Trouble at Brayshaw High - Meagan Brandy Page 0,75
cabin—”
“Quiet,” Perkins cuts him off, gaping at him.
The cabin?
My eyes narrow in thought.
What the boys stole...
They have what Perkins wants back!
“I want you to bring it to me. I never should have trusted you with it in the first place,” Perkins says.
Collins pushes back, inching into his face now. “Why the sudden need for it, huh?” he goads, tipping his head like he’s onto whatever Perkins is freaking out about. “You were all for me locking it away before. What, does her going back to them cause you problems?”
“It’s you and your inability to keep the trash around for longer,” Perkins snaps back instantly. “Apparently, you’re inept at charming even the lowest of low.” That’d be me. “This won’t happen the way we hoped, so I need to speed things up to protect my own.”
Wait, what the hell are they talking about?
“You’re a damn fool,” Collins spits. “Why are you even doing this? He’ll never fucking forgive—”
“This is not about forgiveness!” Perkins shouts, quickly looking down the hall and I jerk back. “I don’t need to explain myself to you. All I know is, if Donley finds that paper before all is said and done, I will end you myself,” he hisses. “You’re turning out to be as worthless as your father claimed.”
Who the fuck is Donley?
I peek again, right as Collins moves to grip him by the suit jacket, shoving him against the lockers. “Watch your fucking mouth, Uncle.”
My eyes shoot wide.
Uncle?! Holy shit!
“You’re lucky I fixed it for you before it blew up in your damn face, trying to hide this was stupid on your part!” Collins shouts.
“But it works out fucking lovely for you, doesn’t it? You end up with what you want! You should be thanking me!” Perkins jeers back.
An evil chuckle leaves Collins and he says, “You might have clued me in where I was left out, but you need to stop trying to squeeze your way back. You were nixed from the name and plans eighteen years ago when you went after the trash’s mom and ruined a bulletproof plan of business, that had already been solidly fucking agreed to!”
“It was supposed to be—”
Collins cuts Perkins off, “And it wasn’t! And now my life is fucked, we’re the underdogs when we were supposed to become equals. You fucked that up! I’d be standing strong beside them if it wasn’t for you!”
Become equals? With the boys? How?
Perkins laughs lightly, and Collins draws back. “Yeah, you could have had that. You could have had all that leading up to this point. But don’t stand here and cry about it, kid. We both know your eye is on a new prize now. It’s not about what you want anymore, but who, and I’m the one making sure this happens.”
“Yeah, to protect someone you shouldn’t care to.”
“Don’t start your shit with me again,” Perkins fires back.
“I don’t know how you expect this to work!” Collins shakes his head. “They’ll never allow it.”
“They won’t have a choice,” Perkins counters. “Rolland Brayshaw will make it right. Why do you think she’s here?”
“And if he doesn’t?” Collins questions him. “If for some reason his plan is different from what you’ve assumed?”
Perkins smirks, complete confidence seeping through. “She will make the choice herself, once she learns the alternative.”
What. The. Fuck.
My heart starts hammering in my chest as I try to make sense of what they’re saying. I have to be the “she” they’re talking about.
So, Rolland does have a plan for me?
Collins steps away, his frown deepening.
I shoot back around the corner, pushing against the wall.
What the hell is going on? Does Perkins seriously think I’d choose Collins over my boys?
And why would he think that?
Fuck Collins, fuck Perkins, and fuck Rolland Brayshaw!
“You need to go before they get wind you’re here, Rolland pulled your transfer the minute his son went to jail. Guarantee one of their watchers spotted you the second you stepped from your car,” Perkins warns him.
Collins says nothing back, but what can only be described as a fist hitting a locker echoes through the empty hall, followed by retreating footsteps and the slam of a door.
I wait a minute or two to be sure they’re long gone and continue for the girl’s bathroom.
As soon as I push inside, I’m gripped by the wrist, swung around, and slammed against the long mirror.
I try to push off, but Collins is ready for it, grips me harder and slams me back a second time, my head rebounding against the broken glass.