See No Evil (Brotherhood Trilogy #1)(24)

He squeezes my shoulder again. “Once this is over, you’ll get a new life. One that involves a beating heart.”

My gaze snaps to his. He gives me an abashed smile and rubs his neck again, still hiding something.

“Just please stay here and do the right thing. Don’t draw any attention to yourself. Don’t piss off any more teachers. Just keep your head down, stay clean, and make it to that witness stand, all right?”

He doesn’t give me a chance to reply.

Shooting out of his chair, he opens the door and beckons me to follow him. Once we reach reception, he hugs me goodbye, putting on the perfect show as Headmaster Williams comes out to greet him.

And then he’s gone and I’m directed to the pokey desk in the corner to write out the entire Eton Prep Code of Conduct.

I think it’s safe to say my brilliant plan was an epic fail.

My life couldn’t suck anymore if I tried.

Will my new life be any better?

It’ll involve a beating heart. Well, that’s comforting. If the dull thud in my chest is anything to go by, I’m not sure I even want one.

Closing my eyes, I bang my forehead on the desk and wonder how the hell I’m going to make it to pre-trial, let alone testify against someone I’m supposed to call family.





#14:

Not My Problem



Trey



I didn’t see Chris for the rest of the day.

Mr. Adler returned to class, still red and dissatisfied.

I found out later that Chris was given a strike one. He’s also been put on in-house suspension, including Thanksgiving. Apparently his dad showed up and gave him an earful.

Too bad for him.

It’s not my problem.

But it is.

Because I can’t stop thinking about him.

And I can’t stop wondering if I’m the reason he wants to get expelled.

It’s pissing me off. I don’t want to waste my emotion on the guy, and I hate that I can’t stop obsessing over it.

The only thing I can do is just ignore him and get on with my life.

So we had a good time skating and cleaning a bathroom together. Big deal. Whatever. So I totally understand what it’s like to have an old man who doesn’t get where you’re coming from. Who’d rather have you miles away than sitting at your Thanksgiving table with his new, shinier family.

Chris Lorden is not my problem.

My dad is not my problem.

Shit, I may as well spend Thanksgiving at Eton too. I haven’t spoken to Dad since our blowout. Neither of us has tried to make amends, and I will not take back the fact I said Mom was a million times better than Step Monster, and I will not apologize for calling that woman a bitch after she accused me of being a pain in the ass who was good for nothing more than taking up a spare room in her penthouse apartment.

It will probably be a relief for everyone if I just stay here.

So that’s what I’m gonnado. Not because of Chris, but because I want to.

I won’t talk to the guy. He’ll be too busy scrubbing pots to hang out, anyway.

Riley will be up for staying. The only family he’s got is the nuns at St. Catherine’s Home for Children. He spent a while there after his parents were found dead. Not sure the guy will ever get over it. Doesn’t help that the case went unsolved and barely reported on. Riley’s wasted hours trying to find out the truth, but it’s hard to do when he’s stuck in a boarding school and every enforcement agency he ever tries to contact basically shrugs him off.

If he goes to St. Catherine’s for Thanksgiving, he’ll get sucked into a vortex of frustration. I’ll win him over with a line like that.

I snicker as I climb the stairs to our room.

Kade will be an easy sell too. He’s not exactly close to his parents. Not going home will probably be a relief for the entire family—he won’t have to spend the holiday pissing them off to get attention (old habits die hard) and they won’t have to spend the holiday trying to pretend that he doesn’t exist.

We’ll have the school to ourselves and no family dramas to deal with.

Best decision I’ve made all year.

I swallow, ignoring my true motivation, and double-time it up the stairs. The sooner I tell the guys my idea, the sooner they can make me believe I’m doing it to hang out with them and not keep an eye on Chris.





#15:

Never Betray Your Family



Christiana



Well, that was another shit day.

I rub my thumb over my dry fingers and grimace. Dish duty sucks. It’s only been a day and a half and I already hate it.

I can’t believe I have to stay in this stupid place. I seriously thought pushing a teacher and being an arrogant little shit would get me kicked out for sure. Stupid three strikes. I don’t want to learn to be a better person!

Mr. Adler read my letter, then placed it on his desk with a dismissive smile. We didn’t exchange words. He could tell I wasn’t that sorry, and I could tell he was still pissed.

Sniffing, I clomp up the stairs to my room. I have an hour before dinner. Ninety minutes before I’m scraping food off dinner plates and being yelled at by the kitchen staff.

Stupid Rybeck. Can’t believe he’s landed me in it for Thanksgiving too. I get that he’s trying to save my life and everything but right now, it’s not exactly a huge comfort.