Fallen Heirs (Windsor Academy 3)

Kingston’s gaze shifts to Shawn. He couldn’t look more unimpressed if he tried. “You can take off now. I’d like to have a word with my girlfriend alone.”

Shawn charges forward again but stops when my palm presses against his puffed-out chest. “Fuck you. I’m not going anywhere. And the way I see it, she ain’t your girl anymore.” He releases a sardonic laugh. “But don’t worry; I took care of her real good last night.”

Shit.

He just had to go and rouse the beast, didn’t he? In one second, Kingston’s pulling me out of the way, and in the next, his fist is connecting with Shawn’s jaw. Shawn fires back immediately, landing a solid blow in roughly the same spot.

“Stop it!” I scream. “Somebody’s going to call the cops, you idiots!”

Of course, they don’t listen and continue trading punches. When I see the neighbors peeking their heads through their curtains, I know I need to end this fast before both these fools get thrown in jail. I’m not stupid enough to risk my face being collateral damage, so I do the first thing I can think of. I take off my shoes, right there in the middle of the street, and hurl one at each one of their heads as hard as I can.

“Ow!” Shawn shouts, rubbing his forehead.

“What the fuck?” Kingston grumbles at the same time, staring at one of my fallen Chucks on the concrete.

I prop a hand on my hip. “You assholes deserved it.”

Shawn’s nostrils flare as he wipes the blood away from his lip. “Did you seriously throw your shoe at my face?”

I roll my eyes. “Hell, yes, I threw my shoe at your face. Quit being such a baby. It’s not like it hurt worse than a fist, but clearly, the element of surprise knocked some sense into you morons.”

Shawn winces. “That’s harsh, babe.”

“Call her that again and see what happens.” Kingston spits blood on the ground.

Shawn juts his chin out. “I’m not afraid of you, playa.”

I throw my hands up. “Oh, shut the hell up, both of you. If you’d stop measuring d—”

“Jazz!”

All three of our heads whip in the direction of my sister’s voice. She’s barreling down the sidewalk toward us with a huge smile on her face.

I crouch down and open my arms to pull her into a hug as soon as she’s within reach. “Hey, kiddo. I missed you.”

Belle squeezes me tighter and buries her nose into my neck. “Missed you, too.”

I glare at both guys over Belle’s shoulder, silently telling them to get their shit together.

I finger a lock of h

er loose hair. “You took the braids out. How’d you get the curls to look so pretty?”

My sister nods. “Monica works at a beauty salon. She gets to take home all sorts of stuff to try. She gots me some new oil that smells like sunscreen.” Belle lifts a lock of her hair, waiting for me to take a sniff. “See?”

I take a whiff of the coconut fragrance. “Mmm, you smell good enough to eat.” I playfully snap my teeth near her neck, making her giggle.

Belle pulls back and frowns when she finally notices Shawn. “What’s he doin’ here?”

Shawn laughs at her accusatory tone. “Hey, there, shorty. Long time, no see.”

Belle balls her fists and parks them on her hips. “I am not short.”

He holds his palms out in surrender. “My mistake. Will you forgive me?”

Now Belle crosses her arms over her chest and harrumphs.

Of course, Kingston’s loving the fact that my sister is giving my ex a less-than-warm reception. “Hey, kiddo.”