I tap my thumb against my middle finger once. “No idea what you’re talking about.”
“You knowexactlywhat I’m talking about.” His dead eyes bore into mine. “Not sure if he told you, but no homosexuality nonsense is tolerated in Vencor. You’re not a member yet, so you’re safe—for now, but he’ll get his head chopped off.”
What the fuck type of rule is that?
Also, just how much does Dad know? Does he have spies on me or something? I would’ve felt it if someone was following me, no?
“I still have no clue what you’re talking about,” I say.
Dad releases a sigh. “Listen, that young man is pathologically troubled, no matter how much his father likes to pretend otherwise. He’s impulsive, reckless, and doesn’t consider consequences, which is a death sentence in our world. It’s only a matter of time before he gets himselfkilled. You, on the other hand, are extremely intelligent and calculative, with the right survival instinct. You and Preston are not on the same level and never will be. Don’t stoop to his special corner at the bottom. Do you understand what I mean?”
I make a noncommittal nod just to get rid of him.
For a moment, I consider asking him what exactly Preston suffers from, but I feel like that would be a betrayal. Besides, I prefer Preston tell me himself.
Not that he would with the way things are lately.
As Dad’s car rolls away, looking like a complete eyesore in the neighborhood, I keep staring at the bike he left behind.
Dad praised me for the first time in my life, calling me extremely intelligent and calculative, but I feel nothing.
No, actually, his words and complete disregard for Preston felt as if he were punching me in the gut.
Preston is extremely intelligent, too. He just has impulse-control issues that I’m almost sure are a coping mechanism of sorts.
It’s disturbing how much I want to delve deep inside him and pick him apart piece by piece.
I’ve never been this interested in another human being before, and it’s creeping me out.
Not enough to stop me from playing this push-and-pull game, though.
My phone vibrates and I fetch it.
Unknown number
If you block me one more time…
Block.
I’m not angering him on purpose, but he needs to learn that there are consequences to his actions, and I’m notsomeone he can push around and expect to come back to him every time.
That sense of entitlement of his needs to go.
He also needs to give me more of himself.
My phone vibrates again.
Unknown number
Joke’s on you. I got dozens of numbers. You keep blocking, and I’ll keep annoying the fuck out of you.
Block.
Unknown Number
What the fuck do you even want, Marcus?
Me
