Page 100 of Vicious King

“I’m coming to take him home.”

“Oh, honestly, I don’t think you need to. The students weren’t even aware that something was going on, as there was no active shooter on the premises, and we were able to defuse the situation quietly. It’s simply our policy to notify every parent when something like this happens.”

I breath out another sigh. “Okay. I’ll be there when he gets out of class. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I hang up and immediately dial Clyde’s number.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Why the fuck didn’t you call me when the security situation happened at the school?”

He’s quiet for a moment and then says, “I tried to call Carson⁠—”

“But didn’t get an answer because he’s unavailable,” I finish for him, and I’m so fucking pissed off. “If anything happens at that fucking school, you call me. Are we clear?”

“Ma’am,” Clyde says. “I understand, but Carson is my boss.”

I narrow my eyes and see fucking red. I was a single mom until seven minutes ago. I’ve always been the one to take care of my boy, on my own, without any help from security guards that my husband pays for.

And I’ll be damned if I’m taken out of the equation now.

“We’ll be having a team meeting about this today.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I hang up and get up to shower and dress and return the gun to the vault because fuck that. I’m still pissed when I go downstairs and find Mildred in the kitchen, making Charlie’s favorite cookies.

When she looks up and sees my face, she blinks.

“Why are you so mad?”

“Because misogyny is the bane of my goddamn existence.”

Her eyebrows climb, and she points to the stool in front of her. “Sit. Talk. How did last night go?”

“It was long and kind of weird.” Mildred passes me a cup of coffee, black, just the way I like it. “But I like being back at work. I know it’s sooner than the month that Carson wanted me to wait, but with Charlie in school, I’m ready for it.”

She nods and pops a tray of cookies in the oven after taking one out and starts to set the hot treats on a wire rack to cool.

I reach over and snag one, juggling it from hand to hand because it’s so hot.

“You could give it five minutes.”

“I have coffee now,” I remind her, and take a bite, then blow around the steaming cookie. “Hot.”

Mildred smirks. “What else is making you angry?”

“I got a call from the principal.” I tell her about the conversation with Smithers and then my call with Clyde, and Mildred stops working, leans against the counter, and scowls.

“Oh hell no. That’s your son.”

“Thank you!”

I finish my now-cool cookie and growl with frustration.

“I know that I have to let go of a little of the control because I’m not a single mom anymore and Carson has as much say as I do. Honestly, it’s nice to have a partner. But his security detail should report to me as equally as they do Carson.”