He sighs and shoves the coin into his pocket before pulling out a white slip of card. “Already got it. You’re not as unreadable as you fucking think. Lillian saw this shit coming,” he says, like the words are painful. Leaning in close, he slips it inside my pocket. “They’re watching. She’s a fucking snake, Sam. She slithers into your life and injects her fucking poison. She’ll destroy you and everyone you love to get what she wants. You do not want her as an enemy. Trust me, I fucking know,” he says quietly, then steps back. “You don’t do this task, you’re out. No more chances. You’ve got twenty-four hours, Sam. Twenty-four hours to complete it or they’ll fuck up your entire life protecting themselves and their secrets.”
I look around us, not noticing anything different, but why would he lie to me? Then what he just said hits me.
“Twenty-four hours?” I say with a dry throat.
Pride nods. “The clock’s ticking. Call me if you need help with it.” He looks back toward my car, unable to hold my gaze. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” he says before turning and walking away quickly.
I let him this time, dread sinking into my skin like the rain into my clothes. I climb back inside my car and shut the door, my heart still pounding in my chest.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
I slowly pull out the card, but I can’t look. What if the next task is even worse? What then? This is my last chance. If I don’t go through with it, I’m done before I even began.
I’ll never be free of Maxwell, and neither will Sabella.
I’ll never get my revenge on the man who ruined my life.
The windows have steamed up, cocooning me in my own world as the rain continues to pound down on the car. I turn the card over, my eyes focusing on the words. The dread I’ve been feeling grows.
“Fuck,” I whisper as I swallow, my skin feeling hot. I roll my shoulders and slide my jacket off. The air is too thick in the car, the warmth suffocating.
I throw open my door as dizziness overwhelms me, desperate for fresh air. For freedom.
The rain drenches me in seconds, but I barely feel a thing because all I can think about are the words on the card.
WRATH
Your task is one of sacrifice.
One girl you love for another.
Trading grades for sexual favors is frowned upon.
Catch Dean Griffin in the act of being seduced.
St. Augustine’s sweetheart, Sabella Gunner, will be your tool.
Only then will your place will be secured.
You’ve gotta be kidding me!
“Fuck!” I yell into the sky. “Fuckkk!”
Iscreech out of the parking lot and start to drive, letting my hands and feet do the work. The roads move beneath my wheels and I get lost in the motions. I drive dangerously, furiously, my heart pounding in my chest like it’s trying to escape.
The roads are slippery and my tires scream as I take the bends too sharply, the wheel spinning wildly beneath my hands. I regain control, my breathing ragged as I start to drive again. The world outside my windows is a blur, like trying to look at the moon through an unfocused telescope. As the lights pass and the rain continues to pour, I feel more and more sick—a stirring in my stomach that won’t go away.
My cell phone rings—it’s been ringing for the past hour—but I can’t bring myself to answer it. Not yet. I just need to keep driving. Keep moving. Keep passing through the rain-drenched roads and pretend I didn’t just fuck everything up. Completely blown my chances of getting out of this town, away from Maxwell, my cunt of a grandmother, and being free—finally.
Sabella will be stuck in this family, this fucking hate-fuelled family who despises us both, for good. And there’s no way in hell I’m letting her be in The Elite. She’s better than this—than all of them. She’s too innocent for such a corrupt society. The Elite will strip her of her purity and poison her mind. I slam my hand against the wheel, my eyes burning. I squeal to a stop and dive out of the car. I can’t fucking breathe.
I’m gasping.
I’m drowning.
