“I found Miss Ross outside beating up Jesse Newman while he ,” she thumbed in Angel’s direction, “watched. He says he’s with her .” I could hear the disgust in her voice. Oh, God. Did she get the wrong idea? Did she think Angel was my boyfriend ? That would be insane since he’s seven years older than I am. He was turning eighteen next month, which would legally make him an adult even though he never acted the part.
“I think we should suspend her and ban him from school grounds—.”
Mr. Fields held up his hand, silencing her tirade. “I will handle this from here, Mrs. Rogers. Please return to your classroom.”
“But—”
“Now, Mrs. Rogers.” His tone was much harsher this time. Mrs. Rogers huffed, and stormed away, leaving a cloud of stale perfume and hair spray.
Once she was gone, Mr. Fields sat back, but he wasn’t paying attention to me. He and Angel were having a silent argument, and I was invited.
“What are you doing on my school grounds, Knight?”
Wait… They knew each other?
“Why was she attacked on your school grounds, Fields?”
Whoa.
Angel’s voice sent a chill down my spine. I shivered when the temperature in the room seemed to drop below zero. Mr. Fields appeared flustered despite it.
“I wasn’t aware of an altercation involving her had taken place.”
“It wasn’t an altercation. She was beat down. End of story.”
“Like I said—”
“I heard you the first time,” Angel cut in. “But her father didn’t pay you twenty grand so you could sit on your ass and not know shit. Someone had to be held accountable. You’re lucky it wasn’t you.”
Twenty grand?
Oh, crap.
I wasn’t even aware my father had that type of cash.
“Now just a minute, young man—”
“We’re done here. Mian is going to class, and you aren’t going to do shit but ensure this doesn’t happen again.” I watched, entranced, as Angel dominated a man at least three times his age. I felt heat on my cheeks and in my belly and didn’t understand how it got there.
“I won’t take orders from a child!” For the first time since we arrived, I saw Angel react, as infinitesimally as it was. His jaw ticked.
“I can call my father if you like?” Angel’s voice was calm and low despite the muscles working in his jaw.
“No. That won’t be necessary. I’ll take care of it.”
“I’m sure you will.” Without looking at me, he said, “Go to class, Mian.” I wasn’t sure why, but I hesitated until his head turned and repeated the demand with just his cold gaze.
I left the office and dragged my feet down the hall. I’d just turned the corner when I heard the familiar fearful cry of one Jesse Newman. Peeking around the white brick wall, I saw Jesse was trapped between Angel’s tall frame and the wall. He was bent low so that he could talk in Jesse’s ear. I strained to hear, but he spoke too low. A second later the hairs on my skin rose, and I realized I was being watched.
Jesse was gone, and Angel stood alone.
“Class,” he ordered before disappearing through the school doors.
Chapter Thirteen
A stolen son.
MIAN
Present
“This is a fine watch. Yes, indeed. I can tell a pretty penny was paid for this. Not a crack or scratch on the bezel. Eighteen-karat gold. Stainless steel…”
He continued to appraise the watch while Caylen slept in my arms. My patience was running low, waiting for the guy to finish eye fucking the watch and pay me.
We were hungry.
After leaving Caesar’s last night, I went home to more bad news. Not only did Caesar deny me a job, but Caylen had also caught a bug. This was the most peaceful he’s slept since last night when I arrived at Brandi’s to hear him screaming away his poor lungs. I’d heard him from the stairs since the walls were thin, and the few moments it had taken before Brandi opened the door with him struggling in her arms were the scariest. I took him away from her and checked him over for injuries while she looked on nonchalantly. I rushed back to my place before she could ask how the audition went.
Anna had still been out on her date with Joey, so I hoped that meant it went well.
“I can give you six hundred for it,” the shop owner grunted. I pushed aside my woes and glared at the shriveled up man with a receding hairline.
“That’s an eight-thousand-dollar watch. Six hundred isn’t even ten percent.”
“I’m trying to run a business here.”
“And I’m trying to survive.” I had no money and no insurance to pay for a doctor’s visit for Caylen. It broke me each time he’d fret and cry. I knew he was suffering and there was nothing I could do about it.
“Fine. Eight hundred.”
“One thousand or no watch.”
He continued to try to talk me down, but I refused every offer until he finally said, “Nine hundred. I can’t do more than that, and no one else will give you nearly as much.”
“Sold.”