Free Fate Book by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff Page A

the universe tilted itself on its head and shifted its polar axis? Why were people being so nice?
    Head spinning with confusion, I didn’t hear one bit of the lecture. As soon as the bell rang, I popped up from my seat and bolted for the door. I rounded the corner to the main office and skidded to a halt, nearly getting trampled by some girls behind me.
    Santiago?
    He stood in front of the admin building with the principal, Ms. Marie. She giggled, her eyes glued to Santiago’s bulging biceps as he spoke. They didn’t look like they were going to stop talking anytime soon either.
    Damn it. Ms. Marie was the only one who had the code for long distance calls. I knew this because my mom had forgotten a field trip permission slip last year. When I called her at work to see if she could fax it over, they told me she was tied up. I tried to call my dad next, but the call wouldn’t go through until Ms. Marie punched in the code.
    I ground my teeth. How was it possible? Santiago had everyone wrapped around his little finger. My mother, my best friend; now the principal. Even the police and people at the hospital seemed to be under his spell.
    I went to class to bide my time. If I couldn’t get to a phone during school, then I’d call my dad when I got home. And I knew my father wouldn’t be so easily manipulated by Santiago’s charms. As much as I had trust issues with the man, he was ruthless when it came to stuff like people messing with his family. Once, I remember my mother had an issue with a new doctor at work. He kept hitting on her or something. I knew she’d tried to talk to the doctor to get him to stop, but when she did, he threatened to have her fired if she complained to HR. My mother finally gave in and told my father. Not only did the doctor never bother her again, he lost his license and left the state. I knew my mom felt kind of bad, but I didn’t. Jerk had probably been harassing poor nurses for years. I only wish I knew what my dad said to send the guy fleeing for his life. Must’ve been pretty damned entertaining, because my dad was scary. He always knew the exact pressure points to maximize fear. That’s why I had to believe he’d know what to do. He always knew what to do.
    ~ ~ ~
    By lunch I was suffering from severely low blood sugar, and the dizzy spells were growing stronger. I’d been so nerve-racked in the morning because of Santiago coming to pick me up that I hadn’t eaten. I definitely needed food.
    Ignoring the other students’ gawks, I stood in line with my tray: a slice of greasy pizza, red Jell-O, and orange slices. I neared the register and felt a very deliberate push from behind. “Bitch!”
    The contents of the tray went flying, as did I. My body slammed onto the cold tile floor, sending the air whooshing from my lungs. I immediately heard grunting and a guy behind me scream.
    I rolled onto my back to see Santiago gripping the boy—only he wasn’t really a boy, but a mannish teen with a beard, BO, wide shoulders in a letterman jacket—by the collar of his shirt. His name was Jer. Mr. Dipshit Quarterback. It was a widely known fact he worshipped Janice.
    “Get the fuck off me, dude!” Jer struggled, but Santiago whipped him around like a tiny rag doll, threw him facedown on the floor, and placed his thick boot in the small of Jer’s back. Santiago kneeled and grabbed Jer’s hand, twisting his wrist and placing him in some weird pretzel hold.
    “Don’t ever fucking touch her again. Do you hear me?” Santiago said in a low, menacing voice. “I know where you live, where you eat, I know where you piss. None of which you’ll ever do again if you lay another fucking finger on her.”
    The entire cafeteria fell into a horrified hush as everyone froze in their tracks, including the register lady.
    My eyes practically did somersaults out of my head. Oh no! “Let him go, Santiago. You’re going to break his arm.”
    “Say you heard me, asshole,” Santiago was as cool as a