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

you did. They’ll be able to trust in the world around them.”

“And he gets to walk.” She spins around, her hands resting on the top of her head, needing a minute.

My phone buzzes. I slip it out of my pocket while watching my dad being loaded into the back seat of the patrol car. Marek’s name flashes on the screen.

“What’s up?” I say.

“Byron and Dixon helped out a lot today.” He states it like a fact.

“Yeah, your point? Why are you acting so weird?”

Delaney is staring out at the water. It’s blue and beautiful like it always is after winter.

“I don’t feel like I helped much with what you had going on.”

“You helped more than you think, but I gotta finish up here.”

“I have a present for you, when you’re done there.”

“A present?”

“Yeah, a present.” In the background, muffled cries erupt.

“Marek, what did you do?” I question.

“The present has two legs, wears khakis, and is pretty damn lucky I haven’t buried him six feet under for what he’s been spewing out of his mouth.” Marek grunts into the receiver, followed by more rustling. “At the old house this douche bag dragged us to that first night.”

Delaney stares at me. The tension is released. Morally, I know I should tell him no.

“I’ll be there in thirty.” I hang up and tuck the phone into my pocket.

“Where will you be in thirty?” Delaney asks.

“Proving a point. You want to come?”

Her eyebrows pinch together. “Do I want to know?”

“Marek retrieved a present for me.” I open the truck door and help her inside. “It’s probably good that blood doesn’t make you squeamish.”

Officer Franklin runs up to us. “Come down to the station tomorrow to fill out paperwork. You’ll more than likely have to testify against them.”

“Whatever you need,” I say, reaching out and shaking his hand. “I owe you a thank you for believing us.”

“After everything we’ve been through, it’s hard not to. Try to stay out of trouble, okay?” I snicker at his warning. “Or at least, don’t get caught.”

“You got it, sir.”

Once I’m inside the truck, Delaney reaches over my body and rolls down the windows. I drive through the roads, the wind whipping around us. I glance at Delaney, admiring her doe eyes and the perfect dip of her cheeks. She’s anarchy on my heart and a bandage for my soul.

Her hand stays in mine the entire ride. At every stoplight, we lean over and share a kiss. It’s not enough, though. It never will be.

“Where are we?” she asks as I take a right on the narrow dirt road. Marek’s Escalade and Dixon’s car are parked along the tall grass.

“This is where Tripp challenged me to the gauntlet.” I smile, finding the whole situation amusing. Funny how life has come full circle.

“Is Tripp your present?” Delaney laughs humorlessly as I lead her to the door. “Seriously, Breaker. Is he dead in there?”

“No, he isn’t dead in there,” I answer, nodding at the gasoline container on the grass. “Yet,” I add.

I open the door, letting it be carried by the wind. Tripp’s legs are fastened to the chair, and tape is plastered over his mouth. His hands are bound behind his back.

I stalk inside, Delaney holding tight to my hand.

“Well, if it isn’t the luckiest mother fucker on planet Earth today,” I tease, bending down to stare him in the eyes. Tripp’s body jerks. He’s trying to get loose, but we both know it’s no use. I wink at Marek. “Thanks for this.”

“My pleasure.” Marek is directly behind him, flexing his fingers like he’s itching to fight.

“I see you had a little fun before I got here.” I point to Tripp’s bruised and bloody face.

“Byron did part of this last night, but Tripp fought me pretty hard. Gave me a good excuse to smack him around a little.” Marek walks around the run-down house, picking up things and smashing them to the floor. “Whoopsie.”

I rip the tape from Tripp’s mouth, and he spits at me. I backhand him, enjoying the feel of my bones cracking against his.

“You aren’t exactly in a power position right now, Tripp. I suggest you make smart moves because they’ll directly affect what happens next,” I warn.

“You’re a bunch of psychopaths.” Tripp kicks at the dirt.

“That you invited into your world when you called the gauntlet.” I circle his chair. “It’s funny, you know, how confident you were going in. You thought you had her. More than that, you thought you were the better man.”

“I am the better man."

“That very well could be true, but I’m not the one sitting helpless in a chair, too far away from civilization for anyone to hear my screams.”

“You aren’t going to hurt me.” His confidence is admirable. He honestly believes he’s safe with me.

“I wouldn’t be so sure, Tripp. I’ve killed before.” This isn’t news. He knows. Everyone does. “I killed for her, didn’t give it a second thought. Now, give me a good reason why you should be allowed to walk away scot-free when our fathers are all behind bars?”

“You have to let the system work the way it works. There’s no evidence to charge me with anything.” His excuse is what I expect to hear. It’s the logical way of thinking. Unlucky for him, I’m in no mood for logic.

“Maybe not, but we all know the truth. You know the truth. Do you think you deserve to get away with all of this?”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“Not yet, but you have full intentions of taking over, right? To help facilitate the business?” I tsk my tongue. “Pave the way for the next generation. They were setting you up for a life of comfort, built on the vulnerability of girls.”

“Like you actually give a fuck about any of them, Breaker. You want me to believe, all of a sudden, you’ve become a feminist overnight?” Tripp scoffs. “I’ve heard the stories and seen you in action. You aren’t some sort of saint, so don’t give me this lecture on human