“Ralston’s bought a lot of property near campus.” Shane finishes his coffee and tosses the cup into a metal trash can.
“Ralston isn’t a Dark Knight, is he?”
“No, he’s not.”
“Has Declan made a list yet of the Knights who were contemporaries of his aunt and uncle?”
“Yeah, but he’s having to go by memory. When he went this morning to the Ex Fato Club, the Knights’ alumni club in Boston, the door’s code had been changed. He wasn’t admitted. The on-duty concierge said he could only enter as the guest of an alumni member.”
“Circling the wagons?”
“So it seems,” Shane says. “Speaking of which, we need you to tap your girl for a list of the men who have been funding ‘sugar baby’ scholarships.”
“If by 'my girl,’ you mean Arya Peralta, what are you saying? Heyworth claims she’s trading sex for money?” Every muscle capable of shoving a man’s head through a wall is suddenly at the ready.
“Nah. Arya’s got a legit athletic scholarship, right?”
“Right.”
That doesn’t mean the girl’s always flush with cash. She has expensive taste and may run through her money like water for all I know. I pop the knuckles in my right hand, scowling.
With my blood burning at the idea, I force myself to consider it. No, there’s no way Arya could play a sugar baby, not with that acid tongue of hers. Which is lucky for the sugar daddies, because the thought of a group of middle-aged men running train on her… I would kick their fucking asses. And worse, if I found out they’d coerced her.
Shane’s brows rise. “Problem?”
My teeth grind, but I shake my head.
“Octavia Muñiz is a close friend of Arya’s.” Shane’s thumb rubs his jaw. “Tavi won’t name names. At least not men’s names. Declan and Cami both tried to get her to open up about who’s funding GU special scholarships for pretty disadvantaged girls. Like Tavi, two of Casanova’s victims, Emily Halverson, and the dead girl, Isobel Long, are both scholarship beneficiaries of Ex Fato members.”
“Important connection. Someone should’ve told me sooner. The girls kept the secret well hidden. I did deep background on the women who disappeared. Not one whisper about sex work.”
“Yeah, the Ex Fato members went through proper channels to make the scholarships appear above board.”
“How many names of the involved Dark Knights alumni does Heyworth have?”
“Just two. His uncle and Jeff Tremblay of Tremblay Telecommunications.”
“I know him. He’s a football fan. Makes a lot of booster donations.” I stretch and turn into the wind. “Let’s get on.”
Shane reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his phone. Expanding the map onscreen, he points to a pair of red lines he’s added. “I figure these are the only two tunnels with a chance of reaching all the way up here. Both would’ve had to be extended, but assuming Casanova’s good with a shovel, he’s had plenty of time.”
“Agreed. Let’s start where the body was found and work our way south.”
Shane and I create a grid and move across it, going down every manhole we find. None leads any place we want to go.
I’m filthy after the search. When we’re satisfied we haven’t missed anything, I head home to shower and change clothes.
I make it to The Post-Apocalyptic Novel course in time to contribute. My class attendance has been patchy. Now that football season is over, professors expect to see more of me. Nevertheless, I skip Philosophy, heading to the gym early.
By the time my workout is over, and I’ve showered and dressed for the third time, I’m ready to rest. I head up into the auditorium rafters, so I won’t be front-and-center when the Lady Knights arrive for practice.
If anyone looked up, they’d spot me. I’m hard to miss. But when the women enter, they don’t do a careful check of their surroundings. Hopefully they’re more vigilant when they’re on the walking paths. Rubbing the back of my neck, I frown. As I watch their seemingly carefree chatter and easy laughter, I remind myself that this is what college lifeshouldbe like for them.
Arya’s wearing a red-and-black tank and matching shorts. When she turns, my gaze locks on her tight ass. That body sends a wave of lust through me. She drops forward onto her hands, kicking up into a handstand and then bending her legs into an artful pose. She pivots on her palms, making it look effortless.Gorgeous.
I should focus on work. There’s a lot to get done, but I rarely get to watch her this way. When the Lady Knights perform at halftime, I’m in the locker room.
Arya takes center position, and I can’t peel my eyes off her. Her spins and jumps are the highest, as though her legs have springs in them. The other women are talented, but they’re not in her league. Her body absorbs the music and expresses it in movement.
