His Twisted Heart by Ellie R Hunter
Chapter Three
Luca
The lunch bell rings, and I make my way to Sara’s locker. She’s just finished English Lit, so she’ll beat me there. We have three years left of high school, and the day we graduate is the day I get her out of this hellhole of a town and away from her father. People here look down on my dad’s club. I don’t know a single child that’s been hurt by their father within the club, yet people like Mr. Lancaster are considered pillars of society. It’s such a fucking joke.
The hall is crowded, but seeing the top of her head, I start to relax at having her in my sights. I’ve come to hate being away from her. I know it’s not healthy, but I own my shit, and I don’t care what anyone thinks about it.
Closing her locker, she hitches her backpack on her shoulder and winces as I come up beside her.
“Hand it over.”
With a grateful smile, she shrugs it off and passes it over to me.
I grab her hand and lead the way to the cafeteria. Walking over to the table we sit at every day, I dump our backpacks onto the table and leave her to collect our lunches, paying for her meal as well as my own.
She hates accepting what she calls my “charity,” but she learned a while ago that to argue with me is a losing battle.
Digging into my burger, she nibbles at hers, barely meeting my eyes.
“Are you going to tell me what he did this time, or shall I guess?”
Her sigh is weighed down with her usual embarrassment.
“He pushed me into the stove because I burned dinner.”
Dropping the burger onto the wrapper, I clench my fists, wishing I could pummel them into Mr. Lancaster’s face. One day, I’ll get him, and I pray he fights back, giving me the excuse I need to kick his ass and call it defence. My dad’s always telling me to stay on the defensive, but I want him to lie there and take every hit I smash into his face.
“You need to get out of there,” I manage to grind out.
“And where would I go? Be serious, Luca.”
“You would be safer anywhere than with your dad.”
Her eyes fill with tears and she lowers her head. She’s one question away from shutting down on me.
Picking up my burger, I take a bite, dropping the subject. We eat in silence, and we’re nearly finished when half a roll hits Sara on the side of her head.
Jumping to my feet, the chair tumbles over, and I spin around until I’m staring straight at Clifford Rikks. The fucking asshole is going to lose both his football throwing arms one of these days. The only reason I haven’t done it yet is because I can’t afford another suspension. That’ll leave Sara alone and unprotected. I’m all she has, and I can’t let her down again.
Across the cafeteria, he sits on his chair, his foot up on the table, wearing a stupid fucking smirk on his stupid fucking face.
“Do that again and you’ll regret it.”
His laugh gets the attention of everyone in the room. Squaring my shoulders, I ready myself for anything.
“Oh, yeah, biker trash? And what the fuck are you going to do?”
“I’ll slam your fucking skull against every table in here.”
And I’ll enjoy the shit out of it. I want to goad him further, but I lock myself down. She needs me more than I need satisfaction from violence.
“Let’s go now, Jackson.”
Standing, he cracks his knuckles and rounds his table. Fuck this. I step forward, but Sara’s hand curls around my arm, stopping me.
“Don’t do this. He’s not worth the trouble,” she pleads.
“I’d listen to your trashy girlfriend.” He looks down at her in disgust, and I see red. “Is she really worth getting your ass kicked over?”
He’s threatening me? As-fucking-if.
Sounds like he’s just given me the self-defence excuse on a silver platter.
I don’t remember rushing forward, but I sure as shit remember the sound of his head smashing against the nearest tabletop. Gripping onto his hair, the sounds of the students chanting and cheering muffle into the background like a faint buzz as I ram his head against the hard plastic once more before throwing him to the ground.
Kick after kick, I get a few good boot shots to his ribs before I’m dragged back.
He isn’t laughing now. He’s coughing, trying to catch his breath.
“That’s what I’ll fucking do if you so much as look at her again. Got it?”
My voice nearly goes hoarse from the strain of shouting.
Shoved out of the cafeteria, I’m dragged down the hall, all the way to the principal’s office. As soon as my ass hits the chair, Miss Annie shakes her head as she picks up the phone’s receiver, no doubt calling my mom.
The door opens and Sara slips in. As usual, no one notices her. How is it I’m the only who sees her? She’s fucking beautiful under that dirty blonde hair and those pain-filled eyes.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Luca. Barrett’s going to expel you for sure this time.”
I tug on her soft, warm hand. “My mom’s been called. She won’t let me get expelled. No doubt I’ll be suspended, but I’ll still meet you after school and walk you home.”
“Please, stop fighting for me, Luca.”
I snort at her ridiculous request. “If I don’t fight for you, no one else will. I’ll never let you feel alone.”
Her mouth opens, but I’ll never find out what she goes to say because the door opens and my mom storms in, face tight.
“You should go,” I tell Sara, releasing her hand. “I’ll meet you out front after school.”
My mom’s shadow falls over us, and Sara offers her a small smile before slipping out of the office.
“Judging by your knuckles, I take it I’ve been called in because you’ve been fighting again?”
Mom doesn’t really get angry with me, even though I’ve pushed her close to her breaking point many times.
Sighing heavily, she adds, “No doubt, they’re going to want you out. All I need to know from you is, was it self-defence?”
I purse my lips, careful how I word my response.
“I didn’t start it.”
That’s all I’m saying, and it’s all she needs to hear. My mom’s a lioness when it comes to defending me, and she’ll be on my side any time I fight for Sara. One day, I’ll make her mine. One day, I’ll kill for her.
“Luca?” I open my eyes to find India standing before me, holding baby Rayna. “Do you want a cuddle?”
Sitting up on the couch, I pull out my earbuds and hold my arms out. Sitting back, I cradle my niece in the crook of my arm, fast asleep.
India slumps down beside me and closes her eyes. She looks bone-tired.
“So I went out for some air last night, and guess what I saw?”
Tensing, I keep my mouth shut and let her babble on. I realise now she only came over because she thinks she knows something.
“I saw you and Tori looking awfully close. I mean, I swear, I saw her on your lap.”
I knew it. I get on well with India, but not to the extent of confiding in her.
“You’re so tired, you’re seeing things.”
Her laugh catches the attention of nearby brothers, and I grit my teeth.
“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
Leaning over, she takes Rayna back and I stand, declaring, “There’s nothing to hide, and there’s nothing to tell. Don’t go spreading shit.”
I like India, especially considering who my brother could’ve ended up with, but she has no place in my business.
Stepping outside, I put a cigarette to my lips and light up, spotting Victoria sitting at one of the picnic tables with Pope, weaving flowers into her hair, smiling like she hasn’t a care in the world. I bided my time with Sara, desperately waiting for the day I could see her be just as carefree, and all I got was one night with her before she ran.
I’ll find her one day, but for now, I’ll use Victoria to help pass the time.
Walking by her table, I slow down to catch her attention. When I have it, I jerk my chin toward the back of the bar.
I continue walking, casually looking around to make sure no one has noticed me, but they’re all looking to the front, keeping an eye out for any Black Crows. No one is bothered with what I get up to, and when you move quietly, most tend to forget you’re even around.
I settle in behind the huge tree, and she doesn’t keep me waiting long. Her skirt wafts around her ankles, her smile still as bright as it was a few moments ago.
“You’re daring today. Someone could easily see us,” she taunts.
Inhaling on my cigarette, I exhale the grey smoke and say, “India saw us last night. I made out that she didn’t see anything, so if she says something, don’t rise to it.”
Her smile falters as she fiddles with one of the flowers in her hair.
“Would it be so bad if people knew? I mean, it’s not like there’s much to know.”
“I don’t like people knowing my business.”
Her smile returns, joined with a light giggle. “You may think you have secrets around here, but you’re a fool if you believe it. I won’t go out of my way to say anything, but I won’t lie if I’m asked. It’s not good for the soul to hold secrets. They rot you from the inside out.”
“Victoria,” I growl.
Is she for real?
“Relax, Luca. No one cares what we get up to. We could literally have sex in the middle of the bar and no one would bat an eye.”
Like that would ever happen. I think Pope and Ricky would definitely have something to say if she got caught riding my dick for all to see.
Stepping closer, she runs her finger down my arm, her touch making me shiver.
“In fact, no one would notice if we snuck up to your room right now.”
“It’s not a good idea.”
“Why?”
Flicking my smoke across the grass, I step away from her, trying to put a little space between us, but it doesn’t help. She moves even closer.
“You can’t deny you like fucking me. No strings, just fun—hot, naked fun.”
She makes a good point. At least when I’m inside of her, my head isn’t chasing the one girl I do want.
“This’ll be the last time. Get your ass up to my room. I’ll follow you up.”
As she walks away, I light another cigarette and lean against the tree. Sara could be anywhere. Wondering what she’s up to, where she is, who she’s with, runs on a constant loop in my head. At least while I’m with Victoria, the loop will be on pause.
Taking a long drag, I hold the nicotine in my lungs until it starts to burn, then blow it out in a long, streaming cloud.
Making my way up to my room, I make sure no one, especially India, is watching my movements. Finding Victoria lying on my bed, I kick off my boots and unbuckle my belt. It helps that she’s nothing like Sara.
For the rest of the day, Sara is no one to me because of Victoria Simmons.