Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
“It is,” Royal said. “What’s more, we have proof. Oh, and we also have proof that Stella and Brooks’ are telling the truth.”
“How do you have that?” Mr. Cleary asked. “Were you there?”
“Nope,” Baron said. “But my brother is great at surveillance and we have camera footage.”
“You put cameras in my school?” Mr. Cleary gaped at them. “Tell me why I shouldn’t expel the two of you!”
“Well, you might want to rethink that when we tell you that we’ve got a camera in here,” Royal stated.
The principal suddenly went pale and sat back in his seat.
“I’m guessing you have something more on this idiot than him taking money from some of the parents?” Steele asked.
What was happening here? She didn’t even know. She looked to Brooks, who was staring at Royal and Baron like they were gods.
“I . . . I . . .”
“Here’s what is going to happen,” Steele said calmly. “You’re not going to expel Brooks. You are going to expel those three boys.”
“I . . . I can’t! I took their money.”
Steele shrugged. “Far as I can see, that’s your problem. Before these two came in, I was going to get nasty. You cause any problems for Brooks or Royal and Baron, you answer to me. And I can guarantee I am far scarier than those boys’ dads. You understand me?”
His voice was cold and dark. Effie shivered, glad he was on her side. Because if that voice was ever aimed at her, she was pretty certain that she’d pee herself.
In fact, she thought that the principal might well have done that.
“I said, do you understand?” Steele barked.
Mr. Cleary jumped, then nodded frantically.
“Good. Let’s go.”
The three boys immediately headed out the door, but she stood there, glaring at the principal. She couldn’t believe that he was taking bribes. That he was going to kick her kid out for doing the right thing simply because she didn’t have the money to line this asshole’s pockets.
That was so . . . unfair.
“Effie?” Steele asked gently. She was kind of shocked that a man that big could talk that quietly.
“You . . . you’re a sad excuse for a human being,” she finally said. She was so angry and upset that she could barely focus on the words running through her head.
“Come on, Effie. Time to leave. You don’t want to be breathing the same air as him.”
No, she didn’t.
But she was still trembling with everything she needed to say to him. To tell him what a horrid person he was. How dare he treat children like this?
“You’re supposed to protect the children in your care,” she told him. “You’re abusive and . . . and a terrible dresser. Mud-brown is not your color.”
There! She got some of what she needed to say out. And she’d managed not to tell him that he looked like a giant poo. Which likely would have been a step too far.
Maybe.
17
As she stepped through the door into the waiting room, she wasn’t sure why all three boys were smiling.
“Good call, Brooks’ Mom,” Baron said. “Never noticed it before, but that suit makes him look like a turd.”
“He’s definitely excrement,” Royal added, his eyes narrowed as he took in Steele. “I know your reputation, Mr. Steele. I also know that you’re related to Spike. So I thought you might’ve come down harder on him.”
“You boys saved me from doing that,” Steele replied.
Huh? What had he been planning on doing?
“I take it there is a reason why the two of you haven’t used the evidence you have on him to oust him yet?” Steele asked as they all walked out to the parking lot.
Baron and Royal shared a look. Lord, they were trouble.
“We’d planned to oust him with a bang,” Baron said.
“We weren’t going to show our cards yet,” Royal added. “Until Stella came and told us what was going down.”
“We don’t like bullies. And he’s the worst sort of bully.” Royal eyed Brooks. “Brooks, we’re going to Mel’s Diner. You want to come?”
“With you?” Brooks looked dumbfounded.
“Yep, bro, with us.” Baron slapped his back.
She could see how much Brooks wanted to go with them. And she understood it. There was no way these boys weren’t extremely popular. And the fact that they likely didn’t care whether or not they were popular probably made them even more so. So she totally understood why her boy wanted to go hang with them.
So she was shocked as he shook his head. “I need to go see to Aunt Effie.”
Shoot. What was he doing?
“I’m fine, Brooks. You go,” she insisted.
“We like a guy that looks after his mom,” Baron said. “You okay, Brooks’ Mom? You look a bit pale.”
“She might need sugar,” Royal said.
“I think I’ve got some emergency chocolate in the car,” Baron said.
“Oh, I don’t need anything,” she said quickly. “Thank you, though.”