Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(81)

“Sweet,” Jackson says, ambling into the kitchen in his gray school pants and nothing else. His hair is all messed up, and he’s sporting a thin layer of scruff on his chin and cheeks.

The doorbell pings at that exact moment, and we all share a look. “You expecting anyone?” I ask.

“Nope,” Jackson says on a yawn.

“I’ll get it,” Rick says from the doorway, also yawning.

“Hold up,” Sawyer says. “Let me check with security.” He calls the guard on duty at the door, nodding at Rick as he listens to whatever the guy is saying on the other side.

Rick dumps his duffel bag on the ground before walking in the direction of the front door.

He returns a couple minutes later with Shandra in tow.

“Hey.” She smiles, looking a little unsure as she steps into the room. “I just wanted to drop by and check up on you before school.”

“I’m good,” I say, ignoring the dull ache in my side. The skin on my hip is every shade of blue and purple known to mankind, but there’s no permanent damage so I can’t complain too much.

“You want some coffee?” Jackson asks, holding up the pot.

Shandra’s eyes are out on stilts as she tries her best not to ogle his impressive upper body. “Sure,” she splutters, and I smother a grin.

“Have a seat,” I offer, pulling the empty chair beside me out for her.

She slides into it, shooting me a grateful smile. “I still can’t believe all the shit that went down Saturday night.”

“Just a normal night among the elite,” I quip even though there’s nothing even slightly humorous about it.

“Chad told me what happened,” she adds in a quieter voice. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I lean back against Kai, holding onto his arms as they encircle my waist.

Her eyes pop wide. “So, it’s true? You’ve left Charlie and moved in here?”

“Who told you that?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

“Drew!” she blurts. “He, ah, also told me what you did. Requesting Alessandra and I swap fiancés, and I can’t thank you enough.”

“Don’t thank her yet,” Kai says. “Not until you get the official word.”

Jackson hands her a coffee.

She beams at him. “Thanks.”

“You want toast, beautiful?” he asks me, and I nod.

“That would be great, thanks, but do we have time?”

“We have time,” Kai says, pressing a kiss to that sensitive spot just under my ear. “You need to eat.”





Having to wait until the end of the day to watch the recordings we stole is sheer torture. While I know it will make unpleasant viewing, I’m still anxious to watch them.

To know they are legit.

That we have concrete evidence now to properly implement our plan.

Those are the only thoughts going through my mind all day, and school seems to last forever. But, finally, the last bell dings, and we are on our way back to the house.

To keep up the marriage charade, I drove myself to and from school although the guys insisted on trailing me all the way. Kai and I agreed we need to continue ignoring one another in public, but he still managed to steal a few kisses here and there, as usual, and there’s no denying we are both happier now we can be together in private.

“Where should we start?” Xavier asks after we’ve all eaten and changed and reconvened in the living room where he has everything set up. Rick and Drew are missing, because the former had to return to Harvard this morning, and Drew is at Parkhurst, but we agreed not to delay, because this shit can’t wait.

“With this one,” I say, slapping the Christian Montgomery recording into his hand.

Christian hadn’t been on our target list of blackmailed elite, but when I spotted the file, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. It makes sense that the bastard would have a file on his best friend because his motto is to never trust anyone and to keep your enemies close. I’m salivating to see what he’s compiled on Christian and hopeful it’s something we can use to take him down too. Xavier inserts the file into the driver, but I place my hand over his. “We need to wait for Shandra. She’s only five minutes away.”

“Are you sure it’s wise to let her sit in on this?” Sawyer asks.

“She’s going to be Drew’s fiancée, and we can’t shield her from this shit.” I plop down onto the couch beside Kai, and he immediately tucks me under his arm. “Knowledge is power, and she needs to know what she’s involved in.”

“How much do we want to tell her though?” Xavier says. “Charlie may’ve had a point. She was Trent’s fiancée. Maybe the whole Trent and Alessandra fucking scene was a trap. Trent knows you. It’s not a huge stretch for him to guess you’d request this. She could be his spy, and now, she’s slap bang in the middle of our lair.”

“She’s firmly anti Team Trent,” Kai says. “We can trust her.”

I twist around in his arms, eyeing him suspiciously. “Why do I get the sense that is not just an observation?”

He shifts a little and his tongue darts out, wetting his bottom lip. Ignoring the fact I wish I was that tongue, I narrow my eyes farther. “Out with it.” I fold my arms across my chest, daring him to lie.