Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
“What are the two of you doing barging in here?” the principal demanded. “Where is Ms. O’Ryan? Why isn’t she at her desk?”
“I don’t know. Where do you think she is, brother?” the well-put- together one said.
“Maybe she went to the bathroom, bro,” the messier one replied.
“Yes, or maybe she ran off to Turks and Caicos to escape Dracula.”
“Don’t think he sucks blood, though, brother. Think he sucks souls.”
“The souls of children just trying to learn.” The one with the tie on shook his head. “Shameful. Just shameful.”
The principal stood, glaring at the boys, clearly incensed. “The two of you are not supposed to be in here. And you need to leave.”
“But we’ve got some information that you need, Donny,” the one with the tie said. “We know you’re big on gathering all evidence before making a judgment. Right? Because you wouldn’t want the board to look into why you’re trying to get rid of scholarship students. Why you’re turning your back and ignoring the bad behavior of some students, yet coming down hard on others.”
“Nope, bro, he wouldn’t want the board to know about that.” The one with longer hair turned to look at them with that grin. “Hello, I’m Baron and this is my brother, Royal.”
“What are you guys doing?” Brooks asked, staring at them both with a hint of awe.
“Royal and Baron?” Steele said in a quiet rumble. “You’re Ink’s boys.”
“That’s us,” Baron replied, not losing the grin. “And you’re Damon Steele.”
“Damon Steele?” Mr. Cleary whispered. “You’re Damon Steele?”
“I can see my reputation precedes me,” Steele said.
“That’s because you’re the shit, man,” Baron said.
“Baron!” Mr. Cleary said. “You will not use that language.”
“Oh, shove it, Donny,” Baron replied. “No one is interested in your opinion.”
“Would you like me to get your parents down here?” the principal asked.
“You can do that if you wish,” Royal told him, brushing off some imaginary lint. “Ink might be interested in hearing what’s going on here.”
“I will call your stepmother. Don’t think I won’t.”
Both boys stiffened.
Royal leaned forward and she tensed. Wow. For someone who was still in school, he had a commanding presence. Brooks pressed up close to her.
“Don’t worry, Effie,” Brooks whispered to her. “Baron and Royal are good guys. They always stick up for the underdog.”
“They’re friends of yours?” she asked.
“Nah, they’re older than me. But I’ve seen them in action.”
“Did you just say that you’d call our Ma?” Royal said.
The principal swallowed heavily, but then a gloating look filled his face. “Yes, I will unless the two of you leave.”
“We’re not leaving,” Baron said. “Not until you get your head out of your ass and discipline those other assholes and apologize to Brooks for being a sad excuse of a principal.”
“Then I can see I’m calling your mother.”
“Even think about it and we will end your career. Got me, Donny?” Baron warned.
“We are not worried about you calling Ma,” Royal said. “She will always have our backs. What we don’t want is for her to be anywhere near you. She doesn’t need to be exposed to your bullshit.”
They were protecting their mother? That was crazy. And amazing.
“And you shouldn’t have called Brooks’ Mom down here, either. She doesn’t need this stress. You dating her, Mr. Steele?” Baron asked.
“He’s my boss,” she said hoarsely.
Royal eyed her with interest. Then his gaze went to Brooks and his face hardened. “Why is Brooks in here while those other three idiots are free to go around terrorizing the school?”
“This is none of your business,” the principal said.
“He’s expelling me,” Brooks said. “They told him I threw the first punch and that they weren’t picking on Stella.”
“Interesting. Isn’t that interesting, brother?” Royal asked.
“It sure is,” Baron asked. “Considering that Stella is the one that came and got us. Told us the full story of what happened. Brooks here is a hero, and those three assholes are bullies.”
“Baron, there’s a lady here,” Royal said. “Language.”
Baron nodded. “Sorry, Brooks’ Mom. That was rude of me. Although they are assholes.”
She didn’t know what to say, considering the principal had just scolded Baron for swearing and he’d basically told him to shove his opinion.
“Um, well, that’s all right.” She agreed with him—they were assholes. But she guessed that she probably shouldn’t call them assholes.
“So you’ve got the girl that these boys were harassing telling a different story than those boys,” Steele said. “That changes things.”
“I don’t believe it does,” Mr. Cleary said, giving Steele a nervous look. “It’s still three against two.”
“Oh, in case you’re wondering why Donny here is sticking his feet in when he’s clearly so scared of you he’s about to piss himself, again sorry Brooks’ Mom, it’s because the dads of those three boys line his pockets,” Baron told them all, as he leaned back against the wall.
“That is not true!” Mr. Cleary’s face was growing a rather alarming shade of purple.