Page 104 of Redeeming the Villain
I heard him in that video, telling Alora that no one was going to believe him. Well, he’s wrong. Because I sure as fuck do, and so do the guys behind me.
Sound rustles inside, growing louder and louder until the door is opened and Rupert steps into view.
He looks us over. “How can I help you boys?” His voice is shaky. His gaze lands on me, and his face falls. “Look, I don’t want any trouble now.”
Stepping through the threshold of his front door, I spin my baseball cap around backward, wanting an unobstructed view of the man I’m about to destroy for touching my girl.
Lifting his hands up in surrender, he cowers and stutter-steps backward.
I chuckle and grab his hand, digging my fingers between the tendons. “Too late for that.”
“Please. It was all a misunderstanding.” His arrogance fills the room, fueling my rage even more. “Whatever she said, she was lying.”
Laughing maniacally, I snap one of his fingers back, hearing the crunch echo in my ears. He cries out in pain and tries to pull free from my grasp. But he won’t escape it.
“What do you want from me? Money?”
I break another finger, and he screams.
“Do you really think you can buy us off? Not everyone is as greedy and corrupt as you,” I growl in his face. Wincing at his crooked fingers, I bare my teeth. “I bet it’s going to be awfully hard to play piano with these.”
“What’s your plan? Attack me? Beat me up? The police won’t let you get away with this.” He scowls, clearly having no idea of who he’s talking to.
“I’m sure, as a teacher at this school, you’ve heard of the name Kensington or Hawthorne?”
He swallows hard and nods.
“Then I’m sure you’re well aware of the power they hold, not only just on campus, but in Evermore. They fund this town, and if you think threatening them is a good idea, I can’t wait for you to find out the consequences.”
“All for a lying girl?” He scoffs, flabbergasted, as if he can’t even fathom what I would do for her.
My right fist is flying before I can blink, crashing into the side of his face. “Don’t even talk about her! You don’t deserve to speak her name.”
The guys step forward, lining up at my sides as my fists bunch into his shirt, lifting him up.
“You’re going to quit your job. Today. While we’re here,” I inform him very clearly.
His eyebrows lift. “I’m notresigning!”
“Asher,” I grumble, “show him.”
He takes my phone and pulls up the security camera, showing him the live feed of someone playing violin. “Do you see that? That’s live right now. Isn’t that interesting?”
Rupert’s face pales, his body sagging into my grasp. “Y-you recorded it? Without my consent?”
“Oh, now you care about consent?” The taped-up knuckles of my left hand bury into his abdomen. “I’m sorry. I should have asked. Are you okay with me recording you assaulting one of your students?”
“I-it’s not what it l-looks like …” He trails off, and I shake my head in disappointment.
Dropping him back to the ground, I shove him. “Get your phone out. You’re quitting right now. No notice. No letter. Over the phone. Right. Now.”
He chuckles nervously. “You can’t be serious.”
“Do you want to find out if I’m bluffing?” I smirk, looking at him through my lashes, my head tilted to the floor.
He starts pacing back and forth. “And if I don’t?”
I shrug, letting him answer his own question with his best guess.
