would all be fake. Meanwhile you’d come up with another excuse to break my heart into a million pieces saying you had no choice. Go to hell, Nixon. Actually…” I laughed. “Don’t. Because I’ve been living there for the past three weeks. Just stay away from me.”
I grabbed my books and left class. The last image I had of him was his forehead pressed against his hands as his face contorted into a mixture of pain and regret. Good. Let him hurt as much as he hurt me.
Once in the hallway I reached for my necklace. Maybe I was being ridiculous, but since Nixon had warned me not to wear it, I found great pleasure in doing the opposite of one of his orders.
I pulled the cross from beneath the collar of my pressed white shirt and sighed. “Grandma, I wish you were here.”
“Grandma?” A dark voice was from beside me.
Oh no.
I looked up and directly into Phoenix eyes.
His smile was pure evil. “Grandma?” he repeated. “Would that be Grandma Alfero?”
I laughed him off and briskly started walking past him. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I quickly pulled out my phone and sent Chase a text that said 911.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Phoenix moved to stand in front of me. I turned around and started walking in the other direction, but he jogged in front of me. His arms came out to brace my shoulders. His fingers dug into my flesh as he slammed me against the wall. Why did I have to leave class!
“Talk.” His lips almost brushed mine. I tried to jerk away from him, but it was impossible. He was too strong.
“Or not.” He grinned. “We could always do some other things… word around the school is you’re used goods. Once I’m done with you, you’ll forget all about Nixon and be screaming my name instead.”
I kicked him, but he just laughed and grabbed my arm, dragging me down the hall with him.
I began screaming for help but the kids in the hallway just laughed as Phoenix added, “She likes it rough.”
“No, No! Please! Please help me!” I was frantic, clawing at his arms as he used all his strength to pull me out of the building and toward the Elect headquarters.
“Stop! Phoenix! STOP!” I dug my heels into the ground, but he just laughed and pulled me harder. I tripped over my own feet and went sailing into his arms.
“That’s more like it,” he said gruffly. “You think you’re so perfect just because of who your family is? Do you even know who I am?” He jerked my head close to his mouth and yelled it into my ear. “And all because of you I’ve lost the chance to be with Nixon’s family! My connections? Gone. My money. GONE! Wanna know why?”
I tried to shake my head.
“Because the De Langes aren’t a for sure thing. Our money isn’t good enough. But Nixon’s? His name? It’s freaking gold and you went and ruined everything by batting your damn eyelashes. You’re a freaking whore just like your mom…”
He slapped me across the face and pulled me through the door into the Elect headquarters.
I hoped in vain Tex would be in there with Mo. They’d been inseparable since they started dating. But it was empty. I started pressing buttons on my cell in hopes that it would call someone, anyone.
“What are you doing?” Phoenix grabbed my phone just as it rang. “Answer it. Tell him you’re fine.”
I shook my head no.
Phoenix pulled out a knife. “Answer it or I’m going to make a permanent mark on your face.”
With shaking hands I took the phone and answered. “Hello?”
“Trace?” It was Chase. “Are you okay? Nixon said you left class and… Trace are you crying?”
“No.” I tried to keep my voice chipper.
“But you texted 911, usually that means you’re either upset or someone called you a whore again…”
I gulped, my eyes on Phoenix’s knife. “Um, Chase, I gotta run. I’m going to go back to my room to take a nap.”
Chase was silent. “Trace.”
“Yeah?”
“How hot is it in Arizona?”
“Scorching,” I answered tears blurring my vision.
“Shit.” Chase hung up.
I handed the phone back to Phoenix who threw it against the wall, shattering it into pieces.
“Think you know all our little secrets just because you’re an Alfero?” Phoenix pushed me against the wall and laughed. “Where’s Nixon now? Is he going to save you? Where was he when your parents died? Oh right, he was too young, unable to