One More Day: A Bully Romance: (Ridgeside High Book 4), page 8
I watch my friends closely and I laugh. Even with the current situations, I'm so grateful for the people around me.
I sound like a fucking Hallmark card.
Fifteen
LEVI
I start to pace, it’s an annoying thing I normally do, that I don't even realize as my hands run through my hair.
I had expected a totally different reaction from the group. I am fuming mad that the attack on the Pastore’s didn't go like I had planned with Derek and Cade.
If I didn't have this whole place remodeled recently, I would just let loose like I did before. The anger is flowing into my veins and traveling down through my arms into my fists, as my hands open and close. I need a damn release and fast.
I want to start punching everything that's in striking distance. No matter what it is, a person, glass or even a fucking concrete wall.
I take out my phone and dial quickly.
“Yeah boss,” Derek answers on the first ring.
“I want to double the number of people that are looking for Aaron and Carly. We need to find them and soon. This is fucking bullshit that we have some of the highest trained people looking, but yet nobody can find them.”
Derek’s silent for a second, “that's going to be a problem. We don't have that many people Levi. All the extras that we do have are placed in different areas.”
“I don't fucking care,” I growl out, “you and Cade need to find me more men, remove people from different areas. This is one thing that's affecting all of us. It could end up bringing this whole thing to the ground.”
“Got it, I'll see what I can do.” Derek says as he quickly hangs up the phone.
I need to call a meeting with those guys later. I'll be damned if I let this shit fuck my whole entire empire.
In the mafia family there's a saying that you are only as good as your word, fuck that. My father was a son of a bitch. Even saying something that is ingrained into my head since I was a little boy. I might be able to go outside the box right now and do whatever the fuck I want.
I look back towards my feed and see that they're all getting ready to leave the cafeteria.
I'm going to give my guys a timeline to find Carly and Aaron. One week should be enough, especially with double the men and technicians.
It is harder to trust people when they're coming in blind like this and we haven't been able to vet them as good as we did for the previous ones. But we need all the fucking help we can get right now.
We need to make it known that nobody's going to try to double-cross me or they’ll see what could happen. Maybe we'll use a couple of scapegoats and make a scene in front of everybody else. That always seems to work.
If they don't have anything for me within a week, it won't be too hard to find two bodies, especially badly burned bodies where DNA cannot be traced.
Somehow we’d need to link them back to Carly and Aaron, with clothing or whatever. After that, the hit would be completed, and it's time to move on to the next section of the game or at least the next player. I laugh, nobody's going to want to play in this game.
For my sanity from childhood I will do what I said and wait for another week before I make plans for the next contestant.
Fuck it, I think to myself as I smile. It ain't gonna hurt nobody for me to start making plans now.
It makes me seem a little sadistic when I plan the demise of others. I believe this is why I like the game so much. Even if all of my mortal enemies were gone, I would still take a lot of enjoyment from the thrill of watching innocents go through this.
This could be the most exciting part of the game. All of a sudden everyone involved would get notified that Carly and Aaron are dead. Of course, we would have to bribe the officials to sign off that it was them.
I look through the different photos I have for all of the potential players. I really want to put up Morgan and Hudson, but I need to save the fun for last.
I shut down the computer and put the pictures away. Even though it is very exciting to think about who is going to be next, I need to wait a little longer to see what happens.
Besides, a plan based on excitement never works out. So many errors are made. I just need to sit back and relax, maybe I’ll be able to figure out a way to still convince the Pastore’s to work with us.
Only time will tell, even though sometimes time takes forever.
Sixteen
MORGAN
Harper and I have been relentlessly working on, hopefully, a foolproof plan for the last few days. If it doesn't work, we're basically screwed.
We are out of ideas, we have no idea where else to go from here. Even though we're trying to help my father and Hudson, the rest of the family doesn't see it that way, they just see us as stupid girls getting our asses in trouble, which seems like we always are doing already.
At least this way we can be proactive, we can help and not let anybody get in the way of that. Shit, we might be able to keep everybody alive.
Even though it's going to annoy the shit out of me, I need to play the part of the perfect little daughter. A father loves when he can see his kid happy and in a great mood, wanting to talk to him and wanting to spend time with him, especially if she's a damn teenage girl.
Since Harper lives with us, she's been able to eavesdrop and figure out the schedules of everybody. This sounds like stalker material, but she's been able to find out times when we can confront, or accidentally run into my father by himself without Hudson, Lee or anybody else around.
All I need to do is plant that little seed, a tiny little baby seed of an idea. Once that sucker is in my dad's head, it'll slowly start to spread. I'm honestly hoping for a Miracle Gro, but I'll take what I can get.
I make sure to arrive about five minutes before my father does, down in the dining room area. The pattern that we've noticed with him is he loves his mornings to just sit and think. He always told us he needed quiet time before when we were kids. But, we honestly think that it's for him to drink coffee and wake up before he deals with any of our asses.
I get dressed in my school clothes I'm going to wear today. I'm doing a pair of brown leggings with a black sweater that goes down to my thighs, it molds to my body. I slide on my suede boots with no heels on them, they’re comfortable as hell. Hopefully this looks halfway decent, but it feels like I can lay in bed for a movie day with this outfit.
I make the coffee the way that I've seen my dad make it. I want him to be pleased and happy, but I don't want to look like I'm too eager. I still need to be the broody teenager.
My father strolls in, it takes several minutes for him to notice that I'm sitting at the island and that he's getting his coffee that's already been made.
He slightly turns around and looks at me over his shoulder, raising his eyebrows. “You alright?”
There's nothing like that aroma of coffee, that should wake you up right there.
“I'm fine, I just couldn't sleep,” I say while yawning, this is true I couldn't sleep for shit. Hudson was out like a rock. I even verified his alarm, which won't go off for another half an hour.
My father finishes making his coffee and he turns around and leans against the counter, he looks at me as he casually takes a few sips. I know if it wasn't so hot he would just slam the whole cup. Shit, he’d probably drink it straight from the pot.
“So, what's on your mind?” My father asks, he knows me so well. “Why can't you sleep?”
I chew on my lip for a second and slowly look at him, “I think there's a mole inside the school or somebody inside the organization, that knows everything we're doing.”
I didn't have too many examples to give to him, and I didn't want to tell him that I'm basically testing another theory. I just made shit up.
“It seems like Levi and them are always a step ahead, like they know what we're going to do next.”
My father, not awake yet, says, “he was always very resourceful like that.”
I hold my hand out to him like he's right. “Yeah, and there's times I feel like I'm being watched. Everything is so creepy, and it's driving me crazy.”
My dad comes over and stands in front of the island with a look of concern on his face. “Do you want me to have more guys put on you? We can do a run of the school to check for bugs and look over the school’s network systems.”
I nod my head like his idea was the best thing ever. “That would be great.” I’m sure to look happy with a smile on my face as I let a few minutes go by.
“Actually, Daddy, you know another thing I was thinking about since sitting down here. I wonder what would happen if they think that Hudson and I are on the outs, like if we just didn't talk to each other anymore.”
I can see that he wants to say something, so I quickly open my mouth before he does. I need to get all my cards on the table and overwhelm him while I still have the chance.
“I honestly believe that's why we're being watched so much is because Hudson and I are together, but if we're not, who knows right? It's just an idea.” I shake my hand, “maybe it'll get Levi to ease off and actually show himself in public more, or maybe he'll make a move that we’ll see coming.”
My dad opens his mouth to talk again, and I quickly jump up from the island stool. The noise of the stool grinding across the marble floor irritates my ears. “Also, if this does work, we can let pieces of information out at different places. However, it falls back to us, we’ll see who the mole is if there is one.” I say the last part as I shrug my shoulders.
My father goes to open his mouth this time, but he quickly shuts it, which is a very good sign. This means that he's thinking about everything I just told him, which also means that we might have a chance.
“That actually might work. It sounds like a really detailed plan.” His eyes narrow at me, he knows that I’ve been thinking about it for a while.
“Hudson,” my dad says as I whip around and see Hudson and Harper walking in at the same time.
Harper goes directly for the coffee, and I give her an unnoticeable thumbs up, letting her know that it worked.
“Hudson, Morgan was just letting me in on a brilliant idea about figuring out if we have a mole or if you guys are under constant video surveillance all the time, it's something she wanted to try out.”
My father looks at me, “you need to tell him. You're the one that's got to pretend with him that you're not in a relationship and that you hate each other.”
My father winks as he starts to whistle and walk out of the kitchen. That son-of-a-bitch knew exactly what he was doing, what I was doing. At least on a good note, he still liked my idea.
“What?” Hudson asks me as he glares in my direction. He probably knows what I'm up to also.
As soon as my father is out of hearing distance, that's when Hudson really lays into us. I look at the clock on the oven and notice that he lectured us straight for over two minutes. It didn't have the seconds on it, so I couldn't get the exact time.
I don't think either one of us listened to what he actually said, the only part we heard was, “it's actually not a bad idea. I just wish I could figure out why the fuck you both are doing it.”
The three of us pile in the car getting ready for the longer than normal ride to school. Hudson's way in the back as Harper and I sit next to each other.
“Now we just need to know how to pull this off.” Harper says as she taps her chin looking out the side window of the SUV. “You guys need to have an epic fight or something like that.”
I look back at Hudson, “or maybe I caught him doing something he shouldn't have and he's crying and begging for forgiveness in front of everybody. I tell him no, and just walk away. I'm done with men.”
Harper quickly turns in her seat and grabs my hand, “you're done with men, you're moving onto woman. We can let everybody know how we truly feel about each other.”
“Oh my God,” Hudson says in the back as he leans his head against the neck rest.
Me and Harper both start to laugh as I hear Lee in the front chuckling.
This day is going to be so much fun.
Hudson leans forward in his chair, “well, either way ladies, let's try to keep this just between us for now. Then we can figure out exactly how we're going to do everything. This shit can start tomorrow.”
Harper and I both nod, it’s actually a good idea. This will give us the whole day to come up with a better plan and how to execute it.
It's hard to fake not feeling something for somebody when you actually really do, my chest gets a little tighter as I feel sad. I'm actually going to have to pretend that I hate Hudson.
I quickly lean back in my seat to look at Hudson, “you better not touch another girl.”
He laughs, “but baby, we're not together anymore. I might touch more than one.”
I fling myself over the back seat to get at him. He quickly grabs me and positions me under him. I was hopeful and getting excited that he might actually kiss me. No, the bastard starts to tickle the crap out of me, making me scream.
It's good that the SUV is soundproof, and Lee knows what the hell is going on. Who knows what could have happened then, cops might’ve been called.
“Okay, okay, I give up. The only person you can kiss is Shane.” Harper and I start laughing harder, which makes Hudson’s cheeks turn a light shade of pink. I won't dare tell him that, but it's awesome to see him like this.
I'm not exactly sure if this is going to work but I hope it does. We never know what can happen, or we could end up finding something that brings this whole drama high school shit to its knees.
Maybe my idea won’t work, even though I won't tell Hudson that. Maybe Levi will come after me if he thinks that I'm not with him anymore. Maybe he thinks that he'll be getting what he wanted before, and I won't be on that stupid hit list anymore.
I should have done this weeks ago, ended the son of a bitch.
Seventeen
HUDSON
I'm still in shock as I sit and watch those two talk about different ways they can get everybody to believe that we're not together anymore.
I’m not shocked what Morgan was able to accomplish this morning. I'm shocked at how she did it.
My girl was able to get her father at the right time, and she said the right things to get him to come over to her side.
I'm not stupid, I know that they both have something else up their sleeve. There's no way in hell they just want confirmation about a mole or more security footage.
Shit, Morgan would interrogate the fucking guards herself to find out what she wanted, or she would have other people do it. I'm pretty sure that she's already looked for other bugs, just like all of us have. These devices could be on a specific person, or they could be removed every single day and put in new locations.
It's amazing how high-tech video surveillance is now. A tiny camera can fit in an electrical outlet, showing a view through a screw hole that's holding the outlet in place.
This is a good idea the girls had. I'm very curious to see how much Levi knows about our inner circle right now. He might just be watching through the school's video footage. I shake my head at that, there has got to be more.
Moles in the school are probably the best way to think about this. It seems like that's the way that all wars have been won in the past, is through moles and finding information about the other side, that you shouldn't have had.
I've got a very grave feeling about this whole situation. I watch the girls mess around, most likely giving each other more ideas. But, I block them out with my own voice.
What if this is actually an easy way in for Levi again? This could be Morgan's intention the whole time. He sees us not together anymore so he thinks that he could strike.
She would conveniently offset him or his guys, then she thinks she would be in the perfect position to take him out herself.
I bet she hasn't even thought anymore on that, she just thinks she's going to take out a man twice her size, because she was able to get close to him.
I doubt that girl has ever fought a day in her life. It was easy enough for me to take her, she's got some fire, but she needs more spark and more street cred.
For some reason if Morgan's idea did work, Levi won't go after her anymore because she belongs with him, but I still have a very bad feeling about this. The kind of feeling that stings low in your gut.
We'll just have to be more prepared, this idea of Morgan’s has nothing to do with the game, but more so of taking out the opposite component.
This could work, as long as everybody is on board. I sigh as I watch the girls, knowing that they're having fun. They just don't realize how fucking hard this will be.
We have to make this look real and it's going to be very hard to make something look real that's totally fake. Especially when I love her that much.
Morgan glances and catches me watching her, she gives me a tight smile as her cheeks turn red.
Keeping my feelings and my outbursts in check are going to be the thing that's hardest for me.
If the other kids don't know we’re pretending, and we're not dating anymore, I can see Morgan getting hit on a lot. My girl is the fucking hottest girl here.
The problem for me is how I'm going to keep from killing every single guy that looks in her direction. Depending on how mad I am, I'm going to start with breaking fingers and working my way up to breaking bones.
My jaw clenches at the same time that my fists do. I'm going to have a bigger problem keeping myself under control.
I robotically get out of the car and walk with Morgan and Harper to their locker, keeping my distance. As of today, we’re still a couple, from my understanding.
Hopefully I'll at least get the memo of when we fake break up.
Harper walks up to me and rolls her eyes, “quit pouting, just think at night you still get to fuck her.”
That makes Morgan choke on a huge drink from her bottle of water.
I smile as I move to her giving her a kiss on the forehead. I keep training my eyes up and down the hallway looking for the people that will most likely be able to help us.
