Burn Before Reading(85)

“As you should be!” He nodded. “Your father is very sick, Miss Cruz. And who knows with an illness like his – he could get worse at any moment. The more you learn at Lakecrest, the better you’ll be able to help him. NYU has one of the best programs in the country. Just think – in three years, you’ll come home for summer break and his health will improve remarkably. I can promise you that.”

I was quiet. Mr. Blackthorn leaned forward.

“Miss Cruz, I understand you’re under quite a lot of stress, from both my sons and your own family. I highly appreciate all you’ve done for me so far. You must allow me to give you a token of my gratitude.”

I watched him, in a daze, as he took his checkbook out and scribbled. He passed a check to me, my eyes bugged out at the numbers.

“N-No way –“

“This will cover the exact psychotherapy costs of a good friend of mine – Dr. Mirelle. He’s downtown, but he is quite good, and he specializes in depression and anxiety. This is enough for two weeks of intensive therapy. I know your family can’t afford such care, so it’s only proper of me to help where I can.”

I stared at the number, the plain ink stark against the crisp paper. Five thousand dollars. It was the most money I’d ever held in my hands. His signature was right there - this wasn’t a fake or a joke. This was a lot of money, offered to me for free. Free? I knit my eyebrows – no, not free. Mr. Blackthorn was just as cunning as ever. This money came with a price – if I accepted, I basically had no choice but to keep spying for him. It wasn’t even an option if I took the money – I had to do it. The check started to feel as heavy as an iron chain in my hands. With this, Dad could get better. Maybe not permanently, but for a while. He could get the help he so desperately needed – the help we couldn’t afford. Maybe it would smooth things out between him and Mom, things that were rapidly going downhill. It was a long shot, but it was better than letting them keep yelling at each other until the resentment built up so high they couldn’t handle each other anymore.

I felt sicker than ever before. No – I couldn’t take this money. Not while it came at the cost of betraying the brothers. Betraying Wolf.

I slid the check back to Mr. Blackthorn across the polished wood table.

“I’m sorry,” I swallowed. “But I can’t take this. And I can’t keep spying for you. So. I’m done.”

“Which one of them was it?” Mr. Blackthorn’s gaze went flat, irritated.

“What?”

“Which one of them did you fall for? Was it Fitz? No – you strike me as a Wolf type of girl.”

“I’m not –“

“I understand my sons are handsome, and that teenage girls likes you enjoy putting handsome boys on pedestals of worship,” He sighed. “But he’s never going to feel the same way about you. Do you honestly think you’re the first to spy for me and fall for one of them? Kristin let her emotions for Burn cloud her judgement the same way, and it ruined everything. Don’t be one of those women, Miss Cruz, the ones who ruin their future for a love they’ll never have.”

I sputtered. “You’re totally misunderstanding me –“

“On the contrary. I understand very well. You’re having reservations. But that’s only because you’ve lost sight of your goal. You can have everything you want, Miss Cruz. It’s only a matter of telling me simple facts about my sons – things anyone could tell me.”

“If anyone can tell you, why don’t you ask them?” I stood up. “I’m leaving.”

“You realize,” He raised his voice, stopping me in my tracks on my way to the door. “That once you walk out that door, I will most likely approve my son’s request to rescind your scholarship.”

I clenched my fist, but Mr. Blackthorn just pressed on.

“He’s my son, but he’s also exposed many student’s poor behaviors, all of which go against Lakecrest’s rules. I enforce these rules, as is my job as head of the school council. If he recommended a student have her scholarship taken away, then I must assume he has evidence you’ve broken our rules, and therefore I will redact your scholarship. You would, of course, be unable to pay the costs of attending Lakecrest, and therefore you would not come to school.”

“I did nothing wrong,” I snarled. “The truth will show I haven’t done anything.”

Mr. Blackthorn smiled patiently. “Yes. The school council will assuredly conduct a thorough investigation of your behavior. With video evidence. I believe most of it is you harassing my son.”

“Harassing?” I choked.

“You verbally assaulted him on the morning of October 7th. There are multiple eyewitnesses to it. In addition, you threatened him and his brothers.”

I frantically thought back – that was the day Wolf dumped coffee on that freshman’s head. I know I said some furious things. Would that be enough to get me kicked? How was that even fair?

“We wouldn’t take you off the attendance, of course. But until you could pay the tuition, you would be escorted off campus.”

“You’re a dick,” I muttered.

“What was that?”

“I said you’re A DICK!” I yelled. Mr. Blackthorn looked stunned. The steady clink of dishes being washed in the kitchen went silent, and his bodyguards shifted forward slightly, ready to pounce. “You’re a slimy dick and I regret ever accepting your stupid offer!”