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CHAPTER TWENTY: AUSTIN
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RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: ATHENA
I woke up to the sound of my mother singing, echoing through the house. But it couldn't be her, could it? She was dead, wasn't she? Confusion clouded my mind as I stumbled out of bed, drawn by the haunting yet comforting melody of her voice. The singing led me to the kitchen, where I found her, standing before the stove, cooking breakfast. I couldn't help but stare at her in shock.Before I could say anything to call her attention, she turned to face me, and a low scream left her lips, "Oh, Athena, you scared the hell out of me. Why didn't you say something when you entered?" my mother said as she let out a soft sigh and smiled at me."I apologize, mother," I said as a small smile formed on my face. She must surely be a figure of my imagination, right? I thought to myself as I walked towards her and pulled her into a hug. She didn't disappear; she was real.Tears sprung to my eyes as I tightened my hold on her. I don't know what was going on, but it felt good to hug her again."Sweeti
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: SHANE
"Hi, Shane," Summer greeted as she entered the class, her cute smile brightening up her whole face."Hi, Summer," I signed as she took her seat beside me."Why do you look like someone killed your dog?" Summer asked jokingly as she turned to face me."Sophia is having surgery this morning, and I'm just a little bit anxious," I signed, a concerned look washing over her."Isn't Sophia the lady that takes care of you and your brother?" Summer asked."Yeah, I don't want anything to happen to her. She is like a mother to us," I signed as I ran my hands through my hair in frustration."Shane, don't worry too much. She is going to be okay. What did the doctors say?" Summer asked."Doctor Stephen, a doctor and her boyfriend says she is going to be okay, so we don't have to worry," I signed, then she placed a hand on my shoulder, giving me a reassuring smile."See, so everything is going to be alright, don't stress too much or you will get wrinkles, that's what my mom always says," Summer joke
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: LEO
After dropping Shane off at school, Austin and I proceeded to register for the new semester. Despite my apprehension about returning to the place where I was shot and nearly died, I knew it was something I had to face eventually."Are you sure about this?" Austin asked as we pulled into the school parking lot."I don't have much of a choice. Today's the deadline, and unlike Athena, we don't have an excuse not to register for our courses," I replied, mustering a small sigh. "But if I feel uncomfortable in any way, I'll let you know.""Alright, just keep your promise, and we'll bail if it gets too much," Austin said, his concern evident in his tone as he stared at me with a worried expression."I promise to let you know, Austin. Let's just get this done so we can go see Sophia. She must've had the surgery by now," I said, trying to shift the focus.After leaving the truck, we made our way to the administration office to collect the necessary forms and course information. Reflecting on t
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: 3rd person pov
The nurse entered Athena's room to check her vitals when the ECG machine went off. "Code red!" she yelled, pressing the emergency button near Athena's bed. A few minutes later, the doctor in charge of Athena's case rushed in. "Give her 1mg of ephedrine," the doctor ordered, and the nurse complied."Her heart rate is still dropping," the nurse announced as the doctor took the defibrillator in his hands."Loosen her gown," the doctor said in a panicked tone as his gaze moved to the monitor.When the nurse loosened her clothing, the doctor placed the defibrillator on her chest and said, "Charge at 100kw.""No change," the nurse commented. "Her heart rate is still dropping.""Charge at 150kw," the doctor said."Still no change," the nurse said as her hands went to Athena's face. "I know you can hear me, Athena. I need you to fight. You have so much to live for; your family is waiting.""Charge at 200," the doctor said."Still no change," the nurse added."Come on, Athena," the doctor sai
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: ATHENA
They all wore worried expressions, indicating something was definitely wrong with Sophia. For a minute, I was scared to ask what happened, but after a few moments, I managed to muster the courage. "Where is Sophia?" My tone conveyed a mixture of concern and fear as I stared up at them."Athena, you just woke up from a coma, so subjecting you to unnecessary stress isn't advisable," Stephen said, his tone worried as he avoided my gaze. So, I turned to the people I knew wouldn't lie to me."Guys, where is Sophia? What happened to her?" I asked, my voice firmer this time."Don't put us in this position, Athena. Stephen is right. You can't be under stress," Leo said, his concern evident in his tone as they both stared at me with worried expressions."Me not knowing anything will definitely stress me more than knowing what was wrong," I said, annoyance lacing my tone, eliciting a sigh from Austin."She is right, Stephen. She deserves to know, even though we think it's a bad idea," Austin sa
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: ATHENA
"How do you guys know each other?" Austin asked. Riley's face went a little pale. Noticing this, Austin added, "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to.""It's not that," Riley replied. "It's just that I haven't talked about it in a while. It feels like a distant memory." She walked into the room, closing the door behind her, her soft gaze never leaving Athena's face."Hey, Riley," Xavier greeted, wrapping his arms around his sister in a comforting hug."I missed you, little man. How was school? Hope no one bothered you today?" Riley asked, her tone full of concern."Nope, no one bothered me today. But how do you know Athena?" Xavier asked. Riley sighed and looked at me."Could you help me? I'm really nervous. It would be easier if you told them," Riley said, forcing a smile."Okay, but only if you want to. You don't owe us anything," I said, and her gaze softened."You're still the same girl from back then, always looking out for others," Riley chuckled softly, and I gave her
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: ATHENA
"You had me at 'make them pay,' so what's the plan, Athena?" Riley asked, a wide grin spreading across her face as she stared at me, her curiosity evident in her brown eyes. "I planned on talking to the guys after I left the hospital, but since you're all here, I’ll just talk to you now," I said, my gaze moving over each of them before stopping on Shane. "First, Shane, I’d like to apologize to you." "Why are you apologizing, Athena?" Shane signed, confusion clear on his face. "The reason you got hurt that time was because Dylan was trying to get back at me, so he sent Zack after you, since he knew your brother was close to me" I explained, my voice trembling slightly as I fought back my tears. I turned to Leo, my expression neutral, but my heart heavy. "I’m so sorry he got dragged into this, and I’ll understand if you don’t want to help me anymore." A frown formed on Leo’s face. "Who told you that nonsense?" he asked, anger simmering in his tone. "Dylan. The day I got hurt, h
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: ATHENA
Morning came sooner than I expected. The soft light filtered through the hospital room's curtains, and I woke up feeling slightly refreshed. There was a knock on the door, and a nurse entered with a cheerful smile, bringing my breakfast and some containers that held medication that I assumed were mine. "Good morning, Athena. How are you feeling today?" she asked, placing the tray on the table beside me. She then took out an infrared thermometer and held it a few centimetres from my head to check my temperature. Once she had it, she moved on to check my pulse, jotting down each piece of information as she took it. "I'm feeling better, thank you," I replied, sitting up and taking the tray. The smell of the food reminded me how hungry I was. Even though it was hospital food and might not taste as good as what I usually ate, I still wanted some. "That's good to hear. After eating, make sure to take your medication. I will be back later to take the tray and check on you," she said war
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RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER THIRTY SIX: ATHENA
After a moment of silence, Silas spoke. "I just want to get to know him before it’s too late. I won’t justify my actions by saying I really didn’t know he existed because his mother never told me about him," he answered, a small smile forming on his face."What do you mean by 'before it’s too late?'" I asked, curious about his statement. Was something wrong? Was he leaving?"I have cancer, and I'm not responding to treatment. Like I said, I wasn't a good man, and it cost me everything, so I’m using the little time I have left to atone for my sins," Silas said, a pained smile tugging at his lips as the table fell silent again."I'm sorry you're sick, but if you hurt that boy again, the cancer won’t be what kills you—I will," Sophia threatened, and it was clear she meant what she had just said."I will keep that in mind, but I swear on my life, I won’t hurt Austin on purpose. I’ll do my best to be there for him and for all of you because he sees you as his family, which means you’re my
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE: ATHENA
Lisa's father glared at Austin and Silas before snapping his gaze to his daughter and her friend. "We're leaving. Now. Don't question me, young lady!" His voice left no room for argument, though beneath the sharpness, there was a flicker of fear—Silas’s threat to report him as a crooked cop had clearly made him fear for his life.Lisa stared at him in disbelief. "Dad, you can't be serious! We can't just walk away. I'll be the laughingstock at school if people find out I ran from this freak of nature. You don't need to be scared of them. I’m sure he's just bluffing," she spat, her words dripping with disdain.Silas's frown deepened as he turned toward her, his eyes hardening. "You might be their age, but you're nothing like the kids standing beside me. You and every other kid here are nothing but demons, thriving on making life hell for kids like Austin and Athena. I promise, whatever you throw at them, I’ll give it right back—just give me a reason.""You can't threaten our kids. That'
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: ATHENA
"Damn, Red! That slap was so unexpected and funny," Austin started laughing, and the others joined in, filling the diner with our laughter. "Well done, the bitch deserved it.""You filthy whore! How dare you hit me!" Lisa's voice cracked as she screeched, her eyes burning with fury as they locked onto mine."I did it because I can, and if you don't get out of my face, I'll do it again," I said with a satisfied grin spreading across my face. Her anger shifted to shock as she stared at me. Does this dumb bitch think I'm bluffing? "Five, four, three—by the time I finish counting, if you're still here, I will slap you again, Lisa.""You wouldn't dare. My father's a policeman; he'll have you and your pathetic group thrown in jail," Lisa threatened, clearly expecting me to back down.But she was so wrong.Without a word, I slapped her again, harder this time. Her shock was priceless. "Tell your dad he can go fuck himself," I said, my grin growing wider as Lisa held on to her swollen cheeks.
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: ATHENA
"None of you have seen it?" Barney asked, his eyes narrowing in confusion."Seen what? We've been too busy to read anything, let alone newspapers," Sophia replied, her voice tinged with worry."I don't think she needs to see it, Sophia. It's irrelevant," Rudy interjected, her voice shaking slightly."I'm okay, Rudy. I need to know," I insisted, my heart pounding with confusion.Rudy sighed, her eyes darting between Sophia and me. "You need to be seated for this," she said, her voice heavy with concern."You're scaring me, Rudy," Sophia murmured as we all moved to the booth at the far end of the diner.We could feel the stares of the other customers, their eyes piercing and judgmental. My skin prickled with discomfort. Before I could say anything, Austin's voice cut through the tension, filled with irritation and anger. "If you assholes keep staring, I'll give you something to stare at. Mind your fucking business, we're not here for your amusement."The customers quickly looked away, a
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: AUSTIN
A few days later...Red and Sophia were finally able to get discharged from the hospital. The doctors and Stephen did all the necessary tests to ensure they were okay before giving them the all-clear, and I couldn’t have been happier. She can finally leave the four walls of that room. But the thought terrifies me. I can't tell anyone how I feel. I don't want to scare them or add to our worries. We've got enough on our plate already.On some bad days, when I look at her, I can still see her body covered in blood from that terrible night. The memory gives me nightmares, but I'm glad she's okay now. My main goal is to help her get revenge on those who hurt her, so my conscience can be at peace. I know it's not my fault she got hurt, but if I had protected her better, she wouldn't have gone up to that roof that night.Sophia and Red were talking to the doctors when Riley arrived to pick up Xavier. "Hey guys, what are you up to? Are Sophia and Athena done?" she greeted, her smile lighting
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: ATHENA
"Austin, please take the boys to the cafeteria. I want to talk to Athena alone," Leo said, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. Austin nodded without hesitation, turning to the boys with a mischievous grin on his face."Come on, let’s go spoil your dinner," he joked. The boys laughed as they followed him out of the room. The door clicked shut, leaving Leo and me alone for the first time since I got hurt.I’d missed him, but there were more pressing matters at hand. I needed to know what happened and why he got hurt."I didn’t want you to know while you’re still getting better, but since the cat’s out of the bag, I have to tell you." Leo sat beside me, his fingers interlocking with mine, placing a gentle kiss on my hand."The same day you got hurt, Austin and the others said I was shot." His voice wavered slightly, eyes searching mine. "I don’t remember anything, but when I get my memories back, I will find whoever did this and make them pay for almost taking me from the people I lo
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER THIRTY: ATHENA
"I don't want any trouble," Tommy said, his fear evident in his eyes and tone as he took a step back."You just found it," Leo growled as Tommy's eyes darted nervously, avoiding Leo's furious gaze."You didn't answer his question. What the hell are you doing here? And why are you bugging Athena, you bastard?" Austin demanded, his voice thick with anger as he glared at Tommy."I came to see someone. I swear, we met by coincidence. And I wasn't bothering her," Tommy's voice trembled, his eyes wide with fear."That's not what I saw when I walked in on you two." Stephen crossed his arms, his angry gaze fixed on Tommy."I-I," Tommy stammered, staring at the floor, avoiding my gaze."Are you fucking kidding me? Did he try to hurt you, Athena?" Leo asked, his eyes scanning me, checking for signs of damage."I'm fine. Let's just go back to my room. He's not worth you guys getting worked up over," I said, clutching Leo's hand and tugging on his sleeve."You're very lucky she wants to let this
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: ATHENA
"I might have heard wrong, but did you just say someone pushed you off that roof?" Sophia asked, her lips pressed tightly together as she stared at me, her expression a mixture of anger and a hint of curiosity. "Yes, you didn't hear wrong. Someone pushed me off that roof that night, and that person is Dylan Thompson," I answered, causing the frown on her face to deepen. "That asswipe! I've tolerated him and his friends for so long because you told me not to make it a big deal, but this is different. He tried to kill you, and there is no way in hell I'm going to let this go. That bastard is going to pay for this," Sophia said, her body visibly tense as she stared back at me. "I'm not letting this go, Auntie Sophia. I'm going to make sure they pay. I have a plan, and it involves me destroying all their lives. I just wanted to tell you everything after we left the hospital because I will probably get in trouble later because of my plans and would need you to help me out," I explaine
RETRIBUTION: A BULLY ROMANCE BOOK TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: ATHENA
Morning came sooner than I expected. The soft light filtered through the hospital room's curtains, and I woke up feeling slightly refreshed. There was a knock on the door, and a nurse entered with a cheerful smile, bringing my breakfast and some containers that held medication that I assumed were mine. "Good morning, Athena. How are you feeling today?" she asked, placing the tray on the table beside me. She then took out an infrared thermometer and held it a few centimetres from my head to check my temperature. Once she had it, she moved on to check my pulse, jotting down each piece of information as she took it. "I'm feeling better, thank you," I replied, sitting up and taking the tray. The smell of the food reminded me how hungry I was. Even though it was hospital food and might not taste as good as what I usually ate, I still wanted some. "That's good to hear. After eating, make sure to take your medication. I will be back later to take the tray and check on you," she said war
