Interesting.How did Gianna know the car wasn’t registered if she didn’t come out to get the VIN? That’s a problem for later. Right now, the maggot has exhausted his options. Amusement trickles through my frayed nerves as Alexander’s eyes dart around.
‘These are quite rare, no?’
‘Y-yeah. It’s limited edition. There are only twenty made with this engine.’
I whistle, walking around the vehicle.
He nods, not taking his fear-filled eyes off me. He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. I step forward, maybe getting rid of this maggot will send a message to Landon, Erik, and any other sorry fucker who tries to mess with Gianna.
‘Well.’ I smile brightly. ‘Don’t be rude, Alexander. Let’s take it for a spin.’
Chapter 15
Gianna
FOUR YEARS AGO
‘I don’t think we should be doing this.’ Monique pauses, gripping my wrist so tight my circulation almost stalls.
‘C’mon, Monz,’ I whine. ‘I want to check out what it’s all about.’
‘You know The Prank is for the basketball team, right? Theseniorson the basketball team,’ she emphasises as we creep across the green at Empire City University.
‘That’s not true,’ I retort. ‘Tyler isn’t on the basketball team.’
‘He’s still basically a Kingsman!’ she whisper-shouts.
I place a reassuring hand on top of hers. On any other day, I’d feel the same. But after Jace and Ryker left, I didn’t want routine. I wanted more.
I put away my canvas. I didn’t want to create something that would make others feel. I wanted something to happen to me so that I would feel. I might regret this tomorrow morning, but if I keep waiting for the right moment, a moment that might never come, I’ll never get to do what I want. I want to take risks. I want to step out of my comfort zone.
I want to feel free.
So I rang Monique to pick me up, which is why we’re sneaking around Empire City University in search of my brother and Ryker. I got a small taste of their kind of fun and now I want the full meal. I want to know why. I want to know how. I want to know what they do to feel so alive. I want to know what makes their infectious laughter reverberate through the walls of the house every evening. I want to know what the universe gives them.
I want to say – ‘Don’t you think sayingdo you remember when …?is better thancould you imagine if …?’ I try Ryker’s words on for size. They feel good. Honest. Real.
Monique’s face twists and her hands splay open beside her. ‘What is that even supposed to mean?’ She shakes her head. ‘Scratch that, I don’t even want to know. Let’s just get out of here before we get in trouble.’
‘Monz.’ My eyes implore hers. ‘I want to live a little. All I do is sit in the art rooms. I want to explore and live and do things. Besides, the Kingsmen won’t be doing anything too crazy here. They’re probably siphoning gas from the bus like they did last year, remember? I just want to see.’
Her silence answers me, and I hear Ryker’s voice in my head, loud and clear.If you wait for someone, you’ll always be waiting.
‘Monz, I really want to do this. Why don’t you go wait in the car? I’ll take a look and come back and meet you. Okay?’
She shuffles for a moment on her feet before wincing.
‘Okay,’ she agrees. ‘But come straight back to the car.’
I give a nod and watch as she rushes back across the street. In the same street is Ryker’s black R1 motorbike, Jace’s Mustang and Renny’s red WRX. While the first two are driverless, Tyler sits behind the wheel of Renny’s car.I wonder why he’s on his own, then move on, cutting across the football field to find my brother and Ryker.
The brisk air hits my bare legs. I’m in my favourite yellow skirt and white long-sleeved shirt, though now I’m sneaking around a rival college campus in the middle of The Prank, I wish I’d chosen something a little more clandestine.
Luckily, the sneakers were a good choice. I stick to the walls of the brick building like glue. The grounds are empty, with only the sound of brittle leaves blowing. I reach up to the windowsill and hoist myself up.
Just an empty seminar room with a few chairs and a dirty whiteboard etched with the scrawling of a lecture. The ECU buildings are huge and corridors branch off in all directions.
Maybe I should just go home. Jace and Ryker could be anywhere.
