Claiming What's Mine by Jennifer Sucevic

Author:Jennifer Sucevic [Sucevic, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-01-11T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

As usual, the final bell rings, and students flood out of the school before I can catch my breath. Most of the teachers are right behind them. I’ve been booked solid from the moment I stepped into my office with student appointments, two parent meetings, and class scheduling for next year.

I normally leave at three, but I stayed after for twenty minutes to finish up paperwork for an early meeting on Monday morning. As I walk down the hall toward the back doors leading to the teacher parking lot, I hear someone calling my name.

Recognizing the voice, I turn and wait for him to catch up. “Hi, Drew.”

“Hey! How’s everything going?” He grins.

“It’s good. Busy as always. How about you? I heard you took your physics class to an amusement park on Wednesday. Everyone have fun?”

His smile widens, white teeth flashing in that easy, relaxed manner of his. He tosses his head, his dark blond hair moving from in front of his green eyes. “Are you kidding? Of course, they did. I’m beginning to suspect that most of my students take physics so they get a free trip at the end of the year. Maybe you can tag along as a chaperone next time.” He teasingly elbows me in the side. “You know, see physics in action.”

I laugh. “Maybe.” It could be fun.

Bright sunshine warms our faces as we push through the heavy glass doors. May has brought gorgeous weather with its arrival. The students, along with a good number of the staff, are already climbing the walls, in the throes of spring fever. We’ve caught more than a few students trying to sneak out of the building to cut classes. It’s difficult to blame them when the weather is this beautiful, especially after the long winter we endured. But still, everyone needs to keep it together for a couple more weeks, and then we’ll all be able to enjoy a well-deserved break.

Drew nods toward a group of teachers standing in a huddle, talking in the parking lot. “A few of us are heading to O’Toole’s to grab a beer and throw darts. I thought since your meeting ran long last time, you might be up for joining us.”

My smile falters as Victor Dmitriyev’s face flickers through my mind. Fear suffuses me as I recall how the knife felt against my neck and how he manhandled me while whispering threats in my ear.

Drew knows nothing of the attack because I didn’t tell him about it. I haven’t discussed it with anyone other than family.

I couldn’t report it to the administration or police because it would take less than thirty minutes for the local authorities to figure out I’m a Valentini. And then the life I worked so hard to create would be ruined. I refuse to allow someone with a vendetta against my father to take away my freedom.

Inhaling deeply, I push all the ugly memories to the back of my mind, where I lock them away and plaster a smile on my face.

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