“What are you doing here?” The Principal stepped into the office, scanned the desk, then settled those cold gray eyes on us.
We stood pressed against the wall, as far away from the phone as possible. I didn’t dare look at the receiver where I’d all but thrown it in a desperate need to cover up my call to Nick. One wrong move and he’d see it. One wrong move and he’d—
“The Teacher…” Vivienne started, her eyes wide. “Said to come for you.”
There was a scowl and a flex of his jaw. He was pissed at that.
Still Vivienne kept going, her voice trembling as she spoke. “Mr. St. James caused a scene.” Her fingers trembled as she reached for her jaw and the red marks that the bastard had left behind. “The Teacher…he had to step in.”
The Principal crossed the room in an instant, grabbed her around the neck, and shoved her against the wall. “Master,” he snarled, his lips curling as he leaned close. “He is your fucking Master and you will respect him as one.”
Vivienne’s eyes widened.
But then he pulled away, almost like he’d forgotten himself for a second…no, not forgot himself. More like showed his true face. He was dangerous, more dangerous than Lazarus Rossi…more dangerous than my own mother.
The Principal sucked in a deep breath, those cruel eyes flicking to me. “Let’s not have this discussion again.”
He flinched, then reached into his pocket and pulled his phone free. “Back to your rooms,” he instructed. “Immediately.”
We scurried past him and out into the hall. Her hand found mine as we raced toward the double doors. We barely reached them before movement came through the glass sections of the doors up ahead. A guard strode toward us, leaned over to press his card against the scanner, and opened the doors, heading for the one where we stood.
“What the fuck do we do?” I whispered, risking a glance over my shoulder. But The Principal hadn’t followed us out.
“I don’t know.” Vivienne’s hand tightened around mine.
The guard pressed his card to the scanner and opened the door. He didn’t even need to say anything, just stood to the side and waited for us to step through.
“Our rooms,” Vivienne murmured.
“You’re not going to your rooms,” the guard answered. Then he motioned us forward, back along the halls and toward the classroom. “We have company coming.”
My heart sped with the words. I glanced toward Vivienne as her face grew pale. Company…what did that mean? But we passed the classroom and the wall where Vivienne had been held against her will and toward another room further along the hall.
Darkness spilled out of the open doorway up ahead. I shook my head, my steps slowing as Vivienne reached the entrance.
“Move,” the guard gave me a shove, sending me forward. I tried to clutch Vivienne’s hand, but she was ripped from me as the guard pushed between us and into the murky gloom. “Over there.”
I followed and stepped inside, taking in the steel gray blinds and long black plush leather sofas. Other women stood along the wall of the room, casting glances our way as we were pushed forward.
“Line up,” the guard ordered.
I made my way toward the others, turning to stand with those wearing white. The color somehow protected us, for now. We waited in silence. Every sound sent a tremble of fear through me. Vivienne said nothing. I glanced her way, hoping for some kind of strength, but she had none to give.
The slow, heavy thud of male steps echoed. I counted one set, then another….and another.
Was it the Teacher? Did they find out about the call? I swallowed hard as shadows spilled across the doorway.
The Principal stepped into the room, those dead, gray eyes sweeping along the room, lingering a little too long on me before turning away. Another man followed, an older guy with gray hair and dark eyes that sparkled with excitement. He smiled as he followed The Principal in, his gaze scanning the rest of us. “I told you,” he murmured. “Exquisite.”
Movement drew my gaze as another shadow spilled across the doorway…and a man stepped inside.
My heart stuttered.
My body froze.
It was Caleb…CALEB! I started forward, hope surging inside me as he scanned the room, those perfect hazel eyes finding mine before he looked away. He looked away…
I stopped, barely half a step away. Vivienne lashed out, grabbed my wrist, and jerked me back into line as my stepbrother murmured a reply. “They are stunning.”
