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Carla’s eyes lurched. “Are those…?”

“Yeah. My father beat me every day that I was suspended. With an extension cord!” Beverly’s laugh was chaotic.

“Oh, my God,” Carla whispered, covering her chest. The lashes extended from her wrists to the top of her arms. Some could be seen peeking from the collar of her shirt.

“There are more on my back. I can barely lay in bed at night.”

“Beverly, please, let me help you. You don’t have to endure abuse from your parents.”

“It’s your fault!” Tears rushed down Beverly’s face. “For years, I was beaten, and then I found a way to make sure I never endured that pain again. I did whatever they asked. I spoke softly. I never got in their way. I kept the house spotless! I cooked dinner! I kept my grades above average! It was good enough to escape this pain for eight whole months.” She pointed her gun at Carla.

“Then you…” Her bottom lip trembled. “You just couldn’t give me another chance. So, I’m going to tell you what’s about to happen now. First, I’m going to kill you, then I’m going to…” She grabbed a handful of Carrie’s hair and jerked her up on her feet. “I’m going to kill Carrie. Then I’m going to kill myself.”

Whimpers ran around the class as the students cowered, some watching on in horror.

But in the back corner of the room, Jared rose slowly to his feet, then glanced at Omega, who was at the other side of the room. They gave each other a head nod, and seeing their exchange, Carla shook her head softly, no.

But the boys were ready to jump into action, and each second that ticked by could mean life and death for them all.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Thirty minutes earlier

“Your total is forty-five thousand, five hundred twenty-nine dollars and ninety cents, Mr. Rose.”

Jacob slid the jeweler his American Express Black card. The five-point-five carat platinum oval diamond engagement ring was top-tier. With a huge stone in the middle, the ring was outlined with a layer of diamonds that ran into a double diamond band.

The sparkle cast a twinkle in Jacob’s eyes, and enthusiastic about his purchase, he collected the black bag, slipped his card inside his suit pocket, and headed to Academy College Preparatory High School.

In his Bentley, a bouquet of long-stemmed roses lay across his passenger seat, and he couldn’t wait to see the look on Carla’s face when he proposed.

Jacob was thankful for Principal Sharp. After contacting him about his plans to propose to Carla in front of her class, the principal had been delighted to agree, since the students were there when he and Carla officially began a relationship.

That seemed like just yesterday, but times flies when you’re in a relationship with the one you love. Pulling into the school parking lot, Jacob parked, grabbed the roses, slipped out of the Bentayga, and strolled to the school’s side door.

The doors burst open before he could grab the handle, and he jumped back as three students ran right into him.

“Whoa!” Jacob grabbed Samantha to steady her. “What’s going on? Are you all okay?”

No sooner than he said it, a crew of police cars pulled into the parking lot, and officers hopped out, but didn’t move to enter the building.

His forehead creased as a frown settled on his face.

Frantically, Samantha shouted, “Beverly’s got a gun! She’s going to shoot Carrie!”

Jacob’s gaze darkened further.

“I think she’s going to shoot Ms. Jones, too!” Sicily yelled. “We ran out of the classroom, but we were the only ones to get out.”

The bouquet of roses fell from Jacob’s hands, and he spoke to the girls as he sprinted through the double doors.

“Go stay by the police and don’t come back in!”

Moving down the hallway, the silent alarm lights overhead didn’t distract him. It was the thought of losing Carla.

A flashback of watching his father grieve during anniversaries of his mother’s death dashed through his mind at warp speed, and the pain that attacked his chest made Jacob move faster, rounding the hall until he got to the only open door.

Shouts could be heard coming from the room.