Glass Heart Hero: A Dark High School Romance by Lindsey Iler (read with me .TXT) 📗

When I do, her body is going over the railing. Did she fall? She knows better than to climb up on things. She knows she can fall.

“NOOOOOO!” I scream.

I run, run as fast as I can. The snow beneath my boots makes it impossible to get to her. The bridge is twice as slippery. I slow my pace and walk towards the edge. In the headlights of an approaching car, a shadow catches my attention.

I’m a little boy, but I know what I’ll find on the other side of the railing. I close my eyes, but the tears don’t stop as I grab the metal. When I open them, the car slows on the bridge. The headlights are bright. A nice person would stop for a kid, alone in the middle of the night. They must be here to help.

As the man gets out of the car, I know I need to look. There are no cries, screams, or moans below me. She wouldn’t want me to leave her down there, alone. She wouldn’t want to be found by a stranger. She’d want it to be me, right?

I lunge forward and look down.

Her body is below, a small amount of red circling her head like a halo.

“Kid?” the stranger says behind me. “You okay?”

“She was right here, and then she wasn’t,” I explain, keeping my eyes on her lifeless body. That can’t be true, though. She wouldn’t leave us. I know she wouldn’t.

“What did you say?” He joins me at the edge.

“She was here, and then she wasn’t,” I repeat the words that will never disappear from my mind.

Chapter Twelve

Delaney

“Let me out, Tripp!” I yell, banging my hand on the window. He shakes his head, walking away from the SUV. “You can’t keep me locked in here. I’m not some hostage. Let me out right now.” I jerk my hand away, rubbing the ache from the impact on the glass. “Asshole,” I mutter under my breath.

I had been apprehensive to get in the car in the first place, because whatever Tripp had planned, it wasn’t going to be good. Even though everything inside my body told me don’t go, I knew staying home wasn’t an option. Tripp has been far too eager and confident lately. Whatever this is tonight, he knows it will give him an edge on Breaker.

The gauntlet has been a dick measuring contest from the beginning. Two boys are willing to cut so deep, metaphorically and physically speaking, to prove they are worthy of me. No game has the ability to do that, and they’re fully aware, yet shots are taken at the other, time and time again. When does it stop? When is enough, enough?

There are no winners in this game. All that will remain are broken bones and spirits.

My fist beats down on the window again.

“He’s not going to let you out, you know?” one of Tripp’s little minions says from the driver’s side.

I reach for the lock, but as soon as I mash the button, he locks it again. I glare at the asshole in the driver’s seat, while planning to bash his skull when he focuses on the windshield.

“Don’t even think about it,” he warns.

“Are you a fucking mind reader or something?” I huff, slouching on the seat, complete hopelessness settling in.

“Let’s say I’ve pissed off enough girls to know when to expect a punch.”

“Charming.” I roll my eyes, not caring if he sees it or not.

With every passing minute, the crowd grows larger. Cars line both sides of the bridge, their headlights pointing towards Tripp. He’s entertaining the mob.

I check my phone, hoping for news from Dixon. No messages. No emails. Every time I ask, his reply is that he’s working on it. The boy is thorough, but I can’t keep playing the role of Tripp’s doting admirer. He has buried skeletons, and I need to know what they are and what part I play in their burial.

“Trouble in paradise?” the driver asks, grinning at me through the rearview mirror.

“What’s your name?” I lean forward.

“Will,” he answers, staring at me. His eyes drop to my lips. My guess is he isn’t as loyal as Tripp thinks.

“I’m—”

“I know who you are,” he blurts. “Delaney Chambers. Daughter of Gary Chambers. Net worth well over seven hundred million.”

He then delivers a full run down of my family story. While he’s talking, movement draws my attention outside the foggy window. A familiar vehicle is at the edge of the bridge. Palmer, Marek, and Dixon flank Breaker as he strides straight to Tripp. Within seconds, their conversation shifts. Their body language is in defense mode, preparing for a fight.

My eyes stick to Breaker as he walks to the bridge railing.

Will stops speaking, and I know he’s reached the end of his internet search.

“There’s one thing you don’t know about me,” I say.

“Oh, and what’s that?” He grins, thinking he’s in full control.

“You see those people beside Tripp?” I lean towards him, placing my face next to his.

“Yeah,” he scoffs, not understanding the threat about to come his way.

“Those are my people,” I warn, unzipping my purse and wrapping my hand around the cool metal canister. “Do you know what I do when you mess with my people?”

“You stay put and shut the fuck up. At least, that’s what you’re going to do.”

“Wrong.” I lift the mace and spray him in the eyes. He cries out a satisfying wail. Before he can grab me, I open the door and kick my way out, running the second my feet hit the ground.

The commotion draws the spotlight to me. Tripp’s head swivels between me and my other half. Palmer’s eyes plead with me for something I don’t quite grasp. Marek hasn’t left Breaker’s side. Dixon and Reagan hold onto each other.

“Stop!” I yell.

Tripp intercepts my path, gripping my jacket to keep me from going forward.

“Let him be,” Tripp whisper-yells in my ear.

“No!” I fight him. “Let me go.”

Breaker is on the ledge, holding onto