I’M DISTRACTED MONDAYat school because I’m itching to put my new plan in place. These past four months, my aim was to decode the paperwork, and once I understood what I was dealing with work out a way to take The Sainthood down.
But Neo making the moves on Mom has changed things. And after his guarded message last night, I know he’s going to start making demands on me. I can’t spend more time trying to decrypt the files.
I need ammunition, and I need itnow.
I might have to move my timeline up and consider the very real possibility of fleeing before I graduate.
Unless I can prove Neo is behind my father’s death.
So, I’m refocusing my energies on the car accident that claimed my father’s life.
I tap out two messages on my new cell under the desk during math class before sliding my phone back into my pocket. Feeling eyes on me, I glance over my shoulder and stare blankly at Theo.
He stares back, giving nothing away, and I flip him the bird before turning back around and focusing on the class.
“Who were you texting during math class?” he asks when we are seated in the cafeteria at lunchtime. Being forced to sit with the four jerks every day is a pain in my ass, but I’ve tried ditching them, and they just follow me around.
Dicks.
Everyone knows Saint is set to become my stepbrother, and they’ve all jumped to the conclusion that’s why they’ve claimed me. Now, girls are climbing over one another to hit on them, and I’m forced to watch as they lap up all the attention even if I know they are just humoring the girls in a bid to fuck with my head.
I hate to admit it’s kinda working, and I’m trying really hard to retain my usual “don’t give a fuck” attitude.
“None of your business, and get the fuck out of my space,” I reply, elbowing Theo in the ribs because his chair is way too close to mine.
“There was a time you enjoyed Theo being all up in your space, wasn’t there, princess?” Saint says, purposely moving his chair in closer to me on the other side so I’m trapped between both jerks.
I peer into Theo’s face, but he’s giving nothing away. “You told them.”
He ignores me, shoveling a large forkful of pasta into his big mouth.
I press my lips to his ear. “But did you tell them the whole story?” I whisper loud enough for the others to hear.
He briefly squeezes my thigh in warning, his eyes challenging me with the promise of retaliation if I fuck things up for him.
I could blurt it all out now, but I’d rather hold it in reserve to use at an optimal time.
“We know he took your virginity when you were fifteen,” Galen says, louder than necessary. “And that you’ve been whoring yourself out ever since.”
A few catcalls and giggles ring out from the jocks and cheerleaders table, but I ignore them. “Guilty as charged,” I admit. “Although I call it taking control of my sexuality. It’s the twenty-first century, Galen. Women have the same right to enjoy consensual sex as men. Your comment just confirms your ignorance and lack of intelligence.”
I lean back in my chair, cocking my head to the side and smiling at him. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Saint struggling to contain a grin. I think he secretly loves it when I challenge any of them—no matter how he tries to portray it. “Continue peddling your particular brand of bullshit, and see if I care,” I tell Galen.
A throat clearing claims his attention before he can retaliate. I work hard to keep my emotions in check as I glance up at Parker. She’s wearing a tight red top that’s cut low at the front with her ample cleavage on full display. Her shapely hips are encased in a pair of skintight leather pants, and she’s forced her ugly feet into a pair of sky-high stilettos. Her makeup is so thick it looks like it’s been applied with a shovel, and her hair is so full of hairspray it doesn’t move when she shakes her head.
“Galen.” She purrs at him, sliding her tongue over her gloss-slicked lips. “Saint.” She turns her head to their leader, her gaze raking up and down his body as she unashamedly eye-fucks him in front of everyone.
My hands clench into fists of their own volition, and a burning sensation spreads across my chest. I struggle to stifle my unfamiliar feelings when Sariah kicks me under the table, cautioning me with her eyes.
I compose myself, schooling my features into a neutral expression, before anyone else notices.
“What can I do for you, Parker?” Saint asks in a pleasant tone I’ve never heard him use. I almost gawk at him but recover in time.
“Could I talk to you in private?”
Saint smirks, and his chair screeches as he stands. Galen, Theo, and Caz stand too. “Stay with the princess,” he commands Theo and Caz, taking Parker’s arm and moving her over to the far wall where there are fewer ears. Galen shoots me a mocking smile as he follows them.
“Yo, Finn,” Sariah hollers to the table behind us. “Your bitch is disrespecting you.”
