Shattered Asylum

Chapter 40

Grayson's pov.

All I see is red. Every muscle in my body is screaming to move, to hit, to destroy.

I stalk into the cafeteria, my eyes scanning the tables until I spot him. Daniel. He's leaned back, grinning like an idiot, surrounded by girls who don't know any better.

My hands curl into fists at my sides as I start toward him, the snarl ripping from my chest loud enough to make people glance.

Vinnie's voice drones in my ear, warning me, "You're gonna regret this, man."

The only thing I regret is not doing this sooner.

Daniel spots me. His grin falters, then disappears entirely. His eyes widen as he starts inching back, already knowing why I'm here. "Whatever she told you, it's a lie," he stammers, his voice cracking.

How convenient. I haven't even said a word.

Before he can run, my fist connects with his jaw. The crack echoes in my ears, followed by the satisfying thud of him hitting the floor. But I'm not done.

Not even close.

I'm on him before he can scramble away, my fists flying, the world around me blurring into nothing but rage and the image burned into my mind...him on top of her while she begs him to stop.

His nose crunches under my next punch, blood splattering across my shirt. Somewhere behind me, Vinnie's shouting, his hands tugging at my shoulders, but I don't move. I can't

"Fuck your threats," I growl through gritted teeth. "You don't get to hurt her and walk away."

Daniel flails beneath me, weak and desperate, trying to throw me off. He's not even close. He's a twig. A pathetic excuse from a man.

"You're going to kill him," Vinnie yells, his voice panicked.

Good.

The cafeteria erupts around me, people screaming, tables scraping across the floor as they scatter.

None of it matters. Not the noise, not Vinnie, not the blood staining my knuckles. The only thing that cuts through the haze is the sound of a teacher shouting.

I get in one last punch before hands grab the back of my hoodie and haul me off.

"Enough!" Principal Doyle barks, dragging me backward like a dog on a leash. My chest heaves as I glare down at Daniel, his face a bloody, swollen mess on the floor.

"Both of you, to my office. Now!" Doyle yells.

Doyle drags both of us down the hall, his grip iron-tight on my arm My knuckles ache, blood...his blood, smearing across my hands, but I don't feel it.

The rush of adrenaline surges through me, drowning out everything else except the image of his face and the memory of what he did to her.

He shoves us into his office, slamming the door behind him. "Sit."

I drop into the chair without a word, slouching like I don't care, even though my body's still coiled tight.

Daniel slumps into the chair beside me, his face a bloody mess, but he's lucky he's still conscious. He avoids looking at me, which is probably the smartest thing he's done all day.

Doyle glares at us, anger radiating from him. He picks up the phone, jabbing the buttons. "Carol, call the guardians of Daniel Miller, Kristina Age, Nora Smith, Vinnie Hacker, and Avanie Woods. And send Nurse Hadley to my office immediately."