Page 45 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

N ash

“Not bad, not bad at all,” Coach Stevens said as we all hit the wall. “If you were in a geriatric league. Get the fucking lead out of your asses. We have one week left until the Championships. See you all tomorrow.”

His whistle cut through the humid air, and I cringed. He blew that damn thing like it was an extension of his soul.

“I didn’t think we were that bad,” Myles muttered from the lane beside me.

“We’re definitely slower, but we’ll be ready,” I said, pushing up and hauling myself out of the heavily chlorinated water. “We just need to train harder, maybe twice a day for the week.”

“This from the guy who was going to quit not long ago,” Liam threw in, smirking as he climbed out.

I shot him a glare. “I told you I would finish out the year. I made a promise. I’ll stick to it.”

We grabbed towels and headed toward the locker room. I didn’t slow down or look back. I just wanted scalding water and silence, but I was only going to get one of those with this lot.

One thing I’d always loved about morning practice was that we were the only ones in here. In four years, I’d yet to see another team get their asses up this early.

In the showers, I hung my towel on a hook just as Theo’s voice broke through the hiss of running taps.

“So, is anyone going to address the elephant in the room?”

I peeled off my jammers and hung them up.

“Hope you’re not eyeing my cock. Liam might get jealous,” I drawled, a smirk hiding how tight my chest felt.

I knew where this conversation was going and wanted to avoid it like the plague.

“He doesn’t need to eye what you’ve got when we all know mine’s bigger,” Liam shot back.

“Ouch,” Myles said, laughing.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” I said, turning and letting the heat pummel my shoulders, but Theo wasn’t letting the topic go.

“Now that we’re done with the cock-measuring contest…I was talking about the fact you snuck out after Thanksgiving and haven’t shown your face since.”

And there it was. I pushed on the soap dispenser, lathering my hands and scrubbing hard enough to sting.

“Well?” Theo pressed for an answer.

“Well, what? You didn’t ask a question.”

“Avoidance isn’t going to save you,” Blake said quietly, his voice carrying too much knowledge on the subject.

I cut him a look sharp enough to slice.

“What the fuck do you all want me to say? You wanted me to tell Ren, and I did. She said she needed space. End of story.”

“Bullshit,” Liam said. “You’re being a coward.”

The words hit harder than I wanted to admit. My palm slammed against the tile, the crack echoing through the showers as I stormed the short distance to get in Liam’s face.

“Don’t you ever fucking say that to me,” I growled.

Liam didn’t flinch. He stepped closer, eyes level with mine. “Then stop acting like it.”

We were nose to nose, breathing the same humid air as the tension crackled like electricity. I wanted to hit him. Wanted to hit something. Instead, I swore and spun away, not caring if I got all the soap washed off. I grabbed my towel and stalked out, leaving wet footprints and anger in my wake.

I started to pull out my clothes, but Myles had followed me. He crossed his arms and leaned against the locker beside mine. Not budging even when I glared at him.

“Tell me why you don’t want to see Ren,” he said.

“Of everyone, I thought you’d be fucking happy. You’ve been riding my ass every damn day to tell her the truth. I did. Now what do you want from me?” My chest heaved, and my fists curled, begging for a fight.

Myles didn’t blink. “Tell me why you’re not speaking to her.”

“Because she doesn’t want to talk to me!” I roared, slamming the locker so hard it sounded like a gunshot.

My fist followed and landed dead center. Again and again, I struck until blood smeared across the dented steel. My knuckles split, and pain flashed sharp enough to distract me from everything else. I stepped back, inspecting the damage.

“Because she doesn’t want to talk to me,” I said again, quieter. “Now leave me the fuck alone.”

I pushed past Myles and the others watching from the shower entrance, their eyes heavy with pity…or judgment. I couldn’t tell which. I stalked back, twisted the handle, and watched the crimson-tinted water swirl down the drain.

Leaning back against the navy-and-white tiles, I stared at my open knuckles. The pain in my hand couldn’t come close to matching the hollow ache in my chest.

Ren’s face haunted me. The way she’d looked at me before walking away…

like I was a monster, like she didn’t know if she ever wanted to see me again.

Deep down, I had hoped she would be happy.

Pissed…for sure…but still love the idea of being married to me.

Instead, her eyes said she was disgusted, and if we had been alone, she would’ve slit my throat in that dining room.

She might as well have, because that look…

it cut deeper than I ever thought it would.

I’d hurt her. Again. I’d lost count of how many times I’d screwed this up. And if I were honest? I’d do it all over again. That was the worst part. I’d burn for her every time, even if she hated me for it.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Take a hint,” I growled as I heard footsteps approaching.

“Nah,” Myles said, sitting down beside me, shoulder brushing mine. “Hints aren’t my thing. Ren says I need to be hit over the head to understand.”

“Don’t tempt me,” I muttered.

Myles sat there, quiet, annoying as hell, and exactly what I needed.

“Why won’t you just leave me alone?”

“Because ya wouldn’t leave me if I was hurtin’. You wouldn’t leave any of us,” Myles said softly.

A bitter laugh slipped out. I let my head drop into my hands, blood mixing with water, defeat replacing rage.

“I don’t know how to fix this. I really fucked up this time.”

“Aye, ya did,” Myles said. “But avoiding Ren isn’t gonna solve anythin’. You knew she’d be hurt, and ya did it anyway. But…and I hate to admit this…you weren’t wrong. If she’s going to be married to any of us, it should be you.”

I stared at him, shaking my head.

“No. What I said to you…that was out of line. We’re not the sins of our fathers, but I treated you like you were. Everything with Owen and how if we’d stopped him at the bar, then Ren never would’ve been in that accident…it has me all fucked up.”

“Aye, I know the feeling all too well,” he said, his voice sounding as haunted as I felt.

“Ren would’ve been better off with you. You always know what to say or do. It’s easy to see that you make her feel safe. No one is safe around me.”

“Ha, don’t be an arse.” Myles shook his head at me.

“Ya act like I know how to do any of this? I didn’t exactly have a great role model.

My da, who wasn’t really my father, beat and tortured me my whole life, and that was after he killed me ma.

I think you still win in the least dysfunctional department between us. ”

The dark humor hit, and I laughed. “We’re really fucked up, aren’t we?”

“Aye. But we’re in it together. And she’s hurtin’, Nash. But she’ll hurt worse if you shut her out. She does love ya, which is why it hurts more than if she didn’t.”

I scrubbed my hand over my face, wincing at the sting in my knuckles.

“Look at you all, Doctor Myles,” I said with a smile that made him laugh. “I’ll talk to her. Just…not today. I need more time to get my head straight, or I’ll fuck it up worse.”

“Fair enough.” Myles pushed to his feet and held out his hand. “Come on. Let’s pretend we’re normal for a few hours.”

“Normal’s overrated,” I said, gripping it and letting him haul me up. “Has anyone told you you’re annoying as hell when you’re right?”

“Every day,” he said, grinning like a fool.

We walked back to the lockers. Liam, Theo, and Blake were dressed, pretending to care about music and teachers. I grabbed my clothes and quickly changed before turning to them.

“I’ll get it sorted. Just…give me a couple days.”

They nodded, letting it go…for now.

I’d just pulled the Wayward Swim Team hoodie over my head when a familiar voice drifted into the room.

“And I know you’ve seen our sports complex before, but feel free to take a closer look,” Dean Henry said, leading someone around the corner. “I’m sure you’ll find it to your liking.”

My gut twisted when I saw who was walking beside him.

Sabastian.

A slow, smug smile curved Sabastian’s mouth the second he saw me.

I dropped my bag on the bench and stepped forward.

“Like fuck you are coming here,” I growled.

Heat surged in my chest. Anger layered over pain, creating the perfect storm.

“And you know the swim team,” Dean Henry said with that warning look, telling me to behave myself.

“Yeah, I know them,” Sabastian replied as he glanced at all of us with a judgmental glare. “And I plan on kicking their ass next weekend before transferring and making sure they never live it down.”

“The hell you are,” I snapped, stepping closer.

“Oh yeah?” Sabastian crossed his arms, eyes glinting. “I heard none of you have been training. Too busy after your little disaster of a grand opening that almost got me and Ivy killed. I must’ve missed your apology call.”

“Sorry,” I bit out, stalking toward him. “Next time, I’ll send you a handwritten note for your delicate ego. Or maybe a participation trophy, since that’s all they hand out at Hawking Shores.”

His lip curled. “You’ll need tissues after next weekend. I’ve been in the pool twice a day.”

I took another step, fists itching despite the throbbing in my hand.

“Are you looking for a cookie and a pat on the head? I wonder if you’d be saying all this shit if it was Ivy that had ended up lying in a hospital bed.

” I sneered and then looked him up and down.

“Then again…you don’t actually give a damn about her.

You’re just using her to get information, isn’t that right, Sabastian? Just doing your father’s dirty work.”

“You know nothing about me or why I want to be here,” Sabastian said, voice sharp. I’d hit a nerve.

“I know enough,” I snarled. “You’re a piece of shit, just like your abusive father, who pretended to be dead for years to hide from the fact that he planned to murder his wife.”

He laughed coldly. “Takes one to know one. If the rumors are true, your father is a bigger piece of shit than mine could ever dream of being.”

“Debatable.”

“Huh…I heard your daddy used to beat your ass until you couldn’t stand,” Sabastian said.

I smiled and let the anger and darkness that lived inside of me fill my eyes.

“It only made me stronger. Can you say the same?”

“I don’t need to pummel your ass into the ground to prove that I’m better,” Sabastian said, jerking like he was going to hit me, but I didn’t flinch.

“Figures…no real follow-through. That’s why I’ll always win,” I said, crossing my arms. “You know what I don’t get? If you’re not here to fuck with Ren and dig up dirt on me, then why come to Portland at all?”

“Please, I don’t give a shit about you, except when it comes to beating you in the pool.

If you really want to know…you’ll have to ask your daddy why he brought me and my father to this godforsaken city.

Guess me being here is just something else you have to thank him for.

” Sabastian gave me a golden smile and ran his hand through his hair.

“I will beat you next weekend. And I’m so looking forward to kicking Wayward Academy and you off the top podium.

Terrible way to finish off your senior year. You’ll never get to fix your failure.”

Fucker.

White-hot rage surged through me. “Bring it. Any day. Any time. I’ll wipe the floor with you.”

“That is enough Mr. Collier and Mr. Nikitovich, the two of you can save it for the pool,” Dean Henry ordered.

I’d forgotten that the dean was still in the room. But Sabastian and I didn’t move. We stared each other down, daring, waiting. My fists clenched. I wasn’t dumb enough to swing first, but God, I wanted to.

I tore my gaze from Sabastian to the dean. “I can’t believe you let him through these doors. Just when I think I know what kind of man you are…”

“We’ll discuss this later, Nash,” Dean Henry said firmly.

“No,” I shook my head, stepping back. “I think I’ve got my answer.”

I grabbed my bag and shoved past Sabastian, our shoulders colliding. Liam, Theo, Blake, and Myles followed.

Dean Henry had listened to me explain exactly who Sabastian was…who fathered him, and he still invited him inside these walls.

No explanation was needed. This place couldn’t be trusted anymore. And the sooner I got the hell out, the better.

But first, I was going to destroy Sabastian in that pool so thoroughly he’d regret ever setting foot inside Wayward.

“That fucker is way too cocky,” I said.

“Did we know that he is going by that last name,” Theo asked.

Liam nodded. “Yeah, Nash and I did, but I’m surprised he’s still using a fake name. The dean has to know it is,” Liam growled.

“Maybe, Christov had their last names legally changed,” Blake offered.

I shrugged, not caring about the reason. “It doesn’t matter. If he’s coming here then we need everyone on high alert. Ivy is our weak link. From now on, nothing gets shared with her unless we want the information shared with Sabastian.”

The guys nodded. I would get to the bottom of what the fuck he was up to, but first I needed to find out what my father was plotting.

He and Christov were cuddled up together in some dark hole, and I needed to flush them out. Edmundo was wrong about this. I needed to keep my foot on my father’s throat, or he would find a way to destroy us. I couldn’t let that happen.

Men like them didn’t just vanish after a failed move. And I sure as hell didn’t have that kind of luck.