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“You both will be on your best behavior. I’m a busy man and I don’t have time to be running to the school to deal with nonsense.”
I repeated my uncle’s warning to Eli even though I wanted to ask when we weren’t on our best behavior. We quietly skulked around their house like ghosts for the last month, heeding every one of their restrictive rules.
The three of us were standing next to the driveway as their driver, Monroe, put our bags in the car. He would be dropping us off at the academy since my uncle was too busy with work to make the forty-five-minute drive.
Aunt Violet hadn’t bothered to come down to say goodbye, and my uncle wasn’t giving us much of one.
“Your room and meals are provided by the school and your aunt generously bought you new clothes,” he continued. “You won’t need anything else, so do not ask. Understood?”
“Understood.”
Eli gave him a thumbs-up.
He nodded. “Good. Now get going. You have a meeting with the headmistress about the accommodations for Eli. She’s giving you a personal tour of the school. We can’t have her kept waiting.”
Uncle Harrison made no move to hug us and neither did we.
“Goodbye, Uncle,” I said. “Should we expect to come back for winter break?”
His straight-backed, stiff-lipped expression didn’t waver. “I don’t believe that will be necessary.”
There wasn’t more to say after that. The two of us climbed into the car and Monroe drove away from Bancroft Mansion.
Eli tapped me on the shoulder. “Our uncle is a dick.”
I snorted. “A wrinkly, hairy, veiny one with sores and warts that pulls to the left.”
My brother almost fell off the seat laughing.
Giggling, I signed, “But at least he took us in.”
“Yeah. And then he sent us to school with your old friends. After the party, he can’t pretend he doesn’t know it’s going to be bad for us.”
I touched my temple, and the cut healing under my bandage. “Nothing is going to be bad for you, Eli. I’ll fuck up anyone who messes with you.”
He shot me a lopsided grin. “I know, but you’re a senior and I’m a freshman. You can’t protect me all the time.”
“Who says?”
“I’m more worried about you, sis.” Eli touched my bandage too.
I wanted to tell him something to comfort him, but everything I came up with felt like a lie. I couldn’t say he didn’t have to worry about me. Julian, Pomona, and their friends made it clear that he did.
I reached in my purse and handed Eli my tablet. The most effective conversation-ender was distracting my brother with games and books.
He took it, although he gave me a look like he knew what I was doing.
On the crude town map I drew for Eli, I pointed out the forest and private land on the outskirts. The only private patch bigger than the one my parents got their hands on was Raven River Academy’s. Actually, I couldn’t compare the two. The school founders secured fifty acres across the river and leveled every tree, bush, and twig for dorms, fields, classrooms, and a pool. The Estate spawn were built their own oasis.
I stuck my headphones in and rested my head against the window, lulled by the town falling away as the trees closed in.
At some point I nodded off and was jostled awake at the car rumbling over the bridge. Eyes fluttering open, my vision cleared.
I sucked in a breath.
Raven River Academy rose from the horizon like the sun rising from the sea. And it was magnificent.
Monroe passed through the gates. I pressed myself between the seats to get a better look. Creeping ivy wound up the stone façade passing large windows and reaching to the clock tower. Fifty acres and as far as I could see were stately buildings, flower gardens, spilling fountains, and one or two students strolling across the grass.
Monroe turned into a parking space and hopped out to get our bags. He deposited them on the sidewalk and climbed back in as we shut the doors. Skipping the goodbye, he peeled out and was gone.
Sighing, I gave Eli what I hoped passed for a smile. “The headmistress said she’d meet us at the entrance.”
“Did she seem nice?”
“She did actually. Makes it kind of hard to believe she birthed the likes of Julian Hart.”
Eli and I crossed the parking lot and walked onto campus. Cobblestone paths snaked through the grass and converged into one that led to the main building. There were students around but not that many. Move-in began on Saturday at noon and Mrs. Hart asked us in early.
My brother skipped ahead of me as we neared the double doors. A woman stood beneath the arch in a smart blazer, skirt, and kitten heels. Unsurprisingly, Headmistress Hart did not dye her hair silver like her son but her honey blond hair was striking nonetheless. Every other bit of her resembled Julian. Long lashes, full lips, and beauty that couldn’t be disguised behind thick-framed glasses.
Mr. Hart cheated on a smart, successful woman who looks like this? Is there any hope for the rest of us?
“Good morning, Eli,” she said warmly. “I’m Headmistress Hart. It’s wonderful to meet you. I’m sorry to say my sign language is rusty but your sister tells me you’re comfortable reading lips. I hope you don’t mind if we communicate like this.”
“It’s all good,” I interpreted for Eli.
“Wonderful. Now Ember and I had a great discussion about ways to facilitate your learning here at Raven River. I’ve hired an interpreter and a notetaker to accompany you to your classes.”
“Thank you,” Eli and I said.
“First, let me show you to the dorms so you can drop those bags in your rooms.” She made a clucking noise. “Speaking of, those must be heavy. I’ll take that.”
I let her slip the duffle off my shoulder, too confounded to stop her. It had been that long since someone was nice to me.
Why wouldn’t she be nice? If Julian is to be believed, Mom and Dad ripped off and humiliated her cheating ex. She probably wants to give them a medal.
Headmistress Hart stepped around me and went back the way we came. She chose a path that took us around the main building. I took in the grounds as I followed her. The school seemed to go on forever. Just on this side I spotted a tennis court and two gazebos that were perfect for spending the day outside studying.
We rounded the building and more appeared before us. The gym, the swimming pool, the dining hall, and just past all of them, the dorm.
Hart gestured at the building. “Here we are. Hilliard Hall. I believe you’ll be very comfortable here. Each room has an attached bathroom and a cozy book nook by your desk.”
Eli’s face lit up. My excitement was slower.
“Headmistress, about those exceptions...?”
“Oh, yes.” Her cheery smile melted away. “Ember, I’m not blind to the situation you’re in and I want you to know I did consider your request, but the rules are clear in that we don’t allow opposite genders to share a room even if they are siblings. And we also require roommates to be in the same grade. If I make exceptions for you, I’d have to do it for everyone.”
Eli swung around, face screwed up. “You tried to get yourself in my room? Like I want my big sister getting in the way.”
“Getting in the way of what?”
He grinned. “All the drugs and girls I’m going to do.”
I smacked him upside the head, startling a gasp out of Hart. Eli turned big eyes on the headmistress, lips trembling as he pointed at me.
“You little—” I pounced and wrestled him into a headlock. Eli cried out, flailing at me.
“Ember,” Hart began, looking uncomfortable. “You shouldn’t—”
“It’s fine,” I said happily. “This is my divine right as his older sister. So about the rooms, can we at least be next to each other?”
“Well...” Hart gently extracted Eli from my hold. The little gremlin darted behind her and stuck his tongue out at me. “No. Grades are on separate floors. Freshmen on the first and seniors on the fourth. The good news is the senior class has an odd number, so you’ll have your own room.”
“What about Eli?”
“His roommate is a lovely, talented young man. I interviewed him myself. I’m sure the boys will get along well.”
I beckoned for Eli. He slid under my arm, our little scuffle forgotten. “Headmistress, I want to be very clear... I won’t let anyone hurt him.”
She held my gaze steadily. “And I want to be clear that neither will I. Nor you, Ember. The well-being of my students is my top priority.”
Your son and his friends may have other priorities.
“Okay,” I said aloud. “Let’s see this dorm.”
It was no shock that the dorms were pretty sweet. We passed through a small front room with two chaises and a water fountain. Directly in front of us was the elevator and on either side were two heavy doors.
“We house both boys and girls in this dorm but they have their own wing—which is locked and accessible by code.” Hart motioned to the keypad. “Eli, this is your hall. The lock is turned off during move-in weekend but be sure to know the code and have your room key with you by start of class on Monday. All doors lock automatically after they’re closed.”
He nodded and she continued on, leading us two rooms down to a door on the right. Inside were two full-size beds, soft clean carpet, thick drapes on the window, and two big desks next to the book nooks she promised. On the other side of the desk was a microwave sitting on top of a mini-fridge.
Eli went to check out the bathroom while I placed his bags on the bed near the window.
“I think he’ll be okay here while I show you to your room,” said Hart. “He can start unpacking and we’ll come back for him to start the tour.”
“No, that’s okay,” I said, not pausing to think about it. “We’ll stay together.”
She smiled. “Of course.”
The dorm was half the size of Eli’s old room and would be shared with another person, but he seemed pleased with it. I tugged him away from the book nook and the two of us fell in behind our headmistress.
The elevator carried us up and deposited us on the senior floor. I whistled.
“Wow,” I said. “Who’s your decorator?”
She laughed. “The seniors. As a treat, we allow students to put their own stamp on the floor.”
Their own stamp was a small way of putting it. A roaring, grasping Kraken emerged from the sea to wrap me in its tentacles and drag me to the depths. The detail on the creature was that good. Surging waves, mermaids, and fish glittering with sparkly paint covered the wall and flowed as far down as the emergency exits—which had two cute guppies pointing out the sign.
My lips ticked up in a grin. Whoever painted these was seriously good.
“The last week of the school year,” Hart went on, “following finals, we have events, games, parties, and a fun time getting out the paint and transforming these bland beige walls. It’s a great way to connect and build bonds as a school family.” She leveled me with that killer smile. “That’s why I honestly feel you both will be safe and happy here. Our students are bright, kind, and hardworking. In my time as headmistress, it’s rare that we’ve had a behavior problem that wasn’t addressed by open communication.”
I pressed a hand to my bandage. There’s definitely some open communicating I wanted to do with Pomona.
“This way, Ember.”
Eli slowed down, checking out the artwork as Hart took me to the room at the very end. There wasn’t a soul up here I could see or hear, so I let him stay in the hall and threw my things on a bed. The layout was the same as Eli’s though half of my room would be bare.
I could put the beds and the desks together and make this place my own.
I had no delusions about what this year will be like, but at least at the end of the day, I can come back to a nice, quiet room.
My mood perked up thinking of what I’d do in here. I might even give myself a little makeover. It’d been a while since I dyed my hair. Aunt “Bottle-Brunette” Violet looked at me like I said I wanted to buy her a puppy and then kill it in front of her when I asked to borrow the car to get hair dye. She nearly fainted when I said what color.
“Headmistress, I read in the handbook that we can’t dye our hair but that’s not enforced, right?”
She cocked her head. “What do you mean?”
“I mean... Julian dyes his hair.”
“Ah.” Hart pinched the bridge of her nose. “The rule is enforced. No colors outside of natural ones. Except my darling son made the impassioned speech that silver is a natural hair color or have I never met an elderly person. A smart, spirited boy he is.”
“That’s not all he is,” I muttered under my breath.
“Pardon?”
“That’s too bad,” I said louder. “I was looking forward to some blue streaks.”
Hart laughed like I told a joke. “Come along. There is plenty more campus for you to see.”
She wasn’t kidding. Headmistress Hart took us through the main building and showed us the classrooms, lockers, administration, the nurse’s office, and labs. The school was exceptionally clean. The marble floors waxed to the point of showing our reflections. The lockers dent- and scratch-free. Not so much as a thumbtack on the bulletin boards.
Exiting the science lab brought us to the back door. We walked out and moved on to the dining hall. Six long tables lined in neat rows on the ground floor, waiting for messy teenagers to drop food under them and cover the surface with sticky foreign substances. Next to the front doors was a wide staircase leading up to a loft-like second floor.
“That’s where the seniors eat,” Hart explained when she saw me looking. “Only the seniors. Just one of the little perks you get.”
“What are the other perks?”
“There’s senior week, which you’ll learn all about soon. A senior dance. And you’re adults now, so we treat you like one by easing up a few of the rules.”
“Sweet.”
She clapped. “On to the gym.”
Headmistress Hart was a patient and kind guide, taking us all over campus before walking us back to the dorm. Eli and I waved her off.
“She’s really nice,” signed Eli.
“I know. Isn’t it the worst? I wanted to hate her for unleashing her demon seed on the planet.”
He gifted me his crinkled-up amused face. “I should unpack and claim my spot before my roommate gets here.”
“Fine, but when you’re done, come up to my room. The drugs and girls will have to wait, you’re staying with me this weekend until I feel the place out.”
Eli rolled his eyes but didn’t argue with me. He could be as fourteen as he wanted to be but I’d do my job as his sister whether he liked it or not.
We got past the initial eye rolls and deep sighs and then spent the first weekend at Raven River Academy chilled out and drama-free. We didn’t leave the room the entire time. There was no need when my forethought packed chips, drinks, cookies, and microwave soup.
Eli asked to leave at one point to meet his roommate. I said no.
The dorm was no longer quiet. Shouts, bangs, laughter, and chatter floated through the thin walls telling me they were here. Pomona, Leo, Nolan, and Julian were all out there but they didn’t know yet that I was in here. I wanted to keep it that way until Monday morning brought my peace to an end.
And it would end no matter what the headmistress thought of her students. I was in for the worst year of my life to capitalize on a horrible summer.
I deserved one more day having fun with my brother.
***
“YOUR INTERPRETER AND notetaker will meet you outside your first class every morning.”
“I know.”
“We have lunch at the same time, so we’ll sit together.”
“No.”
“Yes. Try getting rid of me, little bro. You haven’t managed to kick my ass yet.”
“Whatever.” Eli edged toward the door. “I have to get ready for class.”
“If anyone fucks with you, tell me.”
“I will.”
I stepped in front of him, blocking his escape. “I’m serious.”
“Didn’t I just say I will?”
“And make sure you—”
Eli tackled me. I let out a shout as he grabbed me around the waist and dropped, bringing me to the floor. The brat took advantage of my surprise to scramble up and dart out the door.
“Damn,” I grumbled, pushing myself up. “Maybe he can kick my ass.”
Chuckling, I went into the bathroom and got ready.
Monday morning dawned despite my wishes. In thirty minutes, I’d report to Mr. Geske’s homeroom class and start my first official day at the academy.
Raven River had a uniform as pretentious academies for snobby rich kids tended to do. I stood before the floor-length mirror and tried to convince myself I didn’t look ridiculous in the plaid skirt, white buttoned-up shirt, and plaid blazer.
It didn’t work.
“Who in the hell does plaid on plaid? Why didn’t someone put a stop to this?”
My reflection just mocked me. I turned my back on it and finished putting my hair in a ponytail and swiping on some lip gloss.
Taking a breath, I held it until my lungs ached.
“Let’s get this over with.”
I opened the door to my room, locked it behind me, and dropped the key in my skirt pocket. A group of girls were in the hall, crowding in front of a door three away from me.
“Ugh. Hurry up, Pomona,” one of the girls called into the room. “Wilder’s waiting for me.”
“I’m coming!”
Hell no.
I spun on my heels and slipped out the back exit. I could deal with a lot of things early in the morning. Pomona wasn’t one of them. Besides, there was a very good chance I’d put my fist through her face if she ran her mouth and at minimum I needed to get through homeroom before I got in trouble.
I shut the door behind me without them noticing and made off down the stairs. Moist, humid air seeped into my pores. The news threatened rain all weekend and the darkening clouds swore they would deliver.
The first drop hit me as I hit the bottom step. The second struck my eyelid on the steps of the dorm hall. The next thing I knew, the heavens broke loose.
“Ah!”
Screeching students ran from all directions, streaking into the main building. I was right on their heels. I ran inside and kept running, using the wailing over ruined hair and dripping mascara to get to my locker undercover.
I rushed up to the third floor, dodging bodies, and rounded a corner Headmistress Hart pointed out two days before.
Locker 3467, I recalled, scanning the number. It should be right—
“Hey, you must be Ember.”
I tripped over my feet.
“Whoa, girl. Walk much?”
Hands reached out to help me. I pushed them away.
Straightening, my gaze met a playful grin and eyes the color of the forest surrounding us.
“Hi, I’m—”
“Who are you and how do you know my name?”
He laughed. “Just about to answer the first question. My name is Brandon.” He pointed behind him. “I’m your locker neighbor. Cool to meet you.”
I ignored his outstretched hand. “Now for an answer to the second question.”
“Saw you on the news.”
“Of course you did,” I muttered.
I continued to ignore his hand and reached for my locker.
“Okay. Not a handshaker.” Brandon leaned on the metal. “Guessing you’re a germaphobe.”
“No, I just don’t have time. You figured out who I am and you’re still standing here even though you’ve got your bag, books, and five minutes to get to class, so let’s skip the small talk. If you’ve got something to say, say it.”
“Uhh... You have an eyelash on your cheek?”
“Stop messing around,” I snapped.
“I’m trying but I’m really confused. What did I do to make you dislike me so quickly?”
“Me,” I cried, goggling at him. “It’s you who has a problem with me.”
He scrunched up his face. “I do? Since when? We just met.”
“What?”
“What?”
I slammed my locker shut. “I have class.”
Marching off, I made it four steps and heard footsteps behind me. “All right, you’ve clearly got some issues but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the crazy ones. Let’s try this again. I’m Brandon Lacroix. Senior. Lockermate. Tennis player. Future prom king once I find a foolproof way to rig the ballots.” He made a show of scanning the hallway. “Don’t tell anyone about that last one,” he whispered.
I gave him a crazy look and he gave me one to match.
“This is the part where you tell me about yourself,” he prompted.
Gritting my teeth, I said, “You know about me. If you saw me on the news, you know who my parents are, and—”
“And I don’t care,” he finished. Brandon’s long strides easily kept pace though I was practically running to get away from him. “Yeah, I know about your folks. Everyone here does. And I bet you’re expecting to hear about it and, honey, you will. The Raveners want to kill you, but I’m not one of them.” Sincerity seeped into his voice. “Your parents didn’t take any money from mine, mostly because they don’t have any to give. I’ve got nothing against you.”
“You live in the OB,” I said. It wasn’t a question.
A proper look at Brandon picked up the worn scuffed shoes and mends in his pants and blazer.
He nodded. “So... we cool?”
I considered him. Brandon seemed genuine. His face wasn’t twisting up like the people passing by as they recognized me.
“You’re that Bancroft bitch!” someone spat. I didn’t bother to see who.
“Maybe,” I replied. “First, tell me what a Ravener is.”
A smile split his face. “No problem. I’ll be your informant. Tell you everything you need to know about this place.”
“So tell me.” I continued on to class, expecting him to keep up.
“Raveners are the kids from the Estate. They gave themselves that name.” He made a disgusted noise. “It’s not enough that they think they own this place, they run around like they own the whole town too. They’re the Raveners, and we’re just the ‘OB trash.’”
“Those guys are choking on so much smug superiority, it’s amazing they can force that bullshit out of their mouth.”
“I’m saying.” Brandon elbowed me. “That’s one thing you’ve got in your favor. Anyone who hates the Raveners is my new best friend.”
“Did they do something to you?”
“No,” he said, a little too quickly.
Which means yes.
I studied him out of the corner of my eye. Brandon was from the other side of the gate but from my reckoning this shouldn’t have slowed him down much. He was cute with a capital C, U, T, and E. Strong jaw you could crack a walnut on. Thick, spiky black hair, and gorgeous green eyes that crinkled when he smiled.
He’d certainly be popular at my old school. Girls, and a few guys, would be lining up to get him out of those mended pants. Unless the people here were only interested in rich model-types with personalities that belong in a dumpster.
Entirely possible.
Brandon gestured ahead of us with his chin. “You have Geske for homeroom? Because this is him.”
“Yeah, I’ve got him.”
He went ahead and held the door open for me, sweeping out his hand. “After you.”
Class was mostly filled up by students who moved a lot faster than me. They tossed their wet backpacks on their claimed desks and moaned to friends as they fussed with their hair.
“Take your seats, everyone,” said a stout, balding man standing at the whiteboard. “We’ll get started here in a few minutes.”
“Holy shit. Look,” someone hissed. “It’s her.”
I took a step, and like it was the cue they were waiting for, everyone sat down. They rushed to grab the seats by their friends, in the front, by the window, and everywhere else. In the time it took me to turn down the first row, there were no empty seats except for six at the very back.
My face was expressionless. They’d have to do better than this. I was planning to sit there anyway. Only an idiot would allow enemies at her back.
“What’s this? A common Bancroft snake has slithered into our habitat,” Destiny said as I neared her. “Keep an eye on your wallets.”
The people around her sniggered.
“Oh, look,” I said softly. “It’s a basic Hamilton chipmunk.”
Destiny’s smirk was gone in a snap. “Fuck you!”
“Miss Hamilton,” Geske barked. “What is the matter with you?”
“Sorry, sir.”
I choked on a snicker. She was too easy.
Walking on, I reached my new seat.
“You can’t sit there,” Brandon said.
I stopped with my backpack hovering over the second desk in the back row. “Why not?”
Everyone turned to look at me. Even Mr. Geske stopped writing on the board to watch the exchange.
Brandon noticed the looks. “You just can’t,” he replied. “Not until we know how many of them are in the class.”
“All,” said Geske, his face blank.
“Then you definitely can’t sit there. The back row is for the Angels.”
“For the— What the hell are you talking about?” I looked to Geske. “Sir, are there assigned seats?”
He hesitated long enough that my confusion grew. “No,” he finally said. “No assigned seats.”
I opened my hand and the thud of my pack split the silence. “Then I’m good here.”
Brandon bit off a curse. “Seriously, guys,” he said to the class.
Everyone returned to their conversations, turning their backs. Geske picked up his marker.
“Brandon, sit,” I said. “It’s fine.”
He shook his head but said no more. Brandon walked around and took the seat next to the one in front of me. He was still shaking his head.
“Good morning, everyone,” Geske began. “You all know the rules of homeroom, but for the benefit of our new student, I’ll tell you that this time is for working quietly, preparing for the day, and relaying announcements. For some of you, I’m also your English teacher, so feel free to ask me questions about the assign...”
The door opened.
It wasn’t loud, thrown against the wall, or noticeable, yet Mr. Geske’s speech faded on his tongue.
Two dozen heads swiveled to the entrance and mine did too because where else would I look?
And then he walked in.
Beams of light broke through the blinds, covering him in strips of shadows. Sun. Shadows. Sun. Shadows. Both passing over his face as like met like. Brilliant platinum hair flowed from pitch-black roots and brushed his pale forehead.
Sun and shadows.
Light blue eyes blinked at me beneath thick, raven eyebrows until I continued the journey over his mouth to the bandages covering his neck, peeking through his shirt and, as he reached to brush back his hair, plastered on the back of his hand.
The guy nodded at Geske who looked a bit startled at the gesture. Then he moved out of the way and his replica strode into the room.
I blinked. But I wasn’t seeing double. The other guy looked like his twin, and therefore must have been. They resembled each other down to the bandages.
Their translucent eyes fixed on me, the twins sat on either side of my desk and kept staring... and staring... and staring.
Goose bumps prickled my skin. What is happening?
I snuck a glance at Brandon. Eyes bulging, he jerked his head at the desk in front of me, urging me to move.
There was no expression on their sculpted faces to give them away. They didn’t move except to blink.
“Welcome, Mr. Saito,” I heard Geske say. “Please, feel free to sit... anywhere.”
Mr. Saito gave no indication that he heard. His eyes found me immediately, and as if I didn’t already have the sneaking suspicion I’d done something wrong, his expression darkened, gazing at me like I was a puddle of dog piss.
The look in his eyes was nasty, but everything else wasn’t. I didn’t use the word beautiful lightly. I’d been forced to assign it to Julian because some things were just woven into the fabric of reality.
The sun rose in the east. I was afraid of frogs. And this angry boy was one of the most gorgeous things I’d ever seen.
A crown of jet-black locks framed his face, brushing the top of broad shoulders. Inky pools shone through narrowed eyes and his tawny skin reported not a blemish or wrinkle for the parts of him I could see. He too was covered in bandages.
Saito tossed his bag at the foot of the last desk in the back row and joined the boys’ staring contest. But my hair stood on end at the blatant dislike in his gaze.
My parents must have hit him too.
“Ember,” Brandon hissed. “Just get up.”
I tore away from Saito. “No,” I said as the classroom door open once more. “Why should I?”
There was one seat left, and I lifted my chin to stare down the next asshole who tried to intimidate me.
“Mr. Cruz,” said Geske, trembling on false bravado. “I won’t have any trouble in this class. Take the last free seat.”
Cruz...?
One word. One look.
Everything blew away.
His presence filled the room. Filled my mind like it did the first time we met.
Jet-black locks swept back from his crown and light danced through his strands, gifting me visions of halos.
He changed.
Taller. Thicker. Defined.
Almost like his being was in flux when we met, deciding what he was going to be, and then it came to the inevitable conclusion that the name he was given was more than a title. It is who he is.
A dark prince.
He grew larger in my blurred world and I slowly realized he was coming to me. Yes, to me.
He extended his hand, large and calloused, and I rose to place mine in his as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
He was covered in bandages too, but now I knew why.
“It’s you,” I whispered.
His eyes did not spark with recognition. If anything, he looked curious as he drew me to him. Hips knocking together, he gripped my waist, and we traveled over each other’s faces like every lash and curve had to be committed to memory.
But I didn’t have to remember. It was burned in my brain. That night. And—
“Royal.”
He didn’t say anything, and still it didn’t seem like he knew who I was. But he was holding me. Warmth spread through his hands into my body. My heart fluttered in my chest like a caged wild bird. Unbidden, my palm covered his heart, aching to feel if his was doing the same.
Suddenly, he was gone.
Royal ripped away from me so fast I stumbled and bumped into Brandon’s desk. The boy dropped in the seat I just vacated and shoved my backpack off, throwing it on my new chair. I’d been too out of it to notice he was moving me out of the way.
Loud, humiliating laughter went up through the class, loudest of all from the boys in the back row.
Brandon gripped my wrist, half shoving me into the empty seat.
I plopped down cheeks flaming.
I’d freely admit I was rattled.
He was here? How could he be here?
Royal Cruz wasn’t only in my new school. He was in my class. Sitting behind me. Sharing my air. Sending vibrations through my desk as he drummed his fingers. Looking at me like he didn’t have a clue who I was.
A hot flush infused my skin. Did Royal not know me? After what we did...?
“Okay, let’s get back on track,” said Geske. “It’s the first day, so we have nothing on the docket except for our new student.”
I jumped. Who? Me?
Geske smiled at me, erasing all doubt. “Miss Bancroft, why don’t you stand up and introduce yourself? You’re the first new addition to this group since sophomore year.”
I didn’t move, partially hoping if I stayed still, ducked behind the random dude in front of me, I’d disappear ostrich-style.
“Up, up, up,” he cried cheerily.
Yeah, it doesn’t work for the ostriches either.
Forcing myself to my feet, I chanced a peek at Royal.
He was bent over a notepad, scribbling something. He wasn’t paying a lick of attention to me.
“I’m Ember Bancroft,” I stated. “I’m—”
“—a thieving, lying bitch,” finished Destiny.
“Destiny,” Geske shouted. “If I have to tell you again, you’ll spend the rest of homeroom in the hall.”
Destiny shot me a venomous glare like her dressing-down was my fault.
I held up my fingers. “I’m a Pisces. I love all things sweet, sugary, and chocolaty. And... oh yeah... I don’t know where my parents or the money are, so if that’s fueling any stupid vendettas you have against me, get over it now.”
“We know you do,” a girl I’d never seen before shot back. “So if you’re going to stand up there and spout bullshit, you can quit now. None of us buy it.”
Shrugging, I sat and took out a book I borrowed from Eli. If they refused to believe me, I wouldn’t waste my breath. I had a feeling they’d give me plenty of other opportunities where I’d have to share the truth.
For the rest of homeroom, my eyes scanned the words on the page without registering a single one. I was highly aware of Royal and the scritching of his pen behind me.
He has to remember. Unless that night was just a common Saturday night for him.
My nails dug into the cover, anger sparking at the thought. If the forced chair swap was humiliating, it’d have nothing on this guy erasing me from existence.
Wouldn’t it be worse if he did know me? Throwing around my stuff and sitting there while the class laughed at me was less of a sting to a stranger.
My mind went around and around the entire half an hour. Shaken by the scent of his body spray. Penetrated by each cough, shift, and bump against my desk.
The ringing bell was sweet relief. If I have any ounce of luck, let Royal not be in any more of my classes.
I made to rise just as Royal brushed past me. A piece of paper floated on my desk.
My pulse picked up speed. Royal wrote me a note? He does remember me.
Fingers trembling, I unfolded the paper and saw what the note contained.
In a breath, I crumpled it in a fist and lobbed it at his back. “Asshole!”
The ball bounced off his hair as Royal laughed, the smooth, deep sound not lessened by the undercurrent of mocking.
Royal walked out with his silent group not far behind. There was no question.
Royal remembered me.
***
BRANDON TRIPPED DOWN the hall, racing to catch up.
“Hey, wait up.”
Mrs. Jackson’s physics class. All I was interested in was getting there as fast as possible. I was ready for taunts, accusations, threats, and even violence, but I was not ready for Royal Cruz. My body felt strange like millions of ants were marching through my veins.
Brandon caught up to me, chest puffing. “Damn, you’re fast. Did you run track at your old school?”
“I’m going to physics,” I said. “You should get to your class.”
“I’ve got gym. That’s lucky. It’s on the way. You can tell me what this is about.”
My eyes bugged when he flashed the note. “What are you doing with that?!” I snatched it from him, ran to the nearest trash can, and threw it in.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, looking at me like I had the problem. “It’s just a drawing of a cherry.”
Heat flooded my cheeks. I spun around to stop him noticing. “I don’t like cherries,” I said simply. “Royal knows that. He was making fun of me.”
“Making fun of you?” Brandon jogged to keep pace as I set off again. “You know him? How? You’re not from the OB.”
“What was it you called them?” I asked, ignoring his questions. “The Angels? Why? Is that what they call themselves?”
“Uhh.” Brandon glanced around. “That’s a conversation for later. Lunch. We’ll talk then.”
“But—”
It was his turn to run off.
My morning classes were much less eventful. One of the white-haired twins was in my physics class and he took his seat at the back without staring at me this time. I sat in the last row too. The incident with Royal only proved it was best to not have rivals behind me. The other three weren’t in the class, so it must have been okay to sit next to him. He certainly didn’t pay me any mind when I did.
I peeked at him during Mrs. Jackson’s lecture. He had tattoos. A lot of them. From where they were placed on Royal, those bandages were covering the parts where his tattoos were visible. It must have been the same for this guy, the replica, and the angry pretty boy. When I first met Royal, I was intrigued by the sixteen-year-old with the unique name who racked up so many elaborate tattoos. And here there were three more of them.
Are they Royal’s friends? Do they know about me? Did they get together after class and laugh about cherries?
It was hard to tell. They acted like freaks in class but was that about the chair, who I was, Royal, or all three?
The boy almost caught me looking at him once, but I flicked to my textbook.
Classes ended with two chapters and a practice test assigned for homework.
My next class was English literature. I walked into the unwelcome sight of Brynn, Destiny, and Leo. As well as the replica and Angry Boy. I was only certain it was the replica because his backpack was a different color.
Leo wolf-whistled. “Damn. Looking good in that skirt, mami.” Leo swiped some random kid’s books off the desk.
“What the fuck?!”
He smirked, zeroed in on me. “Bend over and pick them up for me.”
I calmly stepped over the boy’s books and advanced on Leo. If glares were lethal, Brynn would have me dead on the floor.
“Leo, honey,” I said, voice as sweet as my favorite treat. I grasped his chin between my fingers. Leo’s grin faded under a flash of surprise. “I wouldn’t bend down in front of you if I dropped a thousand dollars.” I ignored Brynn hissing and spitting next to us. “You’re a disgusting pig.”
Leo winked. “Didn’t stop you taking a ride.”
“What?” Brynn screeched.
“Never happened.” I flashed out and threw his shit to the floor. “Pig.”
Leo laughed at me all the way to my seat between Angry Boy and the replica. They both gave me looks, but neither one spoke to me.
The end of morning classes saw me the first one out the door. I promised Eli I wouldn’t stalk him, so I refrained from texting. It didn’t stop me from worrying about him all morning. The kids were starting in on me day one. I’d lose my shit if they’d been messing with him too.
The academy’s dining hall was a different place when it was full of people. As in it was loud, crowded, and reeking of pasta sauce. I searched for my brother through the chaos, taking a few bumps to the shoulder I didn’t believe were accidents.
“Hey, Ember.”
Brandon waved to me from the stairs to the senior’s loft. “Over here.”
I shook my head. I had just spotted Eli. I pointed at him to give Brandon the message.
Eli glanced up as I approached the table. It was packed with tiny wide-eyed, skittish creatures known as freshmen. Regardless of his grumblings that morning, he moved over on the bench so I could sit.
“See? I’m in one piece,” he signed.
“How did it go today?”
“Fine. See that guy over there?” Eli motioned with the jerk of his head.
“Wow.”
A short-haired man in a gray polo and jeans stood near the staircase talking on his phone.
“The guy’s the size of a truck,” I replied.
“He’s my interpreter. Can’t be sure but I’m guessing he’s changing minds about giving me crap.”
“I bet he is.”
“And you? Are you okay?”
I tried on a smile. “I’m always okay. You know nothing can get to your big sis.”
Eli’s face fell.
“Really. I’m fine.”
The frown deepened. My brother read me as well as I read him.
“Ember?”
For the first time, I was glad of Brandon’s interruption. He hovered over the table, holding his tray. “They didn’t tell you that seniors eat upstairs,” he said. “Get your food and we’ll go up. I saved you a seat.”
“I did know, but I’m sitting with my brother. This is Eli.”
Eli waved.
“Hey, little shorty. I’m stealing your sister.” Brandon grabbed my arm and pulled me up.
“Okay.” Eli waved again, this time to send me off.
“Not okay,” I gritted out. I got free of his grip. “I don’t want you to eat by yourself.”
“I’m not by myself. This is my roommate, Tatum.”
A boy beside him beamed at me indicating he’d been waiting for his introduction. He was even shorter than Eli and sported cute round-framed glasses.
“Hi, Ember,” he said, and shockingly, signed.
“You know sign language?”
He bobbed his head. “My dad taught me. My grandparents are Deaf.”
A roommate who knew sign language and an interpreter who could flip me on my ass with one finger. Damn if this wasn’t another point in Headmistress Hart’s favor.
“Um, okay, then. Are you sure you’re fine?” I asked Eli.
“Yes,” he replied. “I love you. Go away.”
Brandon took my hand again and I let him.
He stood next to me in line as I loaded up my plate with mashed potatoes, country-fried chicken, and broccoli.
“Your brother is Deaf?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
He hummed. “Cool. Gives me a reason to learn sign language.”
“Kind of presumptuous.” I put a bottle of apple juice and a fork on my tray.
“What is?”
I flashed him a wry look. “To think you’ll be hanging with us enough that you’d need the reason.”
Brandon clutched his chest, almost dropping his tray. “Ouch, Bancroft. Girl, you vicious.”
A giggle escaped me.
Stop it, Ember. You don’t know this guy. Be careful.
That wiped the smile from my face.
“Come on,” he said.
Brandon headed up the stairs. After a beat, I went with him. Discovering what he knew about Royal was reason enough.
Together we topped the landing and passed through a sea of darkening faces. One by one, mouths snapped shut as I walked by. The seniors were all glowering as we rested our trays on a small table in the corner.
Their eyes were on me, but mine were on Royal. Two tables away, he sat with Angry Boy and the replicas. His food cooled on the tray as he ignored it in favor of texting. Even though I knew my mind played tricks on me, I swore I smelled his citrusy body spray from over there.
“Can we sit somewhere else?” I asked.
“Nah. There’s nowhere else.”
“What are you talking about?” I gestured across the loft near where Julian, Pomona, Brynn, Leo, and Destiny were sitting. Pomona was in Julian’s lap, and they made out on a level that was approaching gross. “There are five empty tables over there.”
“Yep and they’re all for the Raveners. They sit there. The OB kids sit here.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
He pointed at his face. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”
“Fine. Whatever.” I finally sat and popped the top on my apple juice. “So tell me about—”
“Me first,” Brandon broke in. “This morning you called Hamilton a chipmunk and she flipped out. What was that about?”
“Oh, that.” I smothered a laugh. “When Destiny was twelve, she had buckteeth and bright green braces. She was super embarrassed and was always hunching over and trying to cover her mouth when she ate. So that guy Leo—who she is trying to dry hump right now—started calling her chipmunk and got all the kids at the Fourth of July picnic to shout it at her until she ran off crying.”
Eyes falling shut, Brandon lifted his head to the ceiling. “That is the best story I’ve ever heard,” he breathed. “Thank you so much. I can’t wait to use that.”
I chuckled. “You don’t like them very much, do you?”
“They literally call me trash to my face. Sometimes, the Raveners act like it’s our name. ‘Hey, trash, get out of the way,’ or ‘Sit somewhere else, trash.’” His friendly countenance vanished. “You have no idea what it’s like having to go to school with those dicks.”
“I’m quickly finding out.”
He sighed. “All right. You answered mine, I’ll answer yours. The Angels.” He patted the seat. “Sit next to me so we’re not obvious.”
I slid my tray down and did as he asked. Brandon leaned in, dropping his voice for good measure. “What do you want to know? You said you and Royal have history.”
“I met him once,” I confessed. “I don’t know the other guys. Are they his friends?”
“I guess you could call them that. I don’t know if a guy like Royal has friends. But if he does, those guys are as close as it gets in this school.”
My confusion compounded. “What?”
“The Asian guy is Hiro Saito,” he went on. “He speaks English and Japanese but doesn’t say much in either language. He’s the one you go to if you need something.”
“The one I go to?”
“Yep. Anything you want, he can get his hands on. No one knows how he gets the stuff through the gates. And he wouldn’t tell us if we asked.”
“Okay,” I drew out. “What about the twins?”
“Cassius and Clay aren’t twins.”
I snorted in disbelief. “How are they not twins? Did they have plastic surgery to look like each other?”
He laughed. “Course not. They’re not twins because they’re triplets. See that girl coming up the stairs with the Ravener? That’s their sister, Camila.”
The Ravener he was referring to must have been Nolan because he was heading to Julian’s table walking next to a girl as heart-stoppingly striking as her brothers. Camila’s platinum blond waterfall swayed free, tips skating along the hem of her blazer. The resemblance wasn’t as strong between her and her brothers as the one between Cassius and Clay. All the same, her pert little nose and big blue eyes accomplished her parents’ task of spitting out three unnaturally attractive humans.
Under our watchful eyes, Camila placed her tray next to Leo and then ran across the space to Cassius and Clay. She said something to them, smiling away, and one of them took out his wallet. A fat stack of bills was placed in her hand. She kissed her brother’s cheek and then skipped back to Nolan, plopping down in his lap.
“I’m confused,” I said. “I thought you said it was Raveners on one side and OB kids on the other. Are the triplets not from the OB?”
“No, they are. Camila just doesn’t have to stress about that shit ’cause she looks like that and Nolan is her boyfriend.”
“Ah. That clears it up.”
Brandon forked some chicken in his mouth. “So Cas—he’s the one with the tattoo on the back of his hand—and Clay run a few rackets.”
Rackets?
“They’re wicked smart, and for the right price, they’ll take care of your homework, papers, or get you the right SAT score. There’s also rumors they run a high-stakes poker game but that’s only for the kids with money to play.”
My eyes widened. “Are you serious?”
“Straight up.” He dropped his voice again despite no one being close enough to listen. “Stuff also has a habit of disappearing around them, so like, hands on your purse and keep your backpack where you can see it.”
I stared at them, attempting to reconcile what Brandon was telling me to the boys nonchalantly drinking apple juice.
“Then there’s Royal.”
“What about Royal?” I breathed. “What does he do?”
“Whatever the fuck he wants.”
“Okay.” I pressed a hand to my stomach, sending the command to stop twisting. I was pissed about him not knowing me when I was the one who didn’t know Royal. “So calling them angels is an ironic thing.”
“It’d be nice if that was it,” Brandon said, “but no. They got the name from their matching angel tattoos, and because it took us too long to realize what it meant. Ember, those guys run with the Horsemen, and if I didn’t make this clear to you already”—he gripped my forearm—“you need to stay away from them.”
“Them?” I looked from Brandon, to the boys, and then back to Brandon. “Those four teenage boys attending the best school in five counties... are running with the most dangerous gang in Raven River?” I shook him off. “Now I know you’re joking.”
“This isn’t a joke,” he snapped, shattering my surety. “Why do you think Hart has them wrapped up like mummies? They’re covered in gang tats. She didn’t know what she was taking on when she changed the admission rules. The Ravener got a little charity in her heart and made it so the top students in OB schools could apply here.”
I did hear about that. My uncle shouted about it one Christmas five years ago. I remembered him saying that the academy was for “our children” and was not the right place for “those kids.” An interesting thing to say for a man with no children at all.
“A lot of kids in the OB do what they have to do to survive,” said Brandon. “Even the smart ones. Cassius, Clay, Hiro, and Royal got in, and don’t think Hart hasn’t been waiting for them to give her a reason. But like I said, they’re smart.”
“What are you doing out here, princess?”
I pushed my food away, not having taken a bite. “So Royal is—”
“A gangbanger,” he said. “And if you didn’t know that, you for sure aren’t close.”
Royal raised his head and his eyes met mine. It was impossible, of course it was, but as we gazed at each other, I got the impression he heard every word, and he wanted to know what I’d say in response.
Swallowing hard, I rasped, “I never said we were.”
“Why is he teasing you with cherries, then?”
I squeezed my eyes shut, and phantom lips brushed against my lids. Why did Brandon have to use the word tease?
“Because it’s like you said,” I replied simply. “Royal does what the fuck he wants.”
“That’s true.” He nudged my arm. “You’ve tapped my well of Angel information dry. So, tell me about yourself.”
I opened my eyes... and Royal was gone. Whipping around, I searched for him and caught a flash of black hair disappear down the stairs.
“Later,” I said, pushing back my chair. “Thanks, Brandon. See you around.”
“Uh, okay,” he called. “Bye.”
I rushed down the stairs as fast as I could without breaking into a sprint. Royal turned in the opposite direction of the front doors, heading for the back. I climbed off the last step as he pushed through the back door.
Eli was happy, talking and eating with his new roommate. His interpreter looked on like he knew he had two functions. My brother was fine—which left me free to deal with Royal.
A gangbanger? That can’t be true. Not the boy I met that night. Not the boy who made me laugh. Not the boy who drew beautiful designs on my palm.
Picking up the pace, I ignored how it looked and sprinted.
Royal is sweet. Gentle. Caring. He’s—
I burst out the door.
“What are you doing out here, princess?”
I froze. Turning slowly, I gazed into the eyes of my boy in the flowers.
He’s my first.
The passing storm left a parting gift of a light summer drizzle. Royal’s face was turned up to the sky. Tiny droplets sprinkled his face and collected on his eyelashes. Royal wasn’t beautiful. You didn’t look at this boy and think of sunsets or city lights. He was harder. Sharper. Rougher. The diamond before it’s cut and polished.
No, not beautiful. But he was a trap. You wanted to feel his rough, strong jaw under your palm. Run your fingers through his hair and discover if it was as soft as it looked. Sink into the depths of his uncharacteristically light chestnut eyes and learn if it was the only part of him that hadn’t sunk into darkness. Royal was a trap and he caught me all too easily.
Feverish memories of us tangled up on the carpet tried to suck me in. I pushed them down. I wouldn’t let them show on my face because it certainly didn’t show on his. Royal was looking at me like he didn’t know who I was... or he didn’t care.
And that pissed me off.
“I’m here to talk to you,” I said clearly. “I’ve heard some interesting things about you and your friends.”
Royal leaned against the building, hands shoved in his pockets, shirt unbuttoned a bit to reveal part of a snow-white bandage. Beneath it was his Kanji tattoo, “Art is to suffer.”
He told me what all of his tattoos meant that night, but I didn’t remember an angel. Seems he made a few new additions since my last tour of his body.
“Did you?” A faint smirk crossed his lips. “You shouldn’t listen to gossip, Cherry.”
I saw my blush reflected in his widening grin. “Don’t—!”
“Gossip?”
I whipped around. A low, shockingly deep voice preceded the replica emerging from behind the building trailed by two others.
No. He’s Cassius, I thought, noticing the bandage on his hand.
“Who’s been running their mouth?”
“And what exactly have they been saying?” Clay finished, propping his arm on his brother’s shoulder.
Hiro just adopted Royal’s position, the fierce dislike burning in his gaze.
“I told you she’d follow me,” said Royal.
Told them that I’d follow?
“Called it,” Cassius congratulated.
Stepping back, I moved further away from them but closer to Royal. I didn’t know these guys and I didn’t like the way Hiro was glaring at me or how Cassius and Clay were grinning like they knew the joke and I was missing the punchline.
“I did follow,” I said, “because Royal and I need to talk. The rest of you can leave.”
“I’m good here,” said Cassius. “What do you think, bro?”
Cassius and Clay broke apart, fanning out around me.
“Can’t leave when it’s about to get interesting,” Clay added. “Go on. Tell us what you heard about Royal and his friends.”
I backed up again and came down on Royal’s foot. A faint click sounded behind me. I faced him as he put the cigarette between his lips.
“Don’t do that.” It was an automatic reaction that made me snatch the thing and flick it in the grass—as immediate as the shift in the air.
Hiro’s glare dropped as he glanced at Royal, waiting to see what he’d do.
Royal slowly straightened. The lighter’s flame danced in his eyes. “That’s the second time. You go for a third and I’ll start making you pay for them.”
I scoffed. “How much for the whole pack? My grandfather died slowly and painfully of lung cancer. Don’t be a dumbass.”
“Oh? You worried about me, Cherry? How sweet.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why do you call her that, Cruz?” asked one of the triplets.
I opened my mouth. “None of your—”
“Because of the cherry-shaped birthmark on her ass.” Royal dropped the truth as casually as one gave directions to a corner store—like it didn’t matter at all.
The effect it had on his friends said otherwise.
“Holy shit,” Clay hollered, laughing his head off along with Cassius. “And how exactly do you know that?”
“We met at some Ravener party and I fucked her on the floor upstairs.”
“Royal!” I shouted. How dare he!
“You and the Bancroft girl?” asked Clay. “Why the fuck didn’t you say so before?”
Royal shrugged as he pulled out his pack of smokes. “Forgot.”
“Can’t have been very good, then.”
“Stop it!”
“Virgin,” Royal replied. “Slobbered all over my cock and then flinched when I—”
I smacked the pack out of his hand. It went soaring, striking Hiro’s shin. “I told you to shut the fuck—”
Royal blurred. He flashed out and gripped my throat, yanking me to his chest and pinning me still. I gasped as his hand tightened.
“Careful, Cherry,” he hissed in my ear. “We were having a nice, friendly discussion, but if you’d rather we have a problem, try that again and see what fucking happens.”
Tears burned in my eyes, fed by differing emotions and only some that I could name. “W-what is wrong with you?” I shrieked. I clawed at the hand on my throat, bending my nails painfully back. “This isn’t you!”
“You don’t know me.” A real, human feeling finally crept into his voice. Anger. “You never did. You were a pity fuck. A distraction.”
His harsh words wheedled in, trying to destroy the perfect memories of that night. Hadn’t I lost enough already? Now he wanted to take this.
“You’re lying!” I brought my hand up and wildly jabbed. A sharp grunt and his hold loosened. I broke free, spun, and grabbed his collar. Royal didn’t stop me slamming him against the wall. “That night was the first time in your sad, empty pathetic life that you felt a real emotion and you couldn’t handle it. You ran from me like a fucking coward and two years later you’re still the same. The Horsemen, Royal?” I cried, shaken with disbelief. “Are you out of your mind?”
“Someone has been running their mouth,” said one of the triplets.
Suddenly hands were on me. Cassius and Clay pulled me off Royal and even went so far as to dust me off.
“That’s enough,” said Clay.
Royal and I glared at each other, chests heaving.
“Settle your shit some other time,” Cassius said. “We got you out here for a reason.”
“What reason?” I threw up my hands, shaking them off me. “If this is about my parents—”
“You know it is.” His soft, low voice tore me away from Royal. Hiro peeled himself off the wall, gliding over to us because even the way he moved had to be beautiful. “You couldn’t be got to when you were enjoying the state’s hospitality or when you disappeared into the Estate. But then we found out you were coming to Raven River... and right to us.”
“Got to? What do you want with me?”
“We’ve been told to pass on a message—”
“—and offer you a deal—” said Clay.
“—that you’d be smart to accept,” finished Cassius.
My attention snapped between the three of them. “What message? What deal? From who?”
Royal pushed Hiro to the side. “Your parents stole money from the wrong person and that person will get it back.”
I swallowed. “Not one of the Horsemen?” I tossed my head, rejecting the idea immediately. “That’s not possible. My parents aren’t stupid. They had plenty of legitimate investors. There’s no reason they’d hit up gangbangers. No,” I repeated. “You four have nothing to say to me.”
“Shut up, Bancroft,” Hiro growled, “and listen. Your parents stole eighty-four thousand dollars from this person. You have two weeks to get us the money. Make it a flat hundred grand to make up for the trouble.”
My eyes popped. “Give you a hundred grand? I don’t have that kind of money!”
“But you can get it,” said Clay. “From that rich uncle of yours or... from your parents.”
My body shook in Cassius’s hold. He had draped his bandaged arm around my sore neck like we were a couple of friends shooting the shit. “I don’t know where my parents are or where they hid the money,” I gritted out.
Clay winked. “We both know that’s not true.”
“You don’t know anything,” I snapped. “When will you fuckers use your brains? If I knew where my folks and a pile of money were hiding, do you think I’d be here dealing with you? I’d have taken off weeks ago.”
Royal fished an untouched pack out of his pocket. He held my gaze as he lit the cigarette and took a long drag. “If that’s true,” he said, smoke curling around his head and dissipating in the misty afternoon. “It’s unfortunate for you because like we said, they’ll get their money back even if they have to resort to harsher measures.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Clay moved into our path. “It means you’re generously being given the chance to settle this the easy way. Hundred grand by the fifteenth and our business is finished. We never bother you again. If we don’t get the money, you’ll be forced to”—he looked me up and down—“work off the debt.”
Cassius’s arm fell off as I got in his face. “Fuck you,” I said clearly. “I wouldn’t give you Monopoly money.”
He blinked lazily. “I strongly suggest you think about this incredibly generous offer and then take it.”
“No. I’m not asking my uncle. I’m not giving you anything. You don’t know how sorry I am for the innocent people who were hurt because of my family. I know they destroyed lives. But ripping off a violent street gang that’s been terrorizing the OB”—I smirked—“well, this is the first time since this nightmare started that I’ve been proud. I’m guessing it’s money they squeezed out of innocent blood, so they don’t deserve to get it back.”
The boys were silent through my speech.
“You can tell that person my answer is no.”
Clay still didn’t speak. He looked at me with an intensity I assumed was meant to frighten me, but as the silence stretched and his eyes swept over my hair, nose, and... mouth, it dawned his interest had another reason.
“Does she taste like cherries too, Royal?” Clay asked softly.
“She does. Fucking delicious.”
Royal’s voice poured in and flicked the heat on. I would have shouted at him to keep his mouth shut if mine would come unglued.
Clay hummed deep in his chest. I was suddenly exposed under his gaze. “Then no, we won’t pass on your message,” he said to me. “Instead, we’ll tell him you accept but you’ll need some time to get the money together. I’ll also throw in a thank-you from you.”
Clay stroked my cheek with the back of his fingers. “I like Cherry,” he whispered, “but I’m sure you and I will come up with our own names for each other.”
I pushed his hand away. “Asshole. Thug. Gangbanger trash.” Each insult brought me closer to him until we were a hair away from talking in each other’s mouths. “Any of those working for you?”
“A bit unoriginal.” His hands found my waist. “Keep trying.”
I made to reply and then his mouth was on mine. Soft lips caressed me, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth.
Ripping away, I nearly fell scrambling from him. My heart jackhammered in my throat as I clapped a hand over my mouth, gaping at him in true amazement.
He kissed me! This random fuck actually kissed me.
Clay licked his lips. “He’s right. Delicious.”
My control snapped. “Get out of here,” I barked. “The four of you. I’m done.”
If I expected a fight, I didn’t get one. They walked off, heading in the direction of the main building.
Royal was last to go. “Two weeks, Cherry.” He flicked the cigarette at my feet. “Let’s keep this friendly.”
“You and I are going to talk.” I returned his threat with my own. “Alone. For real.”
It was impossible to tell what he thought of that, and he didn’t give me time to figure it out. Royal went back inside the cafeteria, leaving me with my memories.