One More Day: A Bully Romance: (Ridgeside High Book 4) Page 2

  I know Tony feels the same, but we trust the family word and the lifestyle more than we do anything else right now. It’s been ground into us since we were little, it'd be stupid to go against it. If Levi ever did, he would look weak and have a lot of problems with the people that are watching him. The ones that respect and are close to him, would not feel the same way if he went against his word and the other families like us, want him taken down. They will see it as a weakness.

  Everybody has a slight smile on their face, including Harper, as we continue to discuss the best option.

  “Aaron is destined to stay invisible. It's going to be extremely hard for Levi and the other game players to find him, unless he wants to be found,” I say to everyone.

  Morgan is the first one to scream out, “oh my God, we can leave.”

  It's not the brightest idea but it's one that we're all pretty certain about. Harper and Morgan start screeching like the teenagers they are and run out of the room.

  All of the guards and even Lee leave, following them with the same intentions on their mind. I could see it written all over their face.

  Tony gets up and comes and stands right next to me as we both start to laugh. A good full belly laugh, not a chuckle or fake laugh.

  I know this laugh is the real deal, the one that we needed to do for so long, the one that shows that we're finally getting out of here.

  I start to walk as Tony follows, we can hear the commotion in the house as everyone quickly packs.

  From my understanding, Levi doesn't like mistakes, either. Everybody will be extremely careful playing the game, they won't just kill us to kill us. If they do, they’re pretty much signing their own death certificate.

  I shake my head, this is such a well-thought-out game, it kind of makes me laugh how organized it is, but it also makes me grateful. Even though we're living in this hell, now we’ll be able to live in it more comfortably.

  I give Tony a nod as I make my way back to our room. Tony is most likely going to wake up Sandra and tell her the news.

  Morgan has bags laid out all over the bed and just starting to tightly and carefully pack everything. I figured she would just go through the room like a mad woman and throw everything in there.

  I hug her from behind tightly as she melts into me. Then I pull away and help her pack. I don't want to be here any longer than we have to be, either.

  I loved this place as a kid, but it's going to be a long time till I want to visit again.

  Three

  LEVI

  The phone keeps ringing making me growl as it pulls me out of another night of sleep. I was having the best fucking dream, too. Morgan and I were married and living the good life. I was ruling the fucking east coast, not just New York, the whole East Coast.

  The part that makes my heart tighten, is all the little mini Levi's and Morgan's that were running around in the dream.

  I shake those thoughts off as I answer my phone, “what?”

  “Hey boss, some weird shit is happening at the Borelli cabin. I think you need to look.”

  I don't say anything, I just hang up. Cade won't be too bitter about it, he knows how I am, especially when I'm half asleep.

  When I finally get to the office I slouch in the chair turning on the computer. It's directed to go to the live feed the guys have set up around the cabin. It's not like they're hiding, we know exactly where they are, and they know we know. People there avoid going outside. All the windows are tightly closed.

  My head snaps back a little bit when I get a good look at the activity going on. The garage doors are open, the front door is open, and a lot of the windows and curtains are drawn back, men are walking around.

  Plain as day I could see Hudson and Tony walking out in the front and loading what seems to be bags into a car.

  I pick up the phone and hurry as I dial Cade, I don't even let him answer before I snap out, “where are Aaron and Carly?”

  He sighs, “we haven't seen them for hours. A couple of our guys think that they might have gotten away.” He stays silent for a minute wanting to see if I want to speak. He should know better, I just want him to lay everything on the line. “There's only been a couple of vehicles that have left. One was a mail delivery truck and the other one was a school bus, it is a school day.”

  Fuck, out of all the guys in high-tech we have, plus everything that we have available to us, those two most likely snuck out.

  I guess it explains why the other ones aren't cowering anymore. Damnit, I think to myself as I lean back in the seat. Carly and Aaron must have been gone for hours by now, or at least gained some kind of good leeway for them to be acting like this.

  Tony and Morgan I know pretty well. They know I’ll always keep with what I say, they found something.

  “Shit,” I say as I click over to the website making sure to read everything.

  It takes me less than five minutes to realize what's going on. And I am now certain that Carly and Aaron got away. The damn family has found a loophole that will allow them safely outside until the other hits are taken care of.

  My phone rings again as I grab it. “What?”

  Cade chuckles at my snappy response, “what do you want us to do now? We could take out a shit ton of people and get this over with.”

  “No, don't do that, that's not how the rules work. Plus, what fun would that be anyway?” I laugh again, “we just need to list the rules better next time. I’ll have multiple hits running at one time.”

  I smile as I hang up with him, score one for the other team. Tony knows I won't go after anybody else until the Aaron and Carly hits are done.

  I quickly send Cade a text message.

  Me: Make sure that the rules are followed, I'm not going to be responsible for going after somebody that went out of line and tried to move ahead.

  Cade and Derek will make sure that all the people playing the game understand the rules and what they can do. People know me, if they interfere with my shit, I’ll interfere with their lives. I really don't want to go on a killing spree with the people that are playing my game.

  I smile thinking about all the people that are involved. Most everybody who signed up for the game is some kind of specialist in their own way.

  People had to be vetted. A full background check was done, blood, everything you could think of. We probably know more about their lives than they do.

  The majority that signed up are high-level hackers, lawyers and doctors. We've had two senators plus a shit ton of political people. Ranging from the bottom of the food chain up high. Not too high, we don't have the vice president or president in on this game.

  The ones that shocked me the most, though, and make me laugh every time I think of it, is a soccer mom and a church going grandma.

  They had to be vetted twice and personally interviewed. I thought it was a fucking joke, but I guess everyone needs their own type of entertainment.

  You can always show people what you want them to see on the outside. Inside, there could be a totally different you, that's where this grandma and soccer mom come in.

  They haven't been involved much with the game yet, but me and a lot of my guys are looking forward to see what they'll do.

  The man that took out Jason is actually a professor at an Ivy League school. Nobody would ever think about that, I can only imagine if the Borelli's and Rossi's knew that it was a professor that killed their friend. Even though they don't personally know him, he's not a professor here in New York.

  I pick up my phone and do a three way call so that I can have Derek and Cade on the line.

  Cade clicks over but doesn't say anything. When Derek comes on the line he starts to talk immediately, “this is going to fuck everything up.”

  I feel the same way as he does. “Not much we can do about it, rules are rules, but on a good note we can have fucking fun terrorizing them.” I look back at the screen that's focused on the cabin. It looks like they're all leaving, which means they're going back into the rea
l world. “We'll just have to set up people, like we did before.”

  I think for a few seconds as I start to chuckle, “maybe we can have some side hustle of who terrorizes the most or some shit like that. There's so many options for us.”

  Derek starts laughing as Cade joins in. Yeah, we fucking got our problems but at least we can enjoy ourselves in the meantime.

  “Let's let them get settled back into their daily lives, and if nothing happens to Aaron and Carly by then, there's no reason we can't have a little bit of fun.”

  Derek and Cade are full out laughing as I hang up the phone. They're just as fucked up as I am.

  I know that they will both get messages out to everybody including the guards and the participants about the new, very detailed rules.

  Even though when I first got up, this new turn of events didn't look very promising, it's looking very promising now.

  I chuckle all the way back to the room. I sure as shit am not staying up, those dumbasses can deal with everything else that goes on tonight.

  Four

  MORGAN

  Last night was wonderful. For the first time in weeks I got to sleep in my own bed, with Hudson by my side. Being back at the Rossi estate has been awesome, even though it's only been less than twelve hours.

  The maid hasn't come back yet and neither has the chef, so my dad and Sandra decided to make us breakfast this morning. I'm very glad that I got up early because I was able to watch everything.

  I think I've laughed more today than I have in the last few weeks. Those two are funny and very entertaining. From this morning, I know for sure that my dad does not belong in the kitchen. Sandra actually did really good but every time my father turned around, he would run right into her.

  A couple of times I thought he was doing it on purpose but now he's just clumsy and concentrating on one task at a time. A man that can kill another man with his bare hands has trouble doing the simplest of tasks, like cooking.

  His face keeps getting red, it's irritation letting me know exactly how he feels about my taunting and laughing. Even Hudson was smart and giggled. Can't exactly call it giggling, it was one note of a chuckle that came out of his mouth, and it was almost silent.

  Even though my father was getting aggravated, he started to have fun with it. Every time he'd run into Sandra, he'd wrap her in his arms and swing her around the kitchen, this would make me smile and think, this is family.

  Ever since we got back to the house, even though it hasn't been that long, Hudson's been so quiet, distracted. I know all of this is messing with him and I'm not exactly sure how to make him feel better.

  Harper looks like she's getting back to her old self, a tiny bit, or at least she's trying for everyone else around her.

  She dragged her barely awake ass into the kitchen ten minutes ago. She's fully ready but her eyes are swollen with sleep and sadness.

  My dad and Sandra had the guards come in that were riding with us today, including Lee. He made them plant their ass right at the dining room table as Sandra fed them.

  Even though this is the first time I've ever seen this with my father, different situations call for different attitudes. And my father has the right attitude for the situation that we’re in right now.

  It didn't take long for my father to give us a worried look. He also glanced over to the guards, but they paid him no attention, as they were all eating.

  The silverware clinks as it lands on his plate, “if you guys receive a message from me or if the guards tell you to leave immediately, do it.” All three of us nod, knowing where this is going.

  My dad takes a deep breath and then focuses attention back on us again. I know he's trying to be subtle about everything, but in this situation I don't think that's really possible. “If, for some reason your friends are taken out, you guys have to return back to the estate immediately. I don't care what you're doing, if you're in class, gym, whatever you guys do during the day, don't take any chances.”

  We all nod in understanding. Sandra looks like she's going to pass out from stress at any second. If she goes around Hudson again, he's going to end up yelling at her. He puts his head down though and hides a smile. I can tell he loves being fussed over by his mom, she's got a lot of time to make up for. He didn't get to see her for five years.

  Even though dad is very insistent on cooking us breakfast, he sure as shit wasn't insistent on washing the dishes. All of us wash our own plates and utensils and Sandra just paces. I guess without the help being here today, somebody would have to clean up.

  As soon as I finish washing my dishes I turn around and see my father right next to me. “Morgan, can I have a word with you please?” I nod at him and look back towards Harper who is still washing her dishes. Like a well-oiled machine, everybody stood in line to take their turn.

  Even though Harper looks overly sad, I know she's relieved to be here with us. My dad did call her parents and they decided given the circumstances of everything, that this was the safest place for her.

  Her father insisted on hiring extra security, my dad relented. Nothing can stop a worried parent, even though the extra security isn't going to mean shit to my dad's force. Harper’s security guards are going to be hidden away. Kind of in the background, only to be there when needed. This gives Harper and her father more relief. We're not going to know who it is, but Dad does. At least this man or woman will be able to watch Harper and report back to her father to let them know she's okay.

  Out of everything, I would rather have Harper here with us so that I know that my best friend is okay, too. Ian and Carly aren't around anymore, and I can't even contact them. I blink away the tears that are threatening to spill over as I follow my dad into the foyer.

  He stops next to a vase of the most beautiful white roses I've ever seen delivered. I move forward to smell them as my father snaps to get my attention.

  I want to grab the flowers and stuff them under his nose so that he can stop and smell the flowers every now and then. This is definitely not the time, he looks worried.

  He hasn't been exactly on board with us going back to school, but he knows how crazy we're all going, life can't just stop. Like he used to tell me long ago, ‘if we're not being seen, then we're going to look weak.’

  That's one thing we definitely can't have right now is being seen as weak. That’ll only make Levi that much stronger, especially when all the other families are cowering in their safe little hiding spots.

  Our safe little hiding spot didn't do that much for Jason, the sniper from what I learned was a professor, he was able to get a shot off not even being on the property, through a window.

  My dad holds out his hand, which makes me instinctively hold up mine waiting for whatever he has.

  I have no idea what my father could be giving me now, but what he did place in my hands, I was not expecting.

  It was a switchblade and the casing was old and worn leather, it was antique and beautiful.

  My dad smiles when I pick up the item and start inspecting it. Flipping it back and forth looking at all angles.

  “This was your great-grandfather's,” my dad says. He takes the blade from me and opens it up. “It's only three inches long, but it's very efficient. I've added a few other things to it.”

  I sit there and stare at him. What else could he have added to a tiny switchblade?

  He must have read my thoughts. “I had the knife replaced to a better-quality titanium, the other blade was rusted as all hell. Plus, they were able to insert a tracking device.”

  My eyes narrow at his words. I've always been one who loves my freedom and won't let anybody take that from me, but at this stage even I know I don't have a choice. The tracking device, with everything that's going on, could actually save my life.

  I still smile, I love that this is antique and has a value to it. It might not have a monetary value but to me it’s priceless.

  “Thank you,” I mumble as I give him a hug, and my father hugs me back tighter than
normal. I can feel the sadness coming off of him in waves. It washes over me, trying to get rid of any happiness that I might have myself.

  “Are you okay Dad?” I ask as I pull back and look him in the eyes.

  My dad’s face lights up in a huge smile that doesn't reach his eyes, “I'm fine baby.”

  “What's going on Dad?” I ask him straight out. “You're not the same, a lot of the anger is gone and all I see is sadness.”

  My father sighs as he takes a step back and rubs his hand through his hair. “Everything is changing now Morgan,” he says as he turns his body and looks in my direction.

  “Things aren't what they used to be. When I first started doing this I loved it. I loved working my way up to the top. I was able to take over from another family, we aren't even the original family line.”

  I nod, I've heard this before. I've heard this story so many times about how my family took it away from the original ones that were here.

  My dad makes another huge sigh and I swear that his eyes look watery, but he quickly blinks it away. “Someone I thought of as my son has betrayed us. I haven't seen your brother in months now and who knows when I'll be able to see him again. Keeping him away from us is the only thing keeping him safe.”

  I just nod again as the tears come down my face. I don't want to say anything. I just want him to continue to get this off of his chest, but I also want to hold him at the same time.

  “I can't lose you guys, you and your brother mean the world to me.” My dad turns his back for a second. I can see the muscles underneath his shirt tense as he puts his hands on his hips. “I never thought I'd find anybody after your mother, but I have,” he says as he looks back towards me, “there's so much for me to lose now.”

  I wipe the annoying tears away from my eyes, I know my father's right. He does have so much to lose right now.

  “Once in this family, there's no getting out.” He says as he gives me a tight smile and puts his hands on my shoulders rubbing up and down.