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

looks directly at me with no emotion. I should feel something. Sad, maybe. All that remains is blind anger and disappointment.

“Have a nice life, Breaker, and tell your Aunt Emily I’ll be seeing her in court.” He waves over his shoulder, with a swagger that will soon falter. He believes he’s untouchable. What he is, is a king on a throne that is soon to crumble.

“Dad?” Delaney whispers the term of endearment that this man has never earned.

“What you went through was an unfortunate event.” Mr. Chambers gets up.

“Abandoning your daughter will be the biggest mistake you ever make, Mr. Chambers, but don’t you worry. I have her. We have her.” I look in the eyes of Byron and Dixon, certain my words ring with truth. “You will not break her. You won’t wound her in ways that will leave permanent scars. The scars that are already there, I’ll tend to them because they aren’t because of you. No, don’t think for a single second that this beautiful creature has been changed for the worst because of you. They’re there because she was willing to stand up, even when the ones around her kept knocking her down.”

“The untouchable, Breaker, that’s what we are. It’s what we’ve been since we were in your exact shoes at the academy. The only difference is we knew our place. We bit down on the leather and took the shots. We put our heads down until it was our turn to step forward.” He glances at his daughter, and when his eyes find mine again, he shakes his head. “It’s a shame. With all the power in your crew, you’d be unstoppable.”

“How do you know we aren’t?” I shout as he walks away.

He doesn’t respond or show any sign of hearing my loaded threat.

“Holy shit! No offense, Delaney, but your dad’s a piece of shit,” Dixon says, pulling her to her feet and hugging her tight to his side.

“Are you okay?” I reach out, taking her hand. I need her close.

Her eyes are wide and full of sorrow, but it isn’t for herself. It’s for me. “You deserve better.”

“I’m trying to do better.” I hold out my hand, and she takes it, allowing me to help her up from the table. “And I think it’s safe to say, we all deserve better.”

“What now?” Delaney says, asking Byron. He’s the one who said he had a plan. I hope it’s a good one.

“My guess is, your fathers aren’t having such a good day right about now,” Byron explains. He shrugs his shoulders, pride flashing in his eyes.

“What did you do?” I ask him.

“Daddy’s secrets aren’t hidden any longer,” Byron answers, motioning to the doors.

Without stopping, I lead Delaney through the country club lobby and out the double doors. The sun hits my skin, and for the first time in a long time, relief settles inside me. The world is working in our favor.

“Holy shit!” Delaney whispers, squeezing my hand.

Officer Franklin is reading my father his rights. Not that he deserves to have any, as far as I’m concerned. Four cement walls are more appropriate.

“Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to consult an attorney before speaking to the police and to have an attorney present during questioning now or in the future,” Officer Franklin says, slapping the handcuffs on my father’s wrists, a pleased smile on his face.

Another officer is doing the same with Mr. Chambers, whose eyes are directed straight at me. I wave my fingers in the air.

“This has nothing to do with me. It’s the DuPonts and Chambers. It’s their hands that are dirty. Not mine.” My father fights the two deputies Officer Franklin is handing him over to.

“Don’t listen to him. I am not involved in any manner and have never been associated with this man,” Mr. Chambers argues.

“Please don’t forget you have the right to remain silent. I suggest you do that before you say something you cannot retract, sir,” Officer Franklin warns. He walks over to us and slaps me on the shoulder. “There was plenty of information to bring them down. How they managed to get away with what they did for as long as they did is impressive.”

“How’d you know we’d be here?” I ask.

“Byron Decatur can be awfully convincing,” Officer Franklin says.

“What happens now?” I squeeze Delaney’s hand.

“Well, they’ll be taken to holding, where they’ll wait for their lawyers to attempt to get them off. The judge has already agreed to hold their bond hearing quickly.”

“They’ll post bond,” I point out.

“They’re both already posed as a flight risk with all the resources they have. Pair that with the crimes, and my guess is there will be no bond.” He holds onto my shoulder, shaking me. “Take a deep breath, kid. They’re going to get what they deserve, one way or another.”

“How’d we miss this, after Henry Lexington? How did this operation slip past us?” Delaney asks.

“They were smart about this, but thanks to Byron Decatur, he and his brother managed to get ironclad proof of the Sky Tech sale and the upcoming acquisition of the foundation. Mr. DuPont is already down at the station.”

“Of course they did,” I murmur under my breath, shaking my head with awe.

“Dixon has a real future in computer forensics.” Officer Franklin’s compliment is sincere.

“I prefer to be on the wrong side of the law, sir.” Dixon grins, shaking his hand. “Thank you for everything, though.”

“And Tripp?” Delaney asks Officer Franklin.

“There’s no true proof of his wrongdoings, outside of his connection to you and his father,” Officer Franklin answers as one of the officers calls him to the patrol car.

He walks away, and Delaney’s face falls. This isn’t the answer we’re looking for. If I could take away her uncertainty and fear, I would jump from the highest building to do so.

“It’s a good day, baby. We did the right thing, and hopefully a lot of women and girls won’t ever feel what