Page 88 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

“Did ya call 911,” Myles asked as he turned around to look out the window with me.

“No…Ethan did before…before…he stopped talking,” Lip cried, the sound breaking my heart.

“Was anyone else with him,” Myles asked and Lip hiccupped between his sobs.

“A girl. I hid, they didn’t see me.”

Mya, it had to of been Mya. I felt like I was being torn in two as I stared into Neal’s eyes. Lawrence yelled for Nash outside while Lip sobbed into the phone.

“Myles…help, they can’t die.”

“We’re comin’, Lip. Stay hidden, and only let the paramedics or me inside,” he said, far calmer than the look on his face.

“Yes.”

“I’m comin’, I swear it. I love ya,” Myles said and then hung up the phone.

“Son of a bitch,” Nash snarled.

“We need to get to our parents,” Blake said.

“No one goes out there,” Nash ordered, not taking his eyes off his father.

“We need to go,” Blake insisted.

“And where are you going with him out there by our cars,” Nash asked, shooting Blake a glare. “Marcus, call Edmundo and get people over to Ethan and Ella’s,” Nash said.

“But it’s our parents,” Blake kept arguing, but Theo grabbed his shoulder.

“Nash is right. We’re no good to them dead. Dad called the paramedics, and Edmundo will be on his way. We need to stay calm,” Theo said, but Blake looked like he was going to run out the door anyway.

“I can hear you in there,” Lawrence called out. He slowly walked forward, leaving Mya holding a gun to Neal’s head. Lawrence tapped his gun against the glass. “Come out, come out wherever you are,” he sang, his voice walking the line of viciousness and insanity.

He was cruel, sick, and twisted, but this was different. He looked like a man who had lost everything. He looked…dangerous. Far more than he ever had before.

“Ren, I know you’re in there. You’re glued to my son’s side these days. Better come outside if you want to save your precious daddy,” Lawrence said, and I looked at the door.

Liam stepped in my way and shook his head.

“No, you can’t go out there either.”

I turned back to look out the window. Neal was on his knees with his head bowed.

He’d been beaten badly and was wearing the same dirty clothes that he’d worn the last time I saw him at Wayward.

Tears filled my eyes. So many horrible thoughts about a man who had done nothing but protect my identity. Guilt and fear clawed at my throat.

“I have to do something. I can’t just stand here while they have a gun on my dad,” I said, my body shaking with anger. I embraced the change in my emotions because anger was more useful to me now than the paralysis of fear.

“Ohh, Ren…do you not love your daddy anymore?” Lawrence taunted me through the glass.

Neal lifted his head, and even though he couldn’t see me, it felt like he was staring into my soul.

“Don’t do anything, Ren,” Neal yelled, and Mya used the gun to hit him in the head. He fell over, and fresh blood trickled down his face.

“Don’t touch him,” I screamed and lunged, banging my fists on the thick glass.

“There she is! I knew you’d be in there. How sad that you fell for the son when you were always destined for the father.”

“Bastard,” I snarled, wanting to claw out his eyes. He leaned in close to the glass again.

“Knock, knock. Come on, Ren and Nash, this is your moment to shine and be the heroes of the story,” Lawrence said, placing his hands on the mirrored blackout glass and trying to see inside.

“What do you want?” Nash yelled and punched the glass where his father’s face was, forcing him back. Lawrence smirked as he rubbed his nose, mocking Nash.

“It should be obvious…I want Ren, and I want you to let her go. Just like you had to let Mya go. Then…I want my fucking company back and to watch Edmundo Genovese beg for his life before I shoot him in the head.”

Lawrence’s smirk turned into a wicked smile, giving us all a further glimpse into his fraying mind.

“We have to go out there,” I said to Nash, but he shook his head. “Nash…”

“No. I’ll go, you’re staying here,” he said, walking away.

I grabbed his arm, and he stopped. His features were hard as stone, and his eyes were filled with murder. But I knew it wasn’t for me.

“Neal is as much my father as Eddie. He raised me for years. Lawrence hurt Ethan and Ella. She is like a mom to me. I need to do this,” I said.

“Hate me all you want, but this is one of those times that I don’t give a fuck what you want or need to do. You’re staying here. Grab her. Don’t let her leave,” Nash ordered, and to my shock, Myles picked me up and pulled me away.

“Myles, put me down,” I growled, thrashing in his arms.

“Sorry, Snowflake. I can’t do that,” he said, his voice held a thread of panic that matched mine.

Nash stopped at the door when Marcus blocked his way.

“I can’t let you go out there, sir. I have very strict orders to keep you all safe.”

“No, you have strict orders to keep Ren safe, not me. Step out of my way,” Nash demanded.

“I really don’t think that is advisable, sir,” Marcus argued. “This won’t end well.”

“Step aside and tell your men to stand down. I don’t need him any more trigger-happy than he already is, and you’re wasting time when our friends could be dying,” Nash said as Lawrence yelled again.

“You’re a coward! Acting tough while hiding behind Genovese’s men, but you are a snivelling coward on your own,” Lawrence said. He turned in a circle, holding his gun in the air, and all I could picture was the scene from Joker . I would’ve preferred the Joker over Lawrence any day of the week.

“Out of my way,” Nash snarled, getting right up into Marcus’s face.

We held our collective breath and waited to see what he would do. Marcus stepped aside.

“Keep them in here, that is an order,” Nash said and marched outside.

“There’s one of you. But where is the prize of the hour,” Lawrence asked, and I wanted to vomit.

Why…why did this shit keep happening to us? Myles put me on my feet but didn’t release me. Mya yanked Neal up onto his knees again, and he looked at Nash. His eyes were filled with concern, and I covered my mouth to keep from crying. No…please…this had to be another nightmare.