Glass Heart Hero: A Dark High School Romance by Lindsey Iler (free ebook reader for iphone .TXT) 📕

“Breaker . . .”

“Sometimes it feels like all I’m doing is screwing things up. With you. With my sisters. I’m grounded when you’re nearby. Even on the ledge of the bridge, I’ve never felt more alive because you were beside me, but I can’t have you running away every time you get scared.”

“I won’t.”

“No, I don’t think you understand, baby.” He grabs my hand, cupping it between his two. His lips lower, and the warmth from his breath hugs my hand. “I’ve lost a lot in my life. I can’t chase someone who doesn’t want to be caught. I’d literally chase you over the side of a bridge, the unknown waiting for me. Do you want me, Delaney? It’s that simple. You’re either in or you’re out.”

“I’m not running away from you anymore,” I plead, hoping he understands. “I’m running from myself. I think I’ve always been.”

I’ve always been the pretty, rich girl with a silver spoon in my mouth. That changed this year, no matter what my bank account reads. I’m the girl who became a target simply by existing. There’s a lot of fear in knowing the world isn’t shielding me like I believed it would. I’m not exempt from the harshness of this life.

“A princess with little to no control,” Breaker whispers, flattening his lips.

“I don’t like it,” I admit.

“What if I said we could regain some of your control?” I lean away before he can kiss me and question him with a quirked eyebrow, needing a better explanation. “We need to talk to Dixon.”

******

“No more running,” Dixon says as I sneak into his room.

His back is to me, his eyes on multiple screens. The dim lighting comes from the luminescent hue of his computers.

“I’m not running. I’m here, aren’t I?” I say.

“Breaker can rip the throat out of a man, but you deserting him will feel like a fresh wound for the rest of his life.”

“Why are you saying this?”

“To make sure you’re worthy of him.”

“Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”

Dixon leans to the side, resting his elbow on his thigh. “You’d think, right?” His eyebrows raise, daring me to contest his correct accusation.

“You’ve got a point, and I hate you for it,” I say.

“Don’t worry. Most girls feel that way towards me.”

“Like Reagan.” I glance around. “Speaking of her, where the hell has she disappeared to?”

“Let’s focus on you, shall we?” Dixon straightens and clicks away at his multi-colored keyboard. He has quite the set-up in here.

“What can you do with this stuff?” I lean over his chair, completely invading his space.

“Reroute planes. Diminish your inheritance. Reveal everyone’s darkest, deepest secrets.” The thrill in his tone is frightening.

“What you found out about my dad is true, then?” I ask the burning question.

Dixon spins around so fast, he almost knocks me over. “Listen, I warned you that you wouldn’t like what I find. Your father is a piece of shit, but look around, most of our parents are. It comes with the territory of money and status.”

“It doesn’t have to.”

“You’re right. I suspect you and Breaker will break the mold. Same with Marek and Palmer.”

“What about you and Byron?” I inquire.

“No, unlikely. We are who we are to our core.”

“That’s not true.”

“Even the devil has friends, sweetheart.”

“So, what are we going to do about it?”

“That depends. How far are you letting me go?”

This is the real question. He’s my father. I’m made up of his parts. His good, bad, and ugly are coursing through my veins. This idea goes both ways, though. He also made these parts, and instead of nurturing them and allowing them to grow unmarked from his deceit, he picked up the knife and slashed into me without a single thought.

“However far you need to go to make sure they know I’m not to be fucked with,” I say, my voice unwavering and strong.

“And just like that, the princess shows she’s more of a queen than she ever knew.”

“What if I can’t handle what we plan?”

“You’ll be able to. You may not be able to see it, Delaney, but from where I was sitting, you kicked and screamed and fought. Give yourself more credit.”

“We’re the same, Delaney,” Palmer says as she and Marek walk into the room. “You’re not to be messed with, and they’re about to find out why.”

“I don’t know.” My doubt is clear as day. I live in a world where I’m surrounded by ruthless boys and a determined best friend. How the hell do I fit into this?

“I do,” Marek says, hugging Palmer into his side.

“Where’s Breaker?” I ask when I realize he’s nowhere to be found.

Palmer and Marek’s eyes shift to the carpet. Something’s up.

“Spill it!” I demand.

Marek’s mouth opens, but quickly closes. He’s a lost cause. He’ll hold it in because that’s what these boys do for each other.

Palmer starts to crack, but Marek glares at her. “Don’t.”

“She’s my best friend. What do you expect me to do?” She moves away from Marek. He throws his hands up in the air, then leaves the room on a groan of disapproval.

“He’s going to Tripp, isn’t he?” I ask, already knowing the damn answer. “Why can’t he listen to me?”

“Probably the same reason why you’re always running away,” Dixon says, spinning around in his chair to face his monitor. “You’re both too damn stubborn for your own good.”

Palmer grins at Dixon, then drags me from the room. “I’ll drive.”

“You aren’t going to tell Marek?”

“Hoes before bros?” She tries, shrugging her actions off as if it’s nothing.

Marek will kill her, and more than likely me, if I allow her to run off to whatever bloody scene Breaker’s creating.

“Going to grab ice cream,” Palmer calls out, snatching the keys off the table. “Run.”

With a shove, I’m out the door and jumping into the passenger side of Marek’s Escalade. As she rips the gear into reverse, Marek bolts outside, barefoot and murder in his eyes.

Palmer and I laugh, and for a split second, I feel