SWNOVELS Cruel King: Chapter 31
No one messes with what’s mine and lives to talk about it.
On late Monday morning, I’m on my way to my car when Aiden, Xander, and Cole block me.
“What is it now?” I massage my temples against the pounding of the hangover.
The weekend was basically all about addictions. First, the high of adrenaline during the game, then alcohol and cigarettes.
I might have gone too far in the shots battle with Ronan. He better be feeling worse than I do.
Coach will kill me if he sees the hangover face.
“You didn’t see?” Xander asks.
What a fucking shit show on a Monday.
“He doesn’t have social media,” Cole jabs Xander.
“Is any of you dickheads going to tell me what’s going on or do I need to start punching first thing in the morning?” I pat my back pocket for my cigarettes.
Seems I burned through my last stash yesterday. Another addiction spiralling out of control.
Fucking perfect.
“Promise that you’ll remain calm,” Aiden says.
I nod absentmindedly. I’m in the mood to say fuck the school and go back to sleep.
“Here goes nothing.” Xander holds his phone for me.
My shoulders turn rigid as I stare at the two photos of Astrid. She’s not naked, but the shots don’t leave much for the imagination.
I yank Xander’s phone and study the pictures.
“It could be photoshop,” Cole says in an uncertain tone.
“No, that’s me.” I tilt my head to the side, trying to figure out where the fucker stood while taking the pictures.
The first picture looks like it’s been taken outside the left window.
The second picture was taken somewhere near the car park’s elevator.
Whoever did this is fucking over.
“You promised.” Aiden clutches my shoulder and presses down hard. I don’t know if he’s trying to keep me in line or he’s simply stopping me from going berserker.
I won’t do this with rage. No. That will make things messy. This one will be done with so much fucking calm, they’ll wish I was angry instead.
“Have you seen her at school?” I ask.
“You won’t like this, Captain.” Cole stares between me and the other two. “She did show up with Danny and she looked like she knew.”
I kick a nearby pole, not caring for the pain exploding in my toes. Of course, she showed up. Astrid isn’t the type who runs away.
I’m going to fuck up Daniel’s face for letting her go through that.
“How bad was it?” I ask them.
“Aside from the slut and whore remarks…” Xander trails off. “Some made suggestive remarks her way.”
Those fucking arseholes are dead.
No one messes with what’s mine and lives to talk about it.
“We’re going to teach the fucking school a lesson.” I’m about to head to my car when a black BMW screeches to a halt beside mine.
Daniel barges out with a fuming face and his hands clenched into fists.
I look past him, expecting Astrid to come out of the passenger seat.
When she doesn’t, the weight that’s been perching on my chest since Friday becomes heavier.
“Where is she?” I ask him.
“That’s what I ought to ask you, King,” he snarls.
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“After her accident, the shrink said she needed to get out of her shell and I so foolishly believed you’d give her that, but this is over the fucking line. Even for you, Captain.”
He lunges at me but Aiden yanks him back by the shoulder. “Back. Off.”
“You think I did this?” I ask with an incredulous tone. “If I wanted to ruin her reputation, I would’ve done that at the beginning, not now.”
“She has been through hell and back. She doesn’t need your shit, too,” Daniel spits out, struggling against Aiden and Xander. “If you can’t be man enough for her, then leave her the fuck alone. I’ll find her and you’re no longer welcome near her. I don’t care if you remove me from the team. Actually, I quit. You can take my position and shove it up your arse.”
I stalk towards him until I’m a small distance away. “Go back. What do you mean by you’ll find her?”
“She ran away from school two hours ago and I can’t find her anywhere.”
I push Aiden and Xan out of the way until I’m toe-to-toe with Daniel. “Where the fuck is she?”
“I checked her home, Ally’s, the park, and the school’s art studio, but I couldn’t find her anywhere.”
“You didn’t search hard enough.”
“Those are the only places she frequents.”
“There must be places you’re forgetting.” My voice raises and so does my temper.
“If she wants to run away.” Aiden’s gaze slides from me to Daniel. “She won’t choose a place she can be found in.”
“Ask Ronan to throw a party,” I tell Aiden. “I want the entire school invited.”
I’ll find Astrid and the whole school will know the consequences of fucking with what’s mine.