw targets on my forehead. And refuse to speak to me. But it didn’t matter what they did. Because I was the lucky one. I knew how fortunate I was to have a living parent that cared. And I’d hug my dad on the steps of Empire High whenever I got a freaking chance.

  “Just breathe,” my dad said.

  Eventually his words and his fingers running through my hair got my heart to stop racing. And my lungs filled again. I looked up at him. “Isabella didn’t actually say to me that she was going to end my bloodline. She didn’t speak to me all day. There was this note written in lipstick but I thought it was blood. It talked about the bloodline thing. And I freaked out. She had Cupcake draw a target on my forehead. And she kept running her fingers across her throat whenever she stared at me like she was going to kill me. The school receptionist gave her the early dismissal note to give to me. And she just used the opportunity to mess with my head. I thought she’d killed you. But she didn’t actually speak to me. Please don’t take her out of school. It’s just going to make everything worse. You taking my side always makes everything worse.”

  He shook his head and then looked up at the sky like he was searching for an answer to his problems. But there was no solution up there for his demon daughter. He slowly exhaled and then looked over to his bodyguard. “Text Miller back. Tell him to abort.” Then he looked back down at me. “Let’s go to lunch. We’ll figure out a solution together, okay?”

  I nodded.

  He kissed my forehead and then ushered me into the car. “You’re sure we shouldn’t stop by Dr. Wilson’s office?”

  “I’m sure.” I didn’t want to spend lunch in a doctor’s office. I wanted to spend it with him.

  “Well, make sure to write about this in your journal,” he said.

  “Dad.”

  His eyes always softened when I called him that.

  I wanted to tell him that I’d keep writing in the journal. That maybe something else was stressing me out. But it just wasn’t true. “I don’t need to write it down. I’ve only ever had a hard time breathing when Isabella threatens to kill me. I’m sorry,” I added when I saw the look on his face.

  “Princess, it’s okay.” He put his hand on top of mine. “I believe you. I’m sorry I pressed it. I was just hoping…” his voice trailed off. “We’re going to figure this out. I promise.”

  I wanted to believe him. But the more promises he made, the less I believed any of them.

  ***

  I expected for us to go to his country club. Or some swanky restaurant that had a huge waitlist. Instead, my dad’s town car stopped at a small corner diner.

  The inside was just as adorable as the outside. There were black and white checkered floors and red booths. The heat was turned up for the cool autumn day and the smell of grease hung in the air. It reminded me of a diner back home. My mom and I used to go to it all the time for milkshakes. Especially when I had bad days at school.

  The hostess greeted him by name with a friendly smile.

  Wait. He comes here frequently? I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. I thought there were house rules about carbs or something. Or was it junk food? God, I needed a copy of those rules.

  The hostess showed us to a booth and asked if he’d like his usual. He ordered two.

  I couldn’t help it. I just stared at him as she walked away.

  “This is one of my favorite places,” my dad said.

  “But it’s…” my voice trailed off. “It’s not very much like your apartment.”

  “I know, it’s refreshing right? I used to come here with your mom all the time.”

  I pressed my lips together. First the hidden apartment that had belonged to my mom. Now a diner they used to go to together? There were forgotten pieces of my mom scattered all over the city. And I was pretty sure my dad was the only one who remembered where they all were. “You kept coming here after she left?”

  “Actually, I bought it,” he said as he leaned back in the booth.

  “You bought it?”

  “It was a good investment opportunity.” He straightened the salt shaker so that it was perfectly in line with the pepper shaker, as if that was more interesting than our conversation.

  “That’s the only reason?”

  He stopped fidgeting with the seasonings. “I didn’t want them to change anything.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t get it. If you loved my mom that much, why did you let her leave?”

  “My business is dangerous, Brooklyn. It was better…”

  “I know. You’ve said that before. But you have enough money and resources to do whatever you want.” I gestured to the literal diner he bought to preserve his memories of my mom. “You said you can protect me. You could have protected her.” You could have protected us. If he’d stayed in my life, my mom might still be alive. There might have been something he could have done. Some procedure or…something. We’d needed him.

  “She wanted to go. I had to respect her decision.”

  I didn’t press him. I could tell that it had killed him to let her go. It may have killed my mom too. “I’m sorry. We don’t have to talk about that. Why did you want to have lunch?”

  “I wanted to give you an update on the new security system. Everything is already in place. But…”

  “Coffee for you too, hon?” a waitress asked. The smell of fresh coffee swirled through the air as she poured a cup for my dad.

  I’d always liked the smell. But never the taste. “No, thanks,” I said.

  She hurried off as quickly as she’d come.

  My dad wrapped his hand around his mug. “Your mom never liked coffee either. Just the smell of it.” He smiled at me.

  I didn’t know if he knew how hard these conversations were for me. The things I knew about my mom mixed with his memories. I wanted to hear everything but at the same time none of it because it made me miss her so much that it hurt.

  “You look so much like her,” he said.

  I looked down at the table. I didn’t want to cry anymore today.

  “Brooklyn, I kno
w I let your mom down. I’ve spent half my life missing her. I’ve been given a second chance to do this right. And I’m not going to make the same mistake twice. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.”

  When I’d first met him, I thought he hated me. But now I was pretty sure I was his only family member he even got along with. He loved my mom. And he loved me too.

  I knew I didn’t know him that well. But I did know that I needed him. Who else would keep me safe from Isabella?

  Chapter 18

  Tuesday

  I bit the inside of my lips until the tears that were threatening to spill went away. “You mentioned that the new security system is in place?”

  “I was hoping to give you the good news that you could come home,” said my dad. “But with Isabella…I don’t…I’m not sure it’s for the best.”

  “You mean you’re scared she’ll hurt me if I come back?”

  “I honestly don’t know.”

  I swallowed hard. He was always so certain. How was he not confident in his ability to control Isabella?

  “And then there’s the issue of your health. If Isabella really is setting off your panic attacks…it would be best to eliminate her from your life as much as possible. She’ll be going off to college next fall. Then you’ll be perfectly happy and healthy coming back home. But until then, we need to discuss some more suitable alternatives. My second apartment…”

  “Can’t I stay with Matt?”

  “I’m not on the best terms with Matthew’s father. I’m not sure if they’d be open to that arrangement. Plus the apartment has all the highest security…”

  “I don’t want to be there all alone.”

  “Of course not. I’d never let you be alone. Miller and Donnelley will always be with you.”

  I couldn’t even imagine what Matt would do if he found out I was supposed to basically be living with two other guys. Especially if he knew that I’d been involved with one of them. “Please, Dad. If I can’t live with you until next fall, please let me stay at the Caldwells’ until then. I don’t think they mind me being there. I could get a job to help pay for food and…”