Kings of Linwood Academy - The Complete Box Set: A Dark High School Romance Series Callie Rose (i read a book TXT) 📖

faith, Harlow,” Judge Hollowell says. He’s standing in his nice button-down shirt, slacks, and dress socks, arms crossed over his chest as he watches me. “What the police found on your mom’s car is pretty damning evidence, but have her tell Scott Parsons to focus on her character. I’m assuming she has no prior record or history of violence, and she’s the kind of person a jury will want to believe is innocent. A good lawyer can nudge them in that direction.”

I glance up at him, yanking on the ends of my shoelaces so hard I practically snap them. “I’ll tell her.”

“Good. Her public defender doesn’t have the finesse of other lawyers, but if he can get some reliable and well-spoken character witnesses, that will help too. Even with the DNA evidence against her, it’s entirely possible she’ll be sentenced to a lesser charge like involuntary manslaughter.”

His tone is soft and gentle, reassuring and calm—and it occurs to me that if I hadn’t finally put the pieces together, I would actually feel better now. I’d feel like I at least had a strategy, something to tell my mom to help her fight this.

But instead of hope, rage burns like an ember in the pit of my soul.

Fuck this man. Fuck his beautiful, modern house and his dead animal trophies. Fuck his lies and manipulations.

Fuck him for ending one life and ruining another.

My hands start to shake so badly I can barely tie my last shoelace, and Judge Hollowell steps forward again as I straighten.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Harlow?”

I suck in a slow breath, forcing my tensing muscles to relax. Then I lift my gaze to his, pouring everything I have into the lie I’m about to speak.

“I am now. Thank you.”

A small smile tilts his lips, and he nods in satisfaction. “Good. I’m happy I could help.”

2

Cold air hits my face like a stinging slap as I step outside. I suck in a breath from the shock of it and glance back at Judge Hollowell once as I hurry down the snow-covered walkway to River’s car.

I scraped it off when I left Fox Hill Correctional Center, but new snow accumulated while I was inside Hollowell’s house. I honestly don’t know how long I was in there. It felt like hours, but it can’t have actually been that much time.

My hands shake as I hurriedly scrape off the car, and as soon as the windshield and other windows are clear enough for me to see through, I toss the scraper into the back seat and slide behind the wheel.

Only then do I allow myself to glance once more toward the house.

The front door is shut, but when my gaze drifts over toward the living room, I see Judge Hollowell standing near one of the large windows. He’s got his hands in his pockets, and his posture is relaxed, but the way the light hits him casts him in a stark silhouette. I can’t make out his expression.

I can only tell that he’s watching me.

My hands shake as I grip the steering wheel, maneuvering around the tight circle driveway and heading back toward the street. I can hear the snow crunching and squeaking under the wheels, and I turn on the windshield wipers as high as they’ll go, batting the large snowflakes out of the way before they can even land.

When I reach the end of the block, I start to breathe a little easier. I dig my phone out of my pocket and pull up River’s address, then follow the directions the GPS gives.

I need to let the guys know what happened.

I know I shouldn’t text and drive, but I don’t know if River will be able to hear well if I call him. And honestly, I don’t think I should put anything about Judge Hollowell down in writing. It’s too risky.

I’m about to scroll through my contacts to try calling one of the other kings when something catches my attention.

A spot of black in the white flurry outside.

I toss my phone down on the seat and stare into the rearview mirror, squinting to see through the falling snow. The flash of black appears again, and my entire body clenches with fear.

It’s a dark car, creeping down the road behind me. It’s far enough back from me that I can’t discern any details about it, and I can’t see the driver’s face through the snow. I can barely make out the car itself, and it seems to be creeping along at the same slow pace I am… almost like whoever is inside is hanging back, trying not to be seen by me.

Oh, fuck. That’s why he waited.

That’s why Judge Hollowell gave me free legal advice and smiled so calmly and let me leave his house in one piece.

Because he knows exactly how to kill someone without getting his hands dirty.

My pulse throbs in my temples, and my foot presses harder on the gas pedal, making the wheels spin on the slick, wet snow before they gain traction and the car lurches forward. I jerk in the seat, knuckles turning white as I glance back in the rearview again.

The car is still there.

I’m driving fast now, faster than I probably should. I’ve never driven in snow before, but I can already feel how different it is from the reassuringly dry roads in Bayard. It’s like trying to run on sand, with the terrain beneath me constantly shifting and giving way, refusing to provide enough purchase to really dig in.

In this kind of weather, it’s not safe to speed. But I’m doing it anyway, and so is the car behind me.

“Shit. Shit. God, fucking shit.”

My whispered curses fog up the windows, and I hardly ease off the gas at all as I make a wide turn onto a side street. The calm voice of the GPS starts calling out new directions as it reroutes from my current path, but I’m hardly listening. I suck in air as I drive as fast