Bully King - J.A. Huss Page 0,99
can’t buy people. And I know you probably think that’s funny, and the rules don’t apply to you, but freedom isn’t a rule. It’s just a God-given right.”
“That’s why I paid you first. If you don’t want to be here, walk out.”
“So you can torture Sophie instead?”
“I don’t give a fuck about Sophie. I don’t want her to kill herself, and that’s why I let her go home all week. She started threatening me with suicide that very first night. And I’m just not gonna deal with that shit.”
“You left pills out for her to find.”
“Says who? Sophie? The girl in the psych ward right now? Listen, I’m sorry I tried to suck your tits that first day. I was wrong. OK? I was… caught up in the moment and Ax taught me a lesson. And I’m sorry for bullying you this summer. But I didn’t do anything worse than Cooper Valcourt did. In fact, my brand of bullying doesn’t even come close to his.”
He’s got my attention now. And I hate that. Because I’ve never seen a rational Dante. I’ve only seen… well, what he’s wanted me to see.
“Do you accept my apology, Cadee?”
I shrug, then sigh. “Sure. Whatever.”
“I’m not your enemy. I’m trying to figure this shit out, just like you.”
“That’s not true, Dante. You’ve been against all of us this summer.”
“Really? What did I do? I got caught up in a moment with you in front of the wrong guys. It’s obvious that Cooper, Ax, and Lars still like you. Fine. I’m not here to lure you away from them. And I made the first mistake. I own that. But Cooper turned me into his little scapegoat. I don’t understand how you can even look at him after what he did to you.”
I turn my head away. “You don’t have any idea what Cooper Valcourt did to me.”
“No?”
“I’ve heard the rumors.” Then I look at him again. Right in the eyes. “They’re not true.”
He sits back in the booth and shrugs. “Whatever. I’m not here to make you spill your secrets. It’s none of my business. I’m here because I want to tell you the truth. And then you can judge me all you want. You can walk out, Cadee. Walk away. You have more than enough money. If you need a good financial planner, I know a guy who can stretch that money out for twenty or more years if you live frugally. I can help you make this all go away. I can help you get the life you deserve. But you’d have to walk away never knowing. That’s the catch.”
“Never knowing what?”
“The truth. I just told you, all I want to do is tell you the truth.”
I hesitate, unsure if I should even be having this conversation with him. It feels a little bit like making a deal with the devil.
But it also feels like he has a bird’s-eye view of a very big picture. And I hate to even think this, but this Dante sitting across from me in the Rib Shack seems to know exactly what he’s doing. He’s dripping with confidence. “What do you get out of it?”
He smiles. “Power. Cooper is on his way out. He doesn’t even want to be King.”
“And you do.”
“And I do.” He laughs a little. “A freshman King at High Court? It’s unheard of. Four entire years of power.”
“I find that to be a little bit sick, Dante. I’m not gonna lie.”
“That’s because you’re a good person, Cadee. And I’m not. I’m Dante Legosi. My lot in life is pretty much set. And that’s fine. Whatever. But if my family—if all these High Court lake-house families—think I’m just gonna settle for table scraps?” He shakes his head. “They don’t know me at all.”
I’m starting to think no one really knows Dante Legosi.
“Did you force Sophie to have sex with you?”
“What?” He laughs.
“You said she’s not a virgin anymore.”
“Yeah. Because she let Michael pop her cherry on Tuesday. She told me that. Threw it in my face.” He huffs. “Like I wanted her for that. Please. Sophie is a cute girl. Very sweet. But so not my type.”
Could this be true? Did we all… misunderstand Dante?
“Listen,” he says. “I’m not gonna sit here and pretend to be a good guy. I’m not. I’m a total dick. And I’m fine with that. Someone has to play the role of villain. But if you want to hate me for it, at least get the facts straight.”
“What are you