Chapter 43

Chapter Forty-Three

Nova

Just being back down this street has chills rippling through my entire body. I talked a big game to Nikoa and told him I had this under control and knew exactly what I was doing. Truth is, I just wanted to get the fuck out of there and get this interaction over with. I didn’t expect to be driven back to this prison by Ezekiel, Hayze, Archer and Vivian, though. I only relented because they said Vivian needed a ride back to her place and they would be staying there with her until Vox got over himself.

I hate to admit it but I’m angry with myself for worrying about him. The look in his eyes tore me up inside, I have never seen him look at his sister the way he did earlier. Vivian may not realize it but she is the center of Vox’s world and he would do anything to make sure she is safe. Ezekiel pulls into Vivian’s driveway and kills the engine, but none of us make a move to get out. I peer out the window and stare at the house that is going to be my glorified cage for the foreseeable future until Nikoa can get the intel he needs.

“Nova?” I turn to look at Vivian who sits in the middle of me and Hayze. “Nikoa has a month to come up with the information and witness, if he can’t do it by then we will get you out and overthrow Thomas.”

I open my mouth to ask how, but Archer beats me to it. “How are you going to do that, Vi?”

Vivian shoots him a cold look before turning back to me. “I have a plan. The Saints hold a gathering once a year where you can challenge the lord and that is in a month. I have a plan and I promise it will work but I really hope Nikoa can beat me to it.” Her ominous words rub me the wrong way but I don't push her, I have too much on my mind right now to decipher that shit.

“You all good with the plan for school Monday?” I ask changing the subject. The four of them nod.

“Are you sure Nexus and Thomas will get your suspension overturned?” Hayze asks me.

“Yeah. Nexus texted me and told me that my collar was waiting for me and that his dad smoothed everything over with Nicole’s dad.” I don’t regret smacking that bitch around, she had it coming and so did her sidekick. I know Pam, Brandy and that slut are going to love every minute of my hell that Nexus is going to put me through until I turn eighteen.

“Here, take this,” Ez says as he hands me a phone. I stare at it for a second before flicking my gaze back to him.

“Why?” I ask.

“Because it’s a fucking burner with our numbers programmed into it. I guarantee you he is going to take your phone from you the second you step through those doors and I need to know I can reach you when I need to. I put the charger in your backpack.” I purse my lips and take the phone, stuffing it inside my bra and opening my door. Vi hands me my bag and shoots me a sad smile.

“I’m so sorry, Nova,” she whispers.

“Don’t be, just don’t get involved okay?” She sucks in a sharp breath. Hayze wraps his arm around her shoulders and shoots me a nod. “Look after her until I can finish this, yeah?”

“On my life,” Hayze vows.

“You watch your back. You stay as far away from that cunt as you can,” Ezekiel says through his open window. I shut the back door and face him. I take in the sight of him and sigh.

“I’ve grown up without you, I know what I’m doing.”

Pain flashes in his eyes at my words before he quickly masks it. “He touches you and all fucking bets are off.” I open my mouth to argue but he pushes on. “You may not like me, Nova, but I’ll be watching your back. I won’t let anyone hurt you, I swear.” I have no idea what to say to that or how to respond so I just nod and drag my sorry ass across the lawn. I stand in front of the front door, debating if I should knock or just walk in, but the decision is made for me when the front door swings open to reveal Nexus standing there with a smug smirk on his hideous face. His black hair is slicked back against his head, his green eyes are filled with malice. Unlike Vox and his friends, Nexus has no ink on his skin and always tries to act like he is superior but the reality of the situation is, Vox and the others don’t have to try, they are just superior.

“Welcome home, piggy .” I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from lashing out. He runs his gaze over me and I shiver in disgust. I hate Nexus with a passion so great that I can feel the blood heating inside me with the need for vengeance. He steps aside to allow me pass. I try to keep as much space between us, but the fucker presses forward so I brush against him. I wait in the entryway for him to lead the way. A part of me wants to escape out that door and run. “Let’s go, Dad wants to see you.” I follow him through the house to Thomas’ office. When I enter I can’t stop my gaze from straying to the file cabinet. Memories of the night two horns found me in here and fucked me against it assaulted me, sending a shiver of delight straight to my core.

“Hello, Nova.” I tear my gaze from the cabinet and look at Thomas. He sits behind his large desk with an evil glint in his eyes and a sadistic smile on his weathered face. I remain silent not wanting to say anything to this fucking monster. “After your little late graveyard meet up, I can assume that you now know the truth about who you really are?”

My nostrils flare as I inhale sharply. “Yes,” I force out.

“Good.” He motions for me to claim one of the seats in front of his desk. I want to refuse and tell him to go fuck himself, but I also know Thomas and his bastard son don’t make idle threats. I reluctantly do as I’m told. When Nexus claims the seat beside me, I shift as far away from him as I can. “You are going to have to get over your reluctance to be near my son.”

Before I can stop myself the words spew out of me. “That cocksucker killed my best friend!”

Thomas launches out of his chair and rounds the desk to stand before me. I ignore Nexus’ laughter from beside me, too wrapped up in the dark look in his father’s eyes. I expect Thomas to yell and throw around his big words of reprimand but what I don’t expect is for him to lash out and slap me so hard I topple off my chair. My ear rings from the force and my eyes fill with tears as I reach up and cover my cheek with my hand and stare up at the coward with hatred in my eyes.

“You’ll learn to keep that fucking mouth of yours shut or I will be forced to close it for you.” I bite my lip to keep from shouting at him. “My son let you get away with too much. My future daughter-in-law will learn that her place is to be seen and not heard. Learn that fast or Mother will pay the price for your fuck ups, am I clear?”

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Y-yes,” I choke out.

The psychotic fuck smiles down at me and nods. “Good. Now I have spoken to Principal Daniels and he has graciously agreed to overturn your idiotic suspension on the terms you apologize to his daughter and agree to stay after school every day to help clean up.” Anger unfurls inside me. “Of course I told him you would be more than happy to help.” When I remain silent his eyes narrow to slits. “Speak up!”

I flinch backward and nod. “Yes, I’ll do it.” I hate that one hit is all it has taken for me to turn into this meek little creature sitting on the floor in front of him.

“Perfect, you will travel to school every morning with Nexus. You are to obey everything he says?—”

“What if I don’t?” I ask before I can think better of it.

Thomas’ face contorts and I brace myself for him to lash out at me again but he doesn’t. Instead he reaches into his pocket and pulls his phone out and clicks a few buttons then turns the screen toward me. All the blood drains from my face and I turn ice cold at the sight of my mom in a white padded room, her hair is a mess of knots and tangles, the hospital gown she wears is filthy. When she lifts her head and stares up at the camera I die inside. The petrified look in her eyes destroys any humanity I have left inside me. Thomas locks the phone and tosses it on his desk.

“Now you know what is at stake if you try anything or those fucking idiots next door try to play heroes,” he snarls.

“I’ll do whatever you want,” I whisper brokenly as the first tear falls down my cheek. “I won’t step out of line. I’ll do as I’m told just don’t… hurt her, please,” I beg as more tears trail down my cheeks.

Thomas bends down in front of me. He reaches out and I flinch away from his touch, only to cry out when he grabs my hair and yanks me forward. The stench of his breath fans across my face, forcing me to breathe through my mouth or risk gagging in his face.

“Your whorish ways are over. The only person you are spreading those legs for is my son. Defy me once, just one fucking time, and you will never see your mother again. Am I clear?”

“Yes,” I breathe out.

“Yes, what?” he pushes.

“Yes, sir ,” I grit out through clenched teeth.

Thomas’ grip on my hair tightens and a whimper escapes me. “Get the fuck out of my sight,” he snarls and releases me with a hard shove. I scramble to my feet, ready to flee to my room but Nexus’ words have me halting in the doorway with my back to them.

“You stay in my room.” I take a deep breath and try to compose myself, before peering over my shoulder at him.

“I have to share with you?”

The smug look on his face has bile rushing up my throat. “Until we figure out who the fuck your masked fuck buddy is, we can’t trust you to stop being the town slut, so yes, you will sleep where I can keep an eye on you.” The anger brewing inside me is only held at bay by the knowledge that he doesn’t know who the Filthy Few members are. I keep the shock from splaying across my face, if this is true then they can still work behind the scenes and help me get my mom back.

“It’s not like we can trust you to be honest with who the masked man was. We did contemplate torturing your mother until you admitted it but…” Thomas lets his sentence trail off while I stand here gaping at him, wondering how a human being could be so cruel.

“Just in case it wasn’t clear before, whatever that shit was between you and Vox-fucking-Hatchett, it’s over now,” Nexus spits.

“That fucker is dead to me,” I snap.

“Good, he can be dead and in your past like Waylen.” My jaw unhinges as Nexus laughs. “Too soon?”

“I hate you,” I bite back as I fight to keep my tears at bay.

“Too fucking bad. You breathe a word about what happened to that fucker to anyone and your mother will be buried with him.” I didn’t think it was possible for me to hate Nexus more than I already do. but clearly I was wrong.

I need to warn Ezekiel and Nikoa about what I have just learned. If we play this right, we all might just get out of this alive.