Fear Me: A Dark Bully Romance: (Stoneridge Academy Book 2)

  Fear Me

  Stoneridge Academy Book 2

  K.J. Thomas

  Copyright © 2021 by K.J. Thomas

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Editor: Samantha Wiley

  Proofreader: Rachel

  Cover Artist: Thomas Moore Jr.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Also by K.J. Thomas

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Willow

  The clouds are dreary just like the day is going to be. Not a ray of sunshine is able to squeeze through to brighten the place up, or to cheer up the people that will wear masks of sadness today.

  I look around my bedroom of my childhood home and just take in everything. Long gone are the days of pink. Now, everything is just in neutral tones.

  In high school, I got sick of expressing myself and my parents wouldn't let me paint everything black and brown, so neutral it was.

  I can't deny it, I feel warm and comfortable to be back home, mostly safe.

  It's been two weeks since I've seen Silas. No calls, no texts, no kisses. Hell, I would even settle for lingering glances at one another.

  Ever since Violet Vittori came back in the picture, our lives have drastically changed. Some people might say it's for the better and some people, like myself, are still undecided.

  Silas has been with his mom for the past two weeks. I thought for sure we'd be able to get a text to each other here and there or one phone call, but it's been radio silence.

  I look in the mirror one more time. I'm wearing a simple black dress today with black three-inch heels. I'm looking modest, but nice.

  The pounding on my door has me snapping my head in that direction.

  “Willow, it's time to go.” My dad loudly states as he quickly walks away, probably trying to finish getting ready himself.

  I've been staying with him for the past two weeks. Everybody felt it was safer. Nobody knows Violet Vittori is alive, but you can never be too sure.

  When whomever wants her dead finds out that she is alive, when it hits the news, they will most likely go after the Vittori and the Milano families, ergo the need for me to stay at home.

  Dad talked to Taylor's father and he felt the same way, he didn't want her staying there by herself, so she's back at her parent’s house now, too.

  I just wish I could get a hold of Silas to find out what's been going on with his mom and what they've been doing.

  Hell, I don't even know where he was staying. Did he take his mom back home? ‘Hey Dad, here’s mom.’

  I shake my head as I grab my phone and head out of my room. I just hate being in the dark, and dad hasn't been any help. “They need to do what they see as best.” That's the only reply he would give me whenever I would ask about Silas or Violet.

  I walk through my family home and meet my dad in the foyer. My lips curl up, my father looks really handsome in his suit. He gives me a wink as he holds open the front door for me.

  It feels homey and comfortable until we step outside and see all the guards.

  I know this is my life and it still takes a while to get used to, but I am really itching to get back to my apartment. To the way things were before. Taylor's feeling the same way, she doesn't like being at her parent’s home.

  It's not that I hate being here, I love my family to death, but they can be too overbearing, and there are so many guards stationed around the property.

  In light of all the new information that we received, I'm not even going to chance my safety. My happy ass will sit here at home until things change. I should be grateful that at least I get to continue going to school, since it is my senior year.

  Daddy and I pile into the back of a boring unmarked town car. We are on our way to Ethan Vittori’s funeral.

  When my father told me that he passed away over a week ago, I wasn't able to stop myself before I blurted out. “Did seeing Violet again kill him?” Even though in my head I was secretly asking did Violet kill him. Maybe it was Ethan's fault all along, maybe he was the one that ordered everything.

  It would be a huge relief right now if we didn't have to be under house arrest anymore. If one of us got hurt, I don't know what it would do to Silas, it might even break him. I miss him more than I would’ve anyone else.

  We work our way to the church in silence, dad is as caught up with his thoughts as I am with mine.

  He knows how everything has affected me and I imagine he's just as miserable. He fell in love with Violet Vittori.

  I don't know if he ceased contact with her when she went to be with Silas for a couple weeks, or if he still might be able to text and call to at least find out if she's okay.

  I haven't been able to do any of that. I'm not naïve, I do know that deep inside if something were to happen I would be notified, but honestly, it's heartbreaking being away from him this long.

  The driver starts to slow as we get to the church, cars are everywhere. Ethan Vittori was a very respected man, so this doesn't shock me. I would imagine that at least half of the people here are guards.

  I look around to all of the faces hoping to spot Silas. Our driver slowly makes his way to the front to drop us off, following the mass of other drivers.

  I'm not only looking for Silas, I'm a little curious if Violet came also. But the one thing I've been trying to figure out… where is Logan?

  It broke my father's heart when I told him exactly what had happened, including Logan’s part in killing Ivan Alexei. We had a lot of time to talk and discuss over the past two weeks. My brother's been around but he's rarely ever seen, he does his own thing.

  I hated seeing the face my dad made when I told him about Logan. I know he feels that he failed his best friend, Logan’s father. Once the whole mess we’re in gets sorted out, hopefully dad will be able to see what type of person Logan truly is.

  I wonder if Logan can even be helped. That makes me shiver in the seat next to my dad, I don't even want to think about that. I definitely don't want to think about if he comes after me again.

  The door opens as the driver helps me out. A small breeze with a slight chill in the air, is carrying the scent of freshly cut flowers, most likely for the funeral. It smells so good I want to keep sniffing the air, but I don't want to look like I'm crazy.

  When we step inside, the place is packed but my father is able to quickly find us a place to sit in the middle. Over on the right-hand side in the front is Silas. He’s in the row all by himself as a magnitude of people walk by him and shake his hand, most likely giving their condolences.

  I feel so bad for him, sitting there by
himself, maybe this is the way it's supposed to go, maybe that's how these guys are. I want to ask my father, but I'll wait till later to bring it up.

  After we get comfortable and people are still lining up to talk to Silas, I move. My father must sense what I'm about to do, because he grabs my hand and shakes his head no.

  I just want to see him. I just want to hold him and tell him how sorry I am, but my dad's right, there's time for all that later.

  The funeral goes fast, way quicker than I expected. Being a Milano and being a big part of the family, I've gone to an enormous amount of funerals. Some of them taking hours, but not one of them have ever been this fast.

  Once it starts, it's done within a twenty minutes. I imagine that this had to be Silas's doing, he probably didn't want to be here longer than necessary.

  My eyes always stray back to where he’s at, alone in the first row. Looking straight ahead, not glancing at anyone and not even staring at the coffin.

  During the service I glance in every face I can see. I wanted to see if Violet Vittori would actually come here, but I know she wouldn't. Dad told me it's too dangerous. I also wanted to see if I could spot Logan or maybe if I could feel his creepy presence, he still scares the crap out of me. Shockingly, none of them turned up, well at least from where I could see.

  After it's all said and done, the pallbearers take out Ethan Vittori, the ushers start to clean out the rows with Silas leading the way.

  As he walks by me, the same stoic expression remains on his face. He doesn't nod or even flash a sign of recognition my way.

  I feel my shoulders slump, as I wait for our turn to leave the church. I take a deep breath and remind myself, to give him time. This is a part he’s playing. We all have various parts to play in this sordid life.

  As the people slowly make their way to Silas, who is playing the respectable son part, I know it's eating him up inside. He's talking and shaking hands with the men, and letting the women kiss him on the cheeks as they make their way outside.

  As we get closer in the moving line, I still don't take my eyes off him. I watch as he gives the well-wishers a tight-lipped smile and a nod of his head.

  He doesn't even glance in our direction once, he doesn't even seek me out.

  When it's our turn to get to Silas who’s standing alone, I wish I could just move next to him, so he didn't have to do this by himself.

  Silas reaches out his hand and takes my dad's. “Thank you for coming, sir.” He nods at him then moves his attention to me.

  “Thank you for coming,” Silas says in a low repeated voice as I hold on to his hand.

  I want to be able to feel his skin against mine. I want to lean in and hug him but from the look he's giving me I can't, but why?

  He shakes my hand and watches as the tears fill in my eyes, then quickly pulls his away and moves to the next person in line.

  What the hell is going on?

  My dad sees my confusion and how sad I am. He wraps his arm around my shoulder as we make our way out of the church.

  I can understand he's hurting and that he might be distant. But this guy is acting like he's never met me before.

  His mother should be here, this is a kid, still a senior in high school that has to do this all by himself.

  I shake my head, there's nothing I can do right now, he's not going to let me in. Fuck, he barely acknowledges me.

  My breath catches as I make my way out into the dreary day, still no sun. Dad squeezes his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to him, keeping me safe and loved.

  I'm very appreciative for what he's doing, but it's not the right person that's doing it. I need somebody else.

  As we walk down the steps I look back, past the open door, my eyes land on Silas. He still pays no attention to me and does what he was doing before in a robotic way, thanking everyone for coming.

  Chapter 2

  Silas

  I stare straight ahead past the coffin, as the preacher rambles on about the wonderful life that Ethan lived.

  I didn't want to do this funeral in the first place, but the other family members said it had to be done.

  I just find it ridiculous, as I'm sitting in a pew by myself and I'm the only one shaking hands and getting the condolences.

  The five rows behind me are filled up with blood family members. Brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles.

  But according to our tradition, only the immediate family sits in the front row, the spouse and children. Everybody thinks the spouse is dead and I'm the only child. Plus, it’s safer that no one knows my mother is still alive.

  This whole thing is fucking awkward as shit, and the only reason I agreed is because of the elders my father is really close to. They cried and said it had to be this way.

  I have to admit, I do love my father. He hasn't always been the best dad and I know he's a hardened killer, that's where I learned everything from, the best. But this is just fucking downright weird and awkward. I want to get out of here and get out of this fucking suit. I want to get rid of this day.

  I want to go meet up with my mom who’s waiting two blocks away at a small little cafe that not that many locals or tourists know about.

  Lucien, my mom, and I talked for a while about her just coming out and showing everybody that she was here, but that would take away from my father's funeral. The Italians are very picky about their funerals and casting their loved ones on.

  Thankfully the family did agree to making it a short one. Out of my peripheral I'm able to spot Willow a few times. Most of the time she's just staring straight at me, maybe looking for some recognition.

  My chest tightens at this, all I want to do is start punching the bench seat I'm currently sitting in or maybe even attack the podium where the priest stands giving last rites.

  My mom, Lucien, and I talked about this for a while and the safest thing for Willow would be for me to let her go.

  It's going to be almost impossible to fucking do that, especially now that I realize I’m in love with her. But, if I don't let her go it paints a huge target on her back. There's a very good chance she'll be taken away from me.

  I drop my head down and look at my lap, most people think of this as a somber morning, but what it is, is a son who’s stuck. Who has no choice but to hurt the woman that he loves to save her life.

  Being in the same vicinity, hell the same room, with her is a fucking nightmare, not being able to hold or to sit next to her.

  We have a small army of guards here at the funeral, between the Milano's and the Vittori's. Ain't shit going to happen today, even some of the other families have brought guards with them, too.

  I imagine somebody's going to try to step up into Ethan Vittori's place, but it won't happen today, it'll happen later, and I'll be prepared.

  My father and the other members of the family have been preparing for this for years. I'm ready, I just don't like the way it has to be done.

  Some of the higher-ups are taking over till school's finished. That is one thing that I promised my father and I also made a promise to my mother to finish out high school and just try to be as normal as I can until then, but we'll see.

  I don't glance at Willow as the funeral ends and I walk behind my father, making my way out to the front to hear the condolences from everybody again for the second time. I know I sound like a robot, I'm just barely keeping my shit together as it is now.

  When Lucien Milano gets up to me and grabs my hand tight, he gives me a warning look with his eyes. I know exactly what he means, his daughter is coming up next and I need to keep with what we have planned, unless I want to be going to her funeral.

  As I shake her hand and practically ignore her, I can see the tears welling up in her eyes as her father drags her out of the church door and down the stairs. God, I feel like such a dick for doing that, but I had no choice.

  I smile knowingly to myself, just not to the others that are walking by. One day soon this will be over, and I'll have my girl back wi
th me and she'll understand everything.

  I watch as the Milano’s make their way down the steps. I can see all their guards around them, but I trust no one.

  I have no idea who is behind the shit with my mom. Fuck, for all I know it could have been my father. I highly doubt that. It was most likely another family, they’re probably even here right now.

  I glance around at everybody. They’re probably laughing, watching me, thinking that they were able to get rid of mom and now dad is gone. They'll be in for a shock later.

  I’m ready.

  Something shiny takes over my thoughts as I look towards the front of the church. Lucien and Willow are almost all the way down the steps with about twenty men encircling them.

  I did suggest they get more, but Lucien told me to relax, that he's got it under control, he's been doing this for years.

  The shiny thing that got my attention is the window of a black SUV slowly creeping down the street. There are several more right behind it.

  When the window rolls down, I don't even think twice. I run as fast as I can, pushing several people out of the way, skipping several steps as I make my way over to Willow.

  I glance between her and the SUV. I know I'm shouting something, but I can't make out what is coming out of my mouth.

  The window is rolling down, it seems like it's in slow motion, but I know it's fast. I can see the muzzle, it looks like an AR being pointed out the window. It's owner is fully covered in a mask and black clothing. I can't even make out the nationality.

  My steps are hammering loud, causing all the guards to react and stay alert. A couple of them notice instantly what I'm doing and reach for their guns as they see the SUV moving faster and making its way in front of the crowd.