The Help (Kings of Linwood Academy 1)

I scream into his hand, lashing out with my elbows now that I have room. One catches him in the ribs, and he lets out another muffled, pained sound.

But it’s not enough. I’m twisting, writhing, kicking and punching, but it’s not enough to break his grip. My throat aches, and terror fills my veins like poison as I struggle to suck in air.

There’s a loud revving sound and a screech, and suddenly, the arms around me drop away. I fall sideways and hit the ground hard, making pain flare through my hip. My palms scrape against the rough pavement as I gasp and cough, breathing desperately. There’s a flash of lights and another screeching noise, then the sound of doors slamming and loud voices yelling.

They sound angry. Furious.

I drag in another breath, trying to focus. To figure out what’s happening, where the threat went—and where it’s coming from next.

Hands grab me again, and I lash out wildly, punching and kicking.

“Hey, hey! Harlow! It’s me!”

“River…?” I choke out.

I whip my head around, trying to make him out in the darkness. The door to the warehouse opens, and in that flash of light, I see a look of stark fear on his face.

He uses the opportunity to examine me, running his hands up and down my body like he’s checking for bullet holes or stab wounds.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” His voice is low and harsh. “This isn’t a fucking game, Harlow. We’re trying to keep you safe, but we can’t be with you every damn second. Why would you sneak out like that?”

“Safe…?”

He’s not making any sense. They’ve been watching me to keep themselves safe, haven’t they? To make sure I didn’t blab to the wrong people. Not because they were worried for me. Not because they thought I might be in danger.

Raised voices come from near the warehouse entrance, and a second later, Lincoln, Dax, and Chase stalk over to join us.

“We lost the fucker,” Dax calls, and he sounds pissed. “He disappeared around the side of the building—probably had a car in another lot nearby.”

“He had a mask on,” Chase adds, and my blood c

hills in my veins.

“He what?” I croak as River helps me to my feet.

“Yeah.” He shakes his head, his copper hair glinting in the dim moonlight. “He was wearing some kind of mask. Not a ski mask though. More like a party mask, like a mask of someone else’s face.”

That doesn’t make me feel any better. River just got me upright, but my legs threaten to buckle as fear slams into me. He wraps an arm around my waist, securing me flush against him, and I know he can feel my body shaking. I don’t think I’m in shock like I was after seeing Iris get hit, but I am fucking terrified.

Someone attacked me.

Maybe even tried to kill me.

And I don’t know why.

Does whoever it is know what I saw? What I know? But then why didn’t he go after any of the guys? Or did he pick me first because I seemed like the easiest to pick off, the weakest target?

And I was.

Whoever was after me, I gave him the perfect opportunity to jump me, going to a practically abandoned warehouse in the middle of the night.

I don’t know how he found me, but once I went inside that building, all he had to do was wait.

Witnessing Iris’s murder was terrifying and traumatizing, but I guess a part of me always thought that was the end of it. That whoever had done it would vanish back into the ether like the ghost he appeared to be. I thought it was over.

But it’s not.

Another wave of dizziness washes over me, and I dig my fingers into River’s t-shirt, holding on tight. “I didn’t… I didn’t know.”