I’ve just gotten out of the shower the next morning when my phone rings. Still damp, I rush to my bedroom but miss the call I see is from the school.
Fuck.
What shit has Cash gotten into now?
I get ready quickly, grab my keys, and throw a leg over my bike. When I get to the office, that fucking Mr. Rogers is standing over Cash with his hands on his hips.
Kenzie is standing off to the side of Cash, her hand on his shoulder. The sight of her being there for him makes my chest tighten. No one outside of the club has ever protected my son.
“What happened?” I ask, stepping into the room.
The principal jumps at my voice, and Siren’s head snaps to me.
“Your son attacked the same student again, Mr. Remington. I’m afraid that if he keeps getting into fights, he’s going to be expelled from this school.” The asshole shrugs, like he couldn’t care less.
“Cash was defending me from a student threatening me,” Kenzie speaks up, her brow furrowing. “That should mean something. Everett is not innocent in this. The things he was saying to me were highly inappropriate.”
“It would have been handled.” Mr. Rogers huffs, adjusting his ugly green tie. “It’s not up to Cash to hand out his own brand of justice, especially when we all know he was looking for a reason to hurt Everett again.”
“What did he say to Miss Masters?” I ask my son, who has had his eyes on me since I stepped into the room.
His mouth tightens, and he glances at Kenzie, like he doesn’t want to have to say it again in front of her. “He was saying all the dirty shit he wants to do to her. There were no other teachers around. I told him to stop, and he didn’t. It only made it worse because he knew he was pissing me off, but you don’t talk to women like that. I told Miss Masters to leave, but she wouldn’t leave me with Everett. He pushed me too far, and I punched him in the face.”
My eyes meet Kenzie’s. “Are you okay?”
She nods, gently squeezing Cash’s shoulder. “I’m fine.”
“Seems like my son is doing your job for you,” I snap at Mr. Rogers. “No woman should feel unsafe at this school when they are trying to do their job.”
“Miss Masters was not unsafe.”
“And why is it always that my son is in here and never Everett? I’m sure it couldn’t possibly be because his father is on the city council?” I seethe, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’ll be speaking to my club lawyers about this. And Cash and Miss Masters deserve the rest of the day off after having such a traumatic day.” I stare him down, daring him to disagree.
His beady eyes drop to my cut before he swallows hard. “Of course, Miss Masters. Do you have any classes left for the day?”
“No, I was planning on marking some tests, which I can do at home.”
“Okay then, I’ll see you tomorrow when we can discuss this incident with the rest of the staff. Unfortunately, Cash will be suspended again. We have rules, and I must follow them.”
“I didn’t ask you to bend the rules. I asked you to make sure all the students abide by them. Come on, I’ll walk you to your car, Miss Masters.”
I wait for Cash and Kenzie to walk past me before I step up to the principal and lower my voice. “I know you’re friends with Paul, so maybe you can tell him if his little shit of a kid doesn’t leave mine alone, I’m going to kick his goddamn ass. I’ve been to prison, so it won’t be a hardship to go back again.”
Mr. Rogers opens and closes his mouth, deciding on a final nod.
“Oh, and one more thing…” I smirk, lowering my tone. “If anything happens to Miss Masters again, I’m going to hold you personally accountable. Lucky for me, I raised a man who protects women, or today could have gone in a whole different direction.”
I leave before I say anything else.
Kenzie and Cash are leaning against her car when I catch up to them.
“Are you both okay?” I ask again, and they both nod.
“He’s a fucking asshole, Dad. He was telling her how he wants to fuck her and how he’s going to break into her house in the middle of the night.” My son scowls, shaking his head. “He didn’t know I could hear what he was saying because I’d come up behind him.”
“You handled it well,” I tell him, clapping him on the back. “I’m proud of you. Ride home, I’m going to have a word with Siren.”
“Ride safe, Cash,” she says, going up on her tiptoes to press a soft kiss on his cheek. “And thank you for standing up for me today.”