I need to figure out what Jinx wants quickly,andI need to tell my brothers everything I’ve learned tonight. Two birds, one stone.
I keep staring at her, noting the way she opens her eyes a bit wider to give the appearance of innocence. She looks totally harmless in her hospital gown, pixie-like face, and loose blonde hair.
Disarming her victims with her fresh-faced beauty. Bludgeoning them with their own secrets when they least expect it.
Jinx is used to wielding her delicate appearance like a weapon. Who would want to antagonize the poor, helpless, sick girl from the hospital? Who would ever think to find the master puppeteer locked inside her timid disguise?
Unfortunately for Jinx, her mask is off. I won’t be disarmed by her big blue eyes or her sneaky attempt to get close to me.
She’s a snake slithering in the grass, poisonous fangs ready to sink in and steal all my secrets. She’s gone after Dutch and she’s gone after Zane. Now, I’m standing right in front of her.
My secrets are mine.
I won’t let her feed on them and suck me dry.
“Have you ever been to Redwood Prep?” I ask her.
Jinx’s eyes widen, and I can tell that I stumped her. “R-Redwood?”
I’m taking her straight to the belly of the beast and keeping my eyes on her.
As Jinx herself always says,keep your enemies close and your secrets even closer.
Chapter Twelve
J
The Cross Boys have a habit of using their insane sex appeal, intimidating height, and shameless confidence to break their victims. They’re relentless, overpowering, and rule with an iron-fisted will.
I know it all.
Dutch Cross’s scare tactics included throwing Cadence over his shoulder—continuously— backing her up against the walls and lockers of the school, and pushing his hand up her skirt at will to make her understand, make herpainfullyaware that he owned her.
Zane was kinder at first, but he grew tired of chasing Grey around. She was decidedly cold to him, and in response, he began treating her cruelly. Closing classroom doors to feast on her, ordering her to meet him outside of school, letting her ride the edge of pleasure and discovery.
Why? To prove—even if she was the teacher and he was the student, the power imbalance was onhispart. Not hers.
The Kings, like true royalty, do what they want, not because it’s right or wrong.
But because theycan.
I know their games, their thoughts, their patterns better than they know themselves.
There was a seventy percent chance Finn would make a similar move with me. So I took my panties off when he insinuated that he expected my body in exchange for his presence.
Did I want to?
No.
It was an extreme move and completely against my character. But I knew it would turn him off completely.
The Cross brothers like a fight.
Not subservience.
They have enough girls eager to lick every inch of them. Having someone immediately roll on her back for their pleasure has little appeal.
I thought I could play the part of a thirsty fan without a hitch. I didn’t expect to feel so disgusted with myself. It wasn’t just that I exposed what was private. It was the pressure I put on myself to pull it off, toimpressFinn, even though I have no feelings for him.
