Rebel Princess - Book 2 (The Hope Saga) by Chrissy Peebles Read Free Book Online Page A

trash.”
    “Sky, you will break up with my son, and you will do it as soon as we leave this room. It ends today.”
    I shook my head and screamed vehemently, “I won’t!”
    “You’ve always wanted to go to the surface. If you don’t do as I say and let my son go, you’ll be going sooner than you bargained for. I’ll see to it that you’re outta here tonight.”
    I swallowed hard. “What do you mean?”
    His eyes pierced mine. “I have video footage of you on the dock, your little sweet sixteen escape with your friend Rachel.”
    I gasped.
     
    Chapter 9
     
    Brett’s dad glared at me for a moment, then pointed to a monitor sitting in the corner. He pushed a few buttons and pulled up the footage. Sure enough, I was busted.
    No words would come out of my mouth; I just stood there, dumbfounded.
    “Does my son know about this?” he asked.
    “Yes,” I said, seeing no point in lying to the man.
    “So he covered for you?”
    “Yes.”
    “That could land him in serious trouble.” He let out a long breath. “You know I’m the head of security here. How would that look for me?”
    I nodded. “You’re right. I guess I didn’t think about it that way. I’m so sorry. Are you gonna turn me in?” I asked tentatively. My hands began to tremble as I waited on his answer.
    “If anyone found out, you, Rachel, and Brett would all be taken.”
    “Rachel and I won’t say anything about Brett’s involvement. I swear, even if we do get caught.”
    “You do love my son, don’t you?”
    “Yes, very much. He’s my world, my life.”
    “You’re troubled, but I really do like you,” he said. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have even told you about this. I would’ve just gone to the authorities with this footage, and you would have been sent to the surface for imprisonment. I’m hoping you’ll be willing to compromise with me here. You dump my son, and I’ll erase this tape. Nobody will ever know you went up there.”
    “I just wanted to see the sky,” I said. “It isn’t fair that we can only see it through surveillance cameras, and even then, we have to sneak a peek when we can.”
    “So you risked everything just to look at the sky?” he asked.
    “Yes, sir.”
    He shook his head. “And was it worth it?”
    I blinked. “I’d do it again if given the chance.”
    “And that’s exactly why I don’t want you to date my son. That kind of thinking will get you in trouble, and you’ll drag him down right along with you.”
    I wanted to scream, shout, and pull my hair out. Anger flooded through me in the wake of his ultimatum.
    “What’s the matter, Sky?” he asked. “You’ve been dying to see the surface, and you’ll get to see your blue sky again, if you don’t comply with my wishes.”
    “You know Dante will throw me in the slammer. There will be no blue sky for me.”
    “Then I suggest you choose wisely.”
    My heart was beating so fast that I feared it might explode. The room grew hotter and smaller somehow, and I felt as if I was drowning, even though all the water was on the other side of the walls. I couldn’t breathe, and I just stood there, clutching my chest.
    “Are you okay?”
    I shot him a glare, then ran out of the room without another word.
    Rachel was still sitting in the lounge on a leather couch, now talking to Brett and a few others.
    Brett’s smile quickly faded when he saw the look on my face as I rushed up to him. “Hey, babe.” What’s wrong?” he asked.
    “We need to talk,” I whispered.
    “What’s going on?” Rachel asked.
    “I just need to talk to Brett…alone.”
    She cocked a brow. “Is everything okay?”
    “No, but I’ll fill you in later. I just need a minute right now.”
    She stood. “You look upset.”
    “We’ll talk more later, okay?”
    She nodded.
    I pulled Brett into a quieter part of the city, a room where no one was loitering around. I shut the door and looked at him.
    “Well? What’s going on?” he asked.
    “It’s your dad. He