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

decency. We do what we have to do to become the top one percent in this nation.”

“I’m already the top one percent.” I laugh. “I didn’t need to sell girls to get there.” I kiss Delaney, reassuring her everything will be okay. She seems unfazed once again.

“No, your daddy had to fuck your useless mother for you to get there.”

His words hit where he wants. His way of fighting back, though weak, is quite effective. For a few seconds, my vision blurs, and muffled noises fill my ears. Anger is quick to suffuse my mind.

I spin slowly, ready to go to war. “What did you just say about my mother?”

“Breaker.” Delaney shifts between Tripp and me, making sure to stay too far away for him to touch her. She cradles my hands in her face. “Whatever you have to do, I’m telling you it’s okay.”

Delaney, the softest and kindest human being, has found a way to accept me for who I am. She may not always believe I’m capable of being a monster, but I am. I run in a pack of them. It’s who I was when she met me. After living through our chaos, she lost the will to accept that part of me for a while, and I understand why. To appreciate the darkness that reaches around parts of us, demanding attention and respect, is the hardest thing to do.

I comb my fingers through her hair, gripping tight to her to remind me she’s real. “You sure?”

“Be the hero and the monster. They’re allowed to co-exist.”

“Well, isn’t this sweet,” Tripp taunts. “Fucking precious.”

I twist Delaney around, putting her behind me, then crash my fist against his face. “Keep running your mouth, mother fucker.”

“You won’t get away with this.” A laugh bubbles up his throat. He spits at my shoes, splattering them with blood and saliva.

“Money talks, Tripp. Don’t know if you know, but I have plenty of money to bury all my skeletons.” I smile, daring him to mess with me. “And all of yours.”

“What are we going to do with him, Break?” Marek says, picking up a sturdy piece of wood and swinging it like a bat. It crashes into the window, showering glass shards over the floor.

“Delaney, I love you, but I need you to wait in the car.” My attention remains on Tripp. He’s like a caged animal. Any minute, he could go berserk.

“Yeah, Delaney, you better go. Lord knows, trouble always finds you, and this time is no different. Better watch your step,” Tripp threatens.

Delaney leans around me, putting her face in Tripp’s. Her voice is so low, I have to strain to hear her. “Whatever happens in here when I leave, know without a shadow of doubt, you deserve it.”

“I’m not much different than your little boyfriend. A monster is a monster.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. Some monsters lurk in the shadows. Those are the ones we fear, the ones you have to watch at all cost. Then there’s monsters like these two.” She looks at Marek and me. Dixon and Byron crash through the door, making her laugh. “Make that these four. They’re the kind of monsters you root for, because even when their tactics are beyond fucked, they would never turn their back on the ones who matter to them most. Guess which category you fall in? The former, so when they do what they’re going to do, I won’t lose sleep.”

“Palmer’s almost here.” Marek waves his phone. “She can drive you home, Delaney.”

Delaney walks into my arms, and I hug her tight to me.

“I need your phone, baby,” I whisper. She hands it to me, no questions asked.

“Do it.” She nods her chin at each of the boys on her way out, leaving us alone with Tripp.

“How about one last gauntlet? What do you say? You up for it?” I circle the room, tossing Delaney’s pink case back and forth in my hands.

“What do you have in mind?” Tripp sits up as high as he can, faking confidence.

I take my pocketknife out and open it. Sunlight glints off the sharp edge. As I walk around the chair, I graze the tip across his skin, adding extra pressure on his spine.

“Let’s keep it simple. I don’t want to get my hands too dirty. I have a girl waiting for me out there. Someone grab the can so we can get started.”

Byron runs outside and returns with the gas can Marek must have brought, foreseeing the ending of this showdown.

“Do it,” I instruct.

Byron uncaps it and douses the walls with gasoline, then throws the red plastic canister in Tripp’s face. The fumes make breathing hard, but most of us won’t be here long.

“Are you frightened?” I ask Tripp, finding too much joy in the quiver of his jaw. I bend down to look him in the eyes. I won’t do what I’m about to do without being man enough to watch.

“Fuck you.” Tripp squirms, trying to get free. There’s no use. Marek may have never been a Boy Scout, but he knows how to tie a knot.

Delaney’s phone unlocks with my first try. I open her texts and scroll until I find Tripp’s messages to her. I read them several times. Far too distracted from his heinous words, I barely breathe. Rape. I’ll get you. Bitch. Whore. You’ll get what’s coming to you.

Those aren’t even the worst of them.

Marek clears his throat, drawing me back into this room and away from the murderous thoughts racing through my mind.

“You think you can say these things without repercussions because you’ve always been able to skip through life without any consequences,” I say, shifting my eyes between each of my friends. “I can’t live, knowing I allowed you to speak to Delaney like this.”

“They’re just words.” His head shakes back and forth as he struggles against the restraints.

“No, you don’t get to do that. Those words are enough indication to me that you’re more capable than I gave you credit for.” I step back,