Bully King - J.A. Huss Page 0,11

move-out day problems, anyway. They pay no attention to me, or the fleeing Cadee Hunter, who now finds herself running straight towards Lars and Ax.

She either doesn’t believe that they will grab her for me or she didn’t hear me. Because she practically walks right into their waiting grips.

“What the hell!” She whirls on them, like a ferocious little rat.

God, I hate this girl. She almost ruined everything three years ago. It took me weeks to convince her to shut her fucking mouth and do what I said.

“Let go of me!”

But they don’t let go. Lars grips both her arms behind her back and Ax gets that gleam in his eye that means he’s found a target. Someone to unload on. He leans into her ear as I come up behind them and says, “Be a good little girl now, Cadee. Or I’ll put a leash on you and walk you through the gardens like a bitch.”

She recoils from him.

“All right,” I say, knocking him off her. “That’s enough.” But then I take Cadee’s hand and squeeze it. Hard. As I drag her into the gardens with me.

She tugs, and resists, and digs her feet into the gravel. “Let go of me! Let go!”

I jerk her towards me so hard, she does a little twirl and her back crashes into my chest. I hug her. Tight. Almost bear-hug her from behind. So that we almost look like a couple who stopped in the garden to gaze at the roses.

But I hiss my words into her ear. “You will calm the fuck down and be rational, do you understand me? There’s a lot more at stake here than you can possibly realize.”

She growls back. “Let me go. Right now. Or I will scream so loud—”

I let her go. But I push her away from me. Just in case she goes through with her threat anyway. The last thing I need is stupid Cadee Hunter fucking my day up even worse.

She whirls around to glare at me. “I’m going home.”

And then she turns in place a few times, like she’s confused as to where she is. Which might actually be the case, because we’re on the college side of campus and she must not come over here much. That’s why I haven’t had to look at her stupid face for three years.

But she figures it out and starts heading back towards the Prep side of things where the Alumni Inn is located. And her tiny attic apartment.

“Great,” I say, throwing up my arms and looking at Lars.

“What the hell is going on?” he asks.

“My father. That’s what.” Then I glare at Ax. “Great idea, by the way. Telling me to go back up there.”

“What happened?” Ax asks.

“He…” But I don’t actually know how to explain it. “She… she’s supposed to move in to the mansion. And I was ordered to get her settled.”

Lars bellows a laugh. “Holy shit. That’s funny. Crazy Cadee is moving in with your father?”

“No,” I scoff.

But then… maybe? Maybe that’s what that was? He did like… kiss her hand. In front of me. That’s fucking weird.

But I do have to admit that it would still be better than him finding out I talked Cadee into getting a secret abortion three years ago.

My phone dings a text in my pocket and when I pull it out and look at the screen, it’s from my father: I want a picture of Cadee settled into her suite in thirty minutes.

I turn around and look up at his office window. Find him standing there looking at me. Then I whirl around and start walking towards the gate that leads to the Prep side of campus.

“Where are you going?” Lars jogs to catch up with me and Ax comes up on the other side.

“To get her.”

I can sense that Lars and Ax are as confused as I am. But they don’t say anything else.

I start jogging and they keep pace. And when we finally make it over to the other side of campus where the inn is located, we spot Cadee opening the back door of the old brick building and disappearing inside.

When we get to the door, I put a hand up and stop Lars and Ax. “Wait here. I’ll get her.”

“Should I find a leash?” Ax asks. “Just in case.”

I almost laugh. “Maybe?”

This makes Ax smile. Which is good. He’s having a bad day too. We’re all having a bad day. And Cadee seems to be doing her best to make