you need to leave her alone.”
Cameron and Ethan smirked and shook their heads, practically laughing. “Mom and Dad won’t be happy about this one.”
Shit. Why didn’t I think of that? Now they’d definitely lock me up in the basement. I’d get my break from school and seeing Candra, but it’d be my parents’ decision, not mine. Cameron and Ethan turned on their heels and stalked off, back to Cameron’s car, I supposed.
“Mom and Dad? You’re their—” Candra’s words returned me to reality.
“Brother? Yes,” I confirmed for her.
She stared in the direction they departed. “Are they always like this?”
Did she really have no idea why they treated her differently? “You could say that.”
She peered up at me underneath dark lashes. “Well, uh, thanks for saving my ass, I guess.”
She didn’t know. Oh, wow. This changed everything. “Let me know if they bother you again.”
“I hope you don’t get into any trouble. I didn’t mean—”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. Trouble? She had no idea the amount of trouble I was in. “I’ll see you around.” I hated leaving her alone like that, out in the open, vulnerable, but my guess was that Cameron and Ethan had made their way back to the parking lot and headed home by now, leaving me stranded. It was going to be a long walk, maybe even a “walk of shame,” but the crazy thing was . . . I didn’t feel remorseful at all.
“The Fight”
If there was one thing I liked about this school, it was that gossip traveled quickly, which meant if my brothers were doing anything they weren’t supposed to, I’d know before the next class period. For instance, Cameron was in a fight with some kid in the next hall over at the moment. I was used to his antics by then, though; he was always brawling with someone so he could keep his macho status secured among the ranks.
What I wasn’t preparing for was Cameron cornering Candra against her locker. I caught the beginning stages of the exchange as I stood at the end of the hallway. Students gathered around, some stared at me, expecting me to play back-up to my brother. Most of them were too scared to jump in and stand up to him, because Cameron never lost a fight.
“You won’t last here,” I heard Cameron say.
“Excuse me?” Candra had this look on her face comprised of annoyance and fear.
Cameron leaned in close, almost like he wanted to kiss her. My fists clenched, and I felt an overwhelming urge to protect her, because she was in danger. It felt like she was mine.
“Get out of my face,” Candra ordered.
Cameron laughed. “You need to go far, far away, little one.”
“I’d love to go home, but until I graduate, I’m stuck here.”
He shook his head.
“What is your problem? I mean, what did I ever do to you?” Candra asked.
“Long story.”
“But I haven’t been here that long.”
“Oh, Candra, it’s painful how little you know. You have no idea what’s about to happen to you, yet everyone around you does.”
“You kicking my ass?”
He belted out a laugh. “Not even close.”
“So, wait, you’re not going to kick my ass? I’m confused.”
Oh, my God. I was right. She didn’t know about the prophecy, or why she was here. I couldn’t believe her family hadn’t broken the news. They owed her that much.
Cameron began to walk off, then glanced over his shoulder and said, “Tell Randy and Beth we’re coming for them. Soon. They won’t last this time.”
The sudden shift on Candra’s face wasn’t a good indication. She was highly pissed. Apparently, threatening the lives of her family was not the way to go on Cameron’s end.
“We’re?” she repeated.
Cameron continued down the hallway and responded without turning around, “Oh, yes.”
“Stay away from them. I don’t know what you’re up to, but you won’t get away with it!”
That did it. Cameron pivoted on his heel and stormed back to his spot in front of Candra. “I can get away with anything. Neither you nor that pathetic aunt and uncle of yours can stop me.”
“The police could.”
Poor thing. She had no idea my family controlled most of the city, including its employees.
“You really are new,” said Cameron.
“It’s not right.” I could almost hear her finish the sentence in her head: It’s not fair. She was about to receive a crash course in what was fair around here.
“Call the cops.” Cameron threw his hands up and paraded around the hallway, only causing more laughter. “I surrender.”
“I don’t know what