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“Can I ask why?” I ask him.
“Did you know that your transportation department is very friendly with the Romanian Mafia?” he asks.
“Are you serious? You couldn’t just tell me that you wanted in because you want to score some premium coke?” I scoff.
“You know?” he grins.
“No, I didn’t, but I do know from the models that it’s where they get their best shit. You see and hear things backstage. You didn’t have to put up and act. I would have helped if you had come clean,” I roll my eyes.
“Do you mean that, Phoebe?” he smirks.
“Why wouldn’t I? I already know the Blakes experiment for omega and alpha traits when turning mortals. Everyone knows you have insane shit going on with the vampires. And Knight has been telling me about the underground shit he wants with Rogue Nation. You should talk to my dad about his gun stuff before you kill him,” I shrug.
“What gun stuff?” he glares at me.
“Did you think that my dad and his weird ass cat mate lived the life they did because they were legit? He’s ex–military. He runs guns for the Habibi guys with the star tattoos on their necks. You know the ones that look like the Converse logo?”
“You’re joking,” he grins. “You could have started with that when trying to save him.”
“You could have told me you were in it for the coke, so this entire run around would have been spared. You wasted time. Not me.”
“Noted,” he scoffs and has his phone to his ear without hesitation. I’m unsure what language he’s speaking, but it sounds like he’s on a mission.
His little story about Knight being an outsider doesn’t sit well with me. Aizen is a very social kid. Ayrie, on the other hand, prefers to be in her own little world. The two of them are complete opposites, and they both understand that. If Ayrie started something, Aizen would have definitely stepped in.
However, if the situation were reversed and someone did something to Aizen, Ayrie would always take things a little too far. They protect one another. It doesn’t matter who was at fault as long as one of them stands on top. It’s been that way since they started daycare. She’s a vicious little girl. It’s why I try to keep her focused on things that distract her.
What sucks is that they probably got into this altercation because they’re rogues. Just
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this morning, they were excited about staying in the dorms with the other kids. And it wasn’t just Aizen; Ayrie was just as excited–enough to bring it up to Knight. I hope I don’t have to get either of them in trouble for this. I’m glad I haven’t made any donations outside of the tuition. If this is going to start this early, I’d rather take what I planned on giving the school elsewhere.
“You don’t look too happy for someone who just got what they wanted regarding the people who turned her into a monster.” Mr. Knightly catches my attention.
“A monster? Midnight? She’s a whole ass baby. And I honestly wouldn’t have cared if you killed them. They did what they did, and now they’re paying for it. I was just thinking about the twins. They were so excited to tell me about staying in the dorms and now this. I’m sure it was because of the rogue shit.”
“It was over a watch.”
“A watch? You mean the new watches Knight got them to track them?” I ask.
“He did that?” he seems impressed. “I guess. Yeah, one of the older kids wanted it, and Ayrie broke the noses of the two kids trying to get it off Aizen. I’m sure it’s going to be covered by someone somewhere soon enough. The alphas involved will be quick to have their pups play victim.”
“How embarrassing for them that a little five–year–old princess fucked up their ten year olds. For trying to steal from them. How are they going to victimize themselves after that?” I snort.
“You’ll be surprised,” he laughs.
It’s almost dark out when we arrive, and I’m starving. The house smells like cookies when I walk through the front door. There’s laughter in the living room. I head straight for it to find Knight and the twins at the coffee table doing arts and crafts.
My eyes immediately land on Aizen’s face. He not only has a black eye, but he has a dark bruise on his chin, and his lip is busted. His eyes fill with tears as soon as he sees me, and he jumps up to come to me. I drop everything to hug him when his little body slams against mine.
“You’re okay,” I rub his back. His little sniffles fill me with rage because Aizen doesn’t cry. He’s always the one who holds it in, just like me. “Let me see.” He’s embarrassed, but he pulls away and looks up at me. “Want to tell me what happened?”
“Arthur and Louis wanted my watch,” he says, showing me his arm. There are bruises and scratches where they tried to take it off him. “I told them my dad got it for me, and they tried to take it. I pushed Louis, and he fell, so his friends hit me.”
felt it,” Ayrie says from where she’s sitting next to Knight. It catches Knight’s and his father’s attention. I was in my class, and I had to find him because he was in trouble.”
She starts to cry, and Knight pulls her onto his lap. I lift Aizen and take him over to her. ”
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Il avait tant de bobos.”
“Tu as bien fait,” I reassure her. “Vous vous occupez toujours les uns des autres.”
She jumps off Knight’s lap and wiggles between us. It’s been a while since the two of them have cuddled up with me like this, and I miss it. I just wish it were because they‘ re happy the way they always are. Someone is going to pay for this.
“Pourquoi ont–ils attaqué mon frère?” she asks once she’s done.
“Because they’re bullies. Bullies do that.”
“We don’t,” Aizen whispers.
“Right, because we’re not and I don’t want you to be,”
“They started it.” he pulls away and growls. “I no understand why I have to be a good boy and not them.”
“You will not raise your voice at me again,” I growl at him. He crosses his arms and turns away. “You are not like them. You are better. Both of you are. If you start acting like them, you will be just as weak. Is that what you want? To be stupid and useless like them?”
“It’s not fair,” he shouts. “I do everything right. Why me?”
“Because you are a prince,” Mr. Knightly says calmly. “You don’t speak to your mom like that, Aizen. That is never acceptable.”
“Pop–pop, Ayrie had to hurt them,” he cries. “Chaque fois qu’elle fait du mal à quelqu’un, elle a des cauchemars. Cette règle est si stupid,”
“Hey,” Knight says, standing up. “I get that you’re mad, buddy, but you’re not allowed to use that kind of language.”
“Je vais dans ma chambre. Je ne veux plus parler à aucun de vous.” he storms off. Ayrie stands up and fixes her skirt.
“I go help,” she says, taking their tablets off the table. She goes after him.
“He’s not wrong,” Knight says.
“That doesn’t help,” I sigh. “I know he’s right, but if I let him do this, he’s going to grow up to be your father, and intimidation is not a good Kingly trait.
“Ayrie is going to have nightmares tonight. They’re not going to sleep. Did they at least get suspended?”
“No, but I informed them that they’ll be home. Aizen’s face and Ayrie’s hands need to heal up.”
“Fuck, I didn’t even check her hands.” I push off the floor to stand. “What happened? Did those alpha assholes try to make it their fault?”
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“They did, but the school knows they’re not dealing with rogue pups. And they might not have my last name, but they know they’re my kids and who we are. Malcolm dismissed everything. Those kids were expelled from school. The alphas are going to want a sit–down for this.”
“So am I. Along with their fucking parents.” I feel Midnight pressing up against my skin.
“Oh, shit,” Mr. Knightly laughs.
“Angel, calm down.” Knight stands closer to me. I put my hand up to stop him.
“How am I supposed to calm down, Knight. Look at my son’s face. You’ve never seen Ayrie have night terrors. They’re not great. It’s going to be a long night and on top of that the press is going to eat this shit up. I’m already all over the TV with this bullshit about who my real parents are and the kids not having your last name. They’re doing this shit to fuck with us.”
“She’s right.” Mr. Knightly agrees.
“I want the names of those kids and their parents, “I tell him. “I am going to prepare for the kids to go to bed and make dinner. Get me what I need.”
“What are you going to do, Phoebe?” he sighs.
“Just because I don’t want my kids to be bullies at school doesn’t mean I’m not going to fucking wreck these little fucks and their parents. I bet it’ll be a long time before they try this on us or any other rogue kid when I’m fucking done with them.”
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