A Whole New Crowd(28)

The window to an art room was always left open, so I snuck in that way. Then I used the vent shafts to crawl all the way to the security guards’ room. According to the blueprints, the camera room was their headquarters. I still couldn’t believe the school had a freaking camera system, but it was the obstacle for me to tackle. Figuring out why would be for later, after Tray and his friends did what they needed.
There was one guard sitting at the controls. I waited until the pizzas arrived. Tray promised to pay for them, put the drugs in them, and have Samuel deliver them wearing his old pizza delivery uniform. When the guard caught Samuel on the camera, he pushed his chair back and stood. “What the hell?” He was on the radio as he left the room. “Did you guys order pizza?”
I didn’t wait to hear their answer. I dropped to the ground and hurried to the cameras. I didn’t have long. Switching off the recording, I looped it so it would continue to play the earlier feed. By the time they caught it, I hoped the drugs would be ingested or Tray would be done with whatever they had planned. As soon as I hit the button and the screens filled again, I heard voices from the hallway and darted back into the bathroom. I was back up in the vent and screwing it into place when I heard someone say, “They delivered it by accident?”
“Yeah. That’s what the guy said.”
“We’re not supposed to eat anything we didn’t order.”
“Who cares? The kid said it’s already been paid for and he can’t find the right address.” His voice was muffled as he continued, “He said when they called, they could tell them it was already delivered.”
“Yeah.” Someone sighed in surrender. “Might as well.”
“Grab your slices and get back to your positions. Boss hired us for a reason.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Okay, heading out.”
Mission accomplished. Instead of leaving through the art room, I waited until the guards headed back to their spots and began to move. Cameras were taken care of so I dropped to the hallway and headed to the gymnasium. Tray said that’s where they wanted to get inside first. When I propped open the back door, I turned my small flashlight on twice.
Dressed in dark clothing, they came running from behind their cover, moving fast. As they filed past me, Tray stopped and grinned. His face was covered in camouflage and there went that same tightness in my chest. It was becoming annoying.
He asked, “Guards can’t see us?”
I shook my head. “Nope. You came in the right vantage point. It’s the blind spot from what I mapped out.”
“And they should be sleeping soon?”
I nodded. “Give them ten minutes. I can’t guarantee they all ate the pizza right away, but I heard two of them eating.”
He nodded, then frowned at me.
“What?”
“Not many would think or have the guts to drug a pizza.”
I shrugged. “The two people I call family, before Mandy’s family, are criminals. This is who I am.”
“Tray,” one of his friends whispered from inside the gym, “come on.”
His gaze dropped back to my lips, and he murmured, “Never thought I’d be hot for a criminal chick.”
Oh shit.
He flashed me a grin. “See you tomorrow. It’s homecoming. After the game and dance, Dylan’s having a party.”
“Who’s Dylan again?”
His grin stretched wider. “Samuel’s cousin. His parents have a house here.”
“I don’t do dances.” Brian would’ve laughed if he knew I went to a football game in the past, but I wanted to go. Then I blinked in shock. Another shit. I even wanted to go to his party. As I headed out, I couldn’t believe it.
I was becoming normal, but I needed to go see a certain gang leader first.




CHAPTER EIGHT

I stood across the alley from the Seven8. I did not want to go into that building, but I wanted to see Jace. I missed him and Brian every day, but new things had come to light. His warning about Tray. Grayley’s dad was in town, and because I cared about him, I promised myself to ask. His dad wasn’t good and if he was in town, Gray would be hurt. It always happened. I tried to calm my nerves. Jace had something to do with it. I knew it. Jace was behind everything, and so he was the one I had to approach for my favor.
The building was pumping in music, sweat, and drugs. I could hear the shouts from the crowd from where I stood. There wasn’t usually a waiting line, but there was one tonight, trailing around the corner.
I crossed the road. There was no issue at the door, and I was waved in. When I started to head down the hallway, I saw Krein, Jace’s second in command, walking towards me. He grabbed my arm. “Taryn.”