Page 54 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

N ash

“You sure you don’t want me to come with you,” Liam asked.

We were parked outside Edmundo’s mansion. Ren was inside sleeping, and I so badly wanted to go in there, grab her, and hold her for the night. I wanted to pretend that we were okay…until she inevitably kicked my ass.

“No, it’s better if I do this alone. Besides, I’m going straight back to school and the pool. I need it.”

“Alright…be careful. I don’t trust that guy.”

Liam got out, and I left through the gate that the guards had held open for me.

Even away from the Collier house, my mind rode the merry-go-round of darkness.

At least the negative voices had been silenced.

I didn’t believe in ghosts. But…there was something about saying goodbye tonight, and letting myself breathe…

it felt like the invisible tethers that had kept Mya’s spirit in that room had finally given way and set her free.

It was 3:33 a.m. when I signaled and pulled into the deserted national park entrance. That seemed like an ominous time to be meeting an FBI agent alone.

The driveway was gravel, and the sound of the tires crunching over stone was extra loud. The trees normally held a dark beauty, but they seemed ominous and threatening tonight. My headlights were the only illumination, and I was pretty sure that every horror movie had a scene just like this.

I passed through the checkpoint, and the long arm of the barrier was up. The lot was empty except for a black sedan parked under a single floodlight. How very cliché.

Instead of pulling up beside the car, I made a wide sweeping arc, shining my lights in the windows from the side.

It gave me a clear visual of Ellis holding up his arms to block the glare, and confirmed that no one else was inside.

I cut the engine and grabbed the paper out of my cup holder before climbing down from the truck.

With both vehicles off, I was hit with the silence.

It felt heavy out here—like this forest held as many secrets as my father’s ceremony room.

Ellis walked around to the back of his car and leaned against the trunk. He looked…normal. Well, except for the arrogant asshole sneer of law enforcement. They all had the same look, like it came with the badge.

“Nash Collier, I have to say that I was surprised and intrigued to get your call,” he said.

Smirking, I looked around at the vast wilderness that surrounded us.

“I’m surprised that you agreed to meet me at all, to be honest.”

“After that stunt with the powdered sugar, I was tempted to tell you to fuck off,” he said, obviously still annoyed.

“You can’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He crossed his arms. “I wouldn’t be very good at my job if I listened to perps when they said that to me.”

“I’m not sure that you are good at your job, considering what happened.”

His eyes darkened, and I knew he wanted to hit me. I could feel the humiliation rolling off him.

“You wearing a wire?”

“No, I’m not wearing a fucking wire.” Ellis pulled up his hoodie and showed off his bare stomach and chest.

“Show me your ears.”

“What?”

“Your ears.”

Shaking his head, he grumbled under his breath. He stepped closer and showed me that he wasn’t wearing any earpieces.

“Satisfied?”

“Almost. Take your phone out of your back pocket.”

Ellis hesitated, and I knew I’d caught him. He swore and took it out—sure enough, it was recording. He hit stop, and I held out my hand. After he put it in my palm, I walked over to his passenger side door and tossed it on the seat.

“You’re certainly thorough, almost like you have something to hide,” he said.

“Almost like I grew up with a deranged father and learned to be cautious.”

His eyes flickered with something that I couldn’t quite read, but some of the earlier combativeness was gone when he spoke.

“Okay, what’s going on, Nash?”

“I’m here with a peace offering, extending an olive branch if you will,” I said, and his eyebrow raised. “Look, I know you think I’m just another thug. You can believe what you want about me, my family, and my friends. But the truth is, I’m not your problem. I’m not even your enemy.”

“Well, you certainly know how to keep a guy in suspense. Enlighten me. What or who is then?”

“My father,” I said, letting the two words hang between us in the air.

“Alright…are you saying you want witness protection?”

I burst out laughing, unable to help myself.

“No. If anything, the man needs protection from me.” I smiled and hoped that he saw the sadistic thoughts dancing in my eyes. “No, Ellis, I don’t need you to protect me. I want you to leave me the fuck alone so I can do what needs to be done.”

“What exactly does that mean?”

I remained silent and just stared at Ellis.

He rubbed his chin as he chuckled. “Fine, don’t tell me. But as far as leaving you alone…I haven’t bothered you since you embarrassed the fuck out of me with my superiors. That stung, really stung, and yet, I have kept my distance from you and your boys,” he said.

I snorted and pulled my phone out of my pocket. He dropped the innocent act when I scrolled through the surveillance photos.

“I’m always watching Ellis. You may not be pulling us over or searching our shit, but you’re around like fucking hemorrhoids.

Persistent and annoying. I’m tired of seeing you over my shoulder everywhere I go.

It’s all very obsessed fan-stalker-like.

Now, I know I’m a catch, and I’m flattered, truly,” I said with a smile.

“But maybe you should’ve used those skills the night my wife was run off the road.”

Ellis looked like he had swallowed a bug. Whether it was my reference to Ren as my wife or his shame, I couldn’t say.

“You were like a fucking pimple on my ass until the moment you could’ve been a real big boy cop and done your job.

Not one patrol car was around to help…almost like…

you didn’t want to be there.” I put my phone away.

“Where the fuck were you Halloween night, Ellis? And don’t try to tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about.

I have photos of you staked out at the hospital. Should I show you those?”

Ellis turned and stomped away, swearing repeatedly under his breath and mumbling like he was arguing with himself. He came back, and I was prepared for him to hit me. Instead, he crossed his arms and looked down.

“I’m sorry.”

Okay…wasn’t expecting that. I stayed quiet.

“We got an anonymous tip that there was something big going down outside of the city, and…I routed all resources to that location.”

I shook my head, annoyed but not surprised. The wind picked up, rustling the trees like they were whispering the answer, but I already suspected who made that call, and he was worm food.

“Like I said…I’m not the issue. Yes, I’ll admit that I have ties to very powerful people.

I’m sure you have them under surveillance as well, but following me won’t get you anywhere.

Sometimes Ellis, it’s better to work with the devil you know than the one you don’t.

There’s always someone else waiting in the wings. ”

“Don’t I fucking know it. What are you suggesting? That I leave you alone to sell drugs and guns to whoever you want. That’s not how this works.”

“Who said I was doing anything of the sort?” I gave him my best good-old-boy smile as he glared.

“Like I said in the beginning, I want to extend an olive branch and come to a mutually beneficial agreement. I will do what I can from time to time to help you, and in return, you’ll stay the fuck away from my businesses, my friends and their families, and above all else, you’ll do your fucking job and protect my wife rather than running around on half-baked leads.

If you want to know something, you come to me. ”

“And I’m supposed to overlook everything else,” he snarled.

“You keep making accusations, but you have no proof that I’ve done anything wrong.

If you had any, you would’ve arrested me, and we wouldn’t be having this conversation at all.

Also, I’m pretty sure that even if I was doing the things you accused me of…

it’s not your jurisdiction. Unless you are gunning for a job with the ATF or DEA. Is that what this is about?”

His eyes narrowed into slits. “You’ve got big stones, Nash, I’ll give you that.”

“A compliment and an apology…careful, Ellis, I think you’re starting to like me.”

I pulled the document I’d found from my hoodie and held the folded square up between my fingers.

“What’s that?” I cocked my brow, and he lifted his hand to stop me. “Don’t do it…I know it’s paper. What’s on the paper?”

I smirked.

“This is a smoking gun. But before I hand it over, I want your word, as a man, as law enforcement, and as someone who is going to owe me, that we have a deal.”

His eyes flicked between my outstretched hand and my face multiple times before he sighed, and I knew he was going to agree.

Did this mean that I could trust him…doubtful.

Men like Ellis always thought they were making the world a better place, but in reality…

he was nothing more than a hamster on a wheel.

What I had said wasn’t just words to convince Ellis to take the deal.

There really was always someone worse ready to pop up like a hydra and fill an empty role.

It would be mutually beneficial if we found a way to work together.

“The only question you should be asking yourself is—would you prefer to have a relationship with a lying psychopath or me?”

“A deal with the Devil that I know?”

I shrugged. “It’s what I said, but to be clear…I’m not the Devil. I’m far sexier.”

Ellis rolled his eyes. “How do I know you’re not as evil as your father?”

Ellis tensed when I stepped toward him.

“Don’t you ever fucking say that to me again,” I snarled, ready for the possible fight.

We stood there staring at one another, sizing the other up, but finally he nodded.

“Okay, Nash, I’m going to trust you. But why don’t you just become an official informant?”

My laughter echoed in the still night air.

“What and have my name on paper as your dancing monkey? Have to go to trials and shit.” I shook my head. “I’m not going to trade one set of strings on my limbs for new ones, but thanks.”

I held out the document again.

“So, what’s it going to be?”

“Fine, no paperwork. This is a fucking stupid idea,” Ellis grumbled, but reached out and took the paper. He opened it and read the date, time, and location on the shipping manifest.

“What is this for?”

“Let’s just say that there are things worse than guns and drugs smuggled into this country daily. I, like you, feel that these smugglers should be off the streets. Making them safer and all that. You’ll find what you’re looking for there. No gimmicks, no jokes, no tricks, no ambush.”

“Will your father be there?”

“No clue. We’ve never been the type of family that shares plans. No joint calendar for us. These days, I’m struggling as much as you are to find him,” I said, giving him a wicked smile. “But he’d better hope you get to him first.”

“Is that so?” Ellis shook his head like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You swear this is legit?”

“Ellis, I wouldn’t waste my time setting you up. I’m not that petty, and I can see the benefit to this arrangement.”

“You do know this makes you a snitch, right?”

If that jab was supposed to hurt, it didn’t. “I call it…cutting out the rot,” I said, quoting Liam.

“I’m almost scared to find out what you’ll want from me.”

I smiled, turned, and walked away.

“That didn’t make me feel better,” he called out.

“It wasn’t meant to. Happy hunting, Ellis,” I said, getting into my truck.

He stood there while I started the engine and drove away. I kept looking in my rear-view mirror for a tail or any sign that he was following me, but there was nothing.

Turning toward Wayward, I floored it, and the engine roared in the quiet.

The road behind me was jagged, littered with potholes, and haunted by ghosts whispering my name. Ahead lay only fog, uncertainty, and an uncharted path to a future I had never imagined for myself.

Dean Henry and Liam were right…there was no going back, and no stitching the past into something it never was or could have been. For the first time, I was looking forward with no regrets. Ren had somehow pushed me back onto the rails. My life was my own again, and it only felt right with her.

My past was nothing more than a graveyard for who I’d been. I was done existing there, waiting to join those who had died. It was time to become one of the living.