Wicked princess

Chapter 15

I’m going to kill him. 

Stone was right, we did ruin Tommy’s life…but only because he ruined Liam’s first. 

A shudder runs through me when I think of all the vicious, cruel things he did to him. 

Especially the night before his death. 

I clutch a hand to my chest. Liam never told me. 

Just like most of his pain, he kept it hidden deep down. 

He didn’t give me a chance to save him. 

My insides twist with rage. The fact that I was starting to have feelings for someone who could stand there and defend such a vile, evil person makes me want to wash my heart out with bleach. 

Which is exactly why I took an Uber to Cluck You shortly after kicking Sawyer and Dylan out of my room.

I want to confront the asshole to his face.

I’m downright shivering with adrenaline as I march into Stone’s job. 

It takes me all of two seconds to spot him standing at the counter. 

I don’t think, I just act. 

Balancing on my crutches, I pick up the nearest object and fling it at him. “You asshole.”

Stone ducks in the nick of time, narrowly missing the napkin dispenser I launched at his head. “Jesus Christ. What the hell is the matter with you?”

“You. You lied to me, Stone. You looked me right in the eyes and lied.” I hate the way my voice quivers, but I have no control over it. “I thought we were friends. I thought—”

“Bianca, that’s enough,” Sawyer calls out, rushing inside the building. “I know you’re upset, but this isn’t the time or place.” 

Stone snorts. “Should have known they’d get to you sooner or later.” 

I open my mouth to tell him off, but a short older man waving a broom yells, “You. I told you never to come here again.” 

I have no idea what he’s talking about. 

“Relax, Mr. Gonzales,” Sawyer says. “She was just leaving.” 

Ha. Fat chance. “No, I wasn’t.” 

He jabs a finger in my face. “Leave now, or I’ll call the police.” 

“Call them,” I bite out. 

Stone takes off his apron and throws it on the counter. “I’m taking my ten-minute break.” 

Mr. Gonzales throws his hands up. “No. No break for you. You cause that mean girl to come in here and ruin my business again!” 

Again?

Stone looks at Sawyer. “Cover for me?”

Sawyer is visibly outraged. “Are you out of your damn mind?”

“Please,” he insists. “I need to talk to Bianca.” He folds his arms. “Besides, you owe me for never pressing charges against your boyfriend.”

She points to her engagement ring. “Fiancé.” Even though it’s clear she doesn’t want to, she relents. “And fine, you can talk to her, but I swear to God if you upset her, I will hurt you.” 

It’s an idle threat since Sawyer wouldn’t hurt a fly, but I appreciate the sentiment.  

Stone gestures for me to follow him out back. 

Once we’re outside, I unleash every bit of my pent-up anger on him. 

“Tommy bullied Liam every day of his life. He made fun of his stutter, his scars.” My pain is a tangible thing, gripping me by the throat. “The night before he died, he tricked Liam into going into a closet so he could see Dylan—the girl he was in love with—make out with his brother. And if that wasn’t bad enough, he pointed and laughed at his tears after they walked back inside the gymnasium.” 

I have to press a hand to my stomach because I feel sick. So fucking sick. “Then he pulled down his pants in front of all their classmates and made fun of his penis.” 

Tears are streaming down my face now. I can’t imagine how humiliated Liam felt at that moment. It makes sense now why I did what I did to Stone. I wanted Tommy to experience what it was like to put a target on your brother’s back for no reason and not be able to do anything about it. 

 “How could you stand there and defend someone so malicious? So evil.” 

“Because he’s my brother,” Stone roars. “My dad’s been in jail since I was eight and Tommy pretty much raised me.” He snorts. “Besides, you’re one to talk, princess. Your brothers aren’t exactly upstanding people, either. Believe me, they’ve done their fair share of terrorizing.” 

Huge difference. My brothers would never pick on someone the way Tommy picked on Liam. “My brothers would never—”

“Oh, yeah?” Stone argues, taking a step in my direction. “Fine, let’s talk about all the shit they’ve done to people.” 

“What—”

“Shortly after Liam died, Jace hunted him down in the woods and threatened to rape him with a bat right before he killed him. Tommy had to beg and plead for him to spare his life. Not that he had much of a life after that because everyone blamed him for Liam’s suicide, and he had to change schools.” Eyes narrowing, he continues, “When Dylan came back to town, Jace put up posters of her father’s mugshot all over school.” His jaw tics. “And your brother Cole? Well, in addition to beating me up twice, he called Sawyer fat in front of their classmates and made her feel so bad about herself she became addicted to Adderall to lose weight and almost died.”  

I feel sick for a whole new reason now. “How do you know all this?” 

“Because when the Covingtons do shit, everyone in town talks about it.” His smile is vicious. “You want to judge and call me a terrible person for defending my brother, but you’re no different, princess.” 

That may be true. However, Liam’s my line you don’t cross. 

Ever. 

“He was a good person,” I whisper. 

“Are you fucking kidding—”

“Liam,” I choke out. “Liam was a good person. More than good. He was kind and gentle. Compassionate. He didn’t deserve the torture Tommy inflicted on him.” I look him right in the eyes. “And I can’t be friends with someone who can’t see that.” 

I won’t. No matter how much it might hurt. 

I don’t know what to make of the expression on his face. “Duly noted.” 

Even though my family didn’t start this war, I’m ending it. 

I have to. 

“I guess this is goodbye then.” 

Go figure. The only friend I made is the one I can’t keep. 

He starts to walk inside but stops. “Bianca?”

“Wha—”

Soft lips crash against mine in a tender kiss that sizzles all the way from my head to my toes.  

“What are you doing?” I whisper against his mouth. 

With sad eyes, he pulls away. “Saying goodbye.”