The Elites

by Ruby Vincent

  My sigh was one of deep contentment. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Oh. Is it finally my turn?”

  “Your turn?”

  “For the big question about future. The guys told me you’ve had the talk with them.”

  “They did? Since when do you all talk?”

  He chuckled. “You know, we’re actually becoming friends for real. Cole and I apologized to Landon for the shitty way we acted when he came out. Derek apologized for being a shit.”

  “He wasn’t so bad,” I said with a giggle.

  “Derek had a soft spot for you since freshmen year. You were lucky to miss Derek Grayson at his best.”

  “Sounds like it. But what about you? Where do you see us in the future?”

  Michael cupped my ass and drew me closer. “Thankfully, I had plenty of time to prepare an answer, and the truth is I don’t see my life much different than it is now. I want to live with Mom, see Dad in Europe every summer, run, study to become a doctor, and... be with you.”

  “What about Derek, Cole, and Landon?”

  “I could see us living like Moon and his family. We can squeeze out a couple of kids and raise them together.”

  Happiness filled me to bursting. I could have lifted off the bed and floated away. “I can see it too.” A kissed his chest once, twice, and then again. “I can also see us going for round two.”

  He hummed low in his chest “I can too but not today. We have twenty minutes left.”

  Disappointment battled with my happiness. “What about next time? Can we be together every Thursday?”

  “I can’t pretend to be sick every week, baby.”

  “No. Of course, you can’t.”

  My dismay must have come through loud and clear because Michael hugged me tighter. “We still have the weekends. I’ve never been happier that Breakbattle allows us out.”

  “Mom isn’t letting me go to Evergreen for the time being. Not after the almost hit and run.”

  “Hey.” Michael grasped my chin and tilted me back to look in his eyes. “I promised we were done waiting. I’m yours to take advantage of now. Whenever you want me, I’ll find a way to make it work.”

  “Really?” A grin stole over my face. “Because I want you right now.”

  “And watch me make it happen.”

  I shrieked as he flipped me over again.

  WE DRESSED CLUMSILY. It was hard to do it properly when we couldn’t stop kissing each other long enough to do up our buttons.

  “I have to stay,” Michael said in between kisses. “I don’t want anyone to see me out when I supposed to be laid up in bed. Will you be alright getting back?”

  I drew back, coming up for air. “I should be fine. There are a few more minutes until lunch lets out. I’ll run back before anyone sees me.”

  “Okay. I love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  We kissed at the door and then I snuck out. I practically floated down the hall. All the trouble I would get in if I got caught was completely worth that stolen hour with Michael.

  I reached for the door handle the moment it turned. There was no time to react as it flew open and I came face to face with Zachary Fields.

  We stared at each other—panic on my face and surprise on his. It winked out in a breath and his shock was replaced with irritation.

  “What are you doing here?” we said at the last time.

  Zach’s reply was quick. “None of your business. Get out of here before I tell Whittaker.”

  He shoved past me. I didn’t bother to watch him go. I had already been caught by the worst possible person. I needed to get out of here before anyone else saw me.

  My race to the girls’ campus was even more frenzied than the one to Michael’s room. I set foot on our side seconds before the lunch bell rang. I had fifteen minutes until class.

  I’ll have to take the quickest shower on record. I straight up smell like sex.

  I burst onto my floor and came to a jerking halt. Standing in front of my dorm was Langman and a female officer.

  “Detective?”

  “Ah. There you are, Miss Manning.”

  I approached them slowly. “What’s going on?”

  “Can we speak inside?”

  “About what?”

  “About the results of the blood test.”

  “Okay.” I unlocked my door and let them inside.

  “Is there something wrong with the blood?” I asked as I toed off my shoes. “Do you need another sample?

  “The sample you gave us was perfect.” Langman looked me up and down. I realized how I was dressed and quickly shed my stolen blazer. His expression didn’t change. Neither did the intensity of his stare.

  Great. I smell like sex. I bet I look like it too.

  “We were able to prove conclusively your blood is not a match to the blood on Cameron Dupre,” Langman said.

  “Wonderful. Then it’s all over.”

  “Not quite.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We found something else in your blood.”

  The running clock and the little time I had to get ready for class nagged at me. “What? Just tell me what you came here to say.”

  “I came here to say I found DNA in your blood. The same DNA as Cameron Dupre.”

  My brows snapped together. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about a familial match between you and our victim.”

  A roaring buzzed in my ear.

  What is he saying?

  “Zela, he was your half brother, and with that said, we have more questions for you.”

  The world stopped. I stopped. Stopped moving. Stopped breathing.

  “He was your half brother.”

  “Your half brother.

  “Your brother.”

  Langman’s expression flickered. “Miss Manning, are you alright?”

  He said something—shouted it—but I heard nothing as darkness claimed me.

  Chapter Seven

  Needless to say, I didn’t make it to class that day.

  I sat at the kitchen table, staring into the depth of my mug. By some miracle, I made it through Friday’s classes and came home. Mom buzzed around the kitchen preparing miso salmon and homemade spring rolls. I stared at her whenever her back was turned.

  Cameron Dupre was my brother which meant only one thing. My father was Dominick Dupre.

  Derek said a lot of local businessmen taught guest lectures that year. I should ask if Dominick was on the list.

  Why? a harsh voice cut in. You already know the truth. At some point Dominick and Mom met. Blood tests don’t lie.

  I dropped my head in my hands. My body felt tight and uncomfortable—like I had been zipped up in someone else’s skin. I didn’t know myself anymore. I didn’t know anything anymore.

  Cameron Dupre was my brother. The boy who bullied me, framed me, blackmailed me, attacked my boyfriends, and made my life a misery, was my brother. How could I reconcile that? It was a truth too big for me to deal with, and I hadn’t begun to process the fact that the man I’d been warned about since the first week of orientation is my father.

  Landon’s words roared through my mind.

  “It sounded like Jonathan Grayson was a total shit to her. What if this other guy was even worse?”

  I would say he was worse. Why did Landon have to be right?

  I glanced at Mom again. This was the man she was trying to protect me from. I understand why. If it was me, I might have done the same in her place. But is it better that I know? Is it better that I found my true brother months after he was murdered? Is it better that my father is a person openly despised?

  Tears stung my eyes. I dropped my head so Mom wouldn’t see. Part of me felt like I should grieve. Cameron was gone and I’d never know another side of him—if one existed. There could have been a day when we reconciled. Out of high school and reminded of what truly mattered, Cameron and I could have stayed up late reading and talking. Someo
ne took all hope of that away from us.

  “Zela? Zela?”

  I jerked. Mom appeared in front of me.

  “Yes, Mom?”

  “I asked if you wanted three spring rolls or four.”

  “Four, please.”

  She made no move to get it. “What’s wrong? Are you crying?”

  “Yes,” I said honestly. “It’s been a rough week.”

  Her face softened. “Of course it has, my Zela. A drunk fool almost killed you.” She walked around the island and enfolded me in her arms. I hugged her tight. “I knew I should have kept you home this week.” Mom kissed my forehead. “Take some time, relax, connect to your energy, and if you’re not ready by Sunday, you can miss the first day.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Mom.”

  She kissed me again and my rush of love for her tinged with guilt.

  What do I have to feel guilty about? I didn’t go looking for Dominick Dupre. The truth came to me.

  The doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it,” Mom said. “You eat and then get some rest. You look very pale, my only one.”

  Mom left the kitchen and answered the door. I didn’t move from my spot.

  What do I do? I should tell her I know. We—

  “Please, Ms. Manning.”

  I snapped my head up.

  “I won’t stay long,” Derek said. “I just want to make sure she’s okay.”

  “Alright. Twenty minutes. Zela needs to eat and get some rest.”

  Derek stepped into the entrance of the kitchen. I saw him only hours ago. He tried to kiss me goodbye on the steps of the school. I was so out of it I walked off. When I realized what happened I was halfway across the lawn and Mom was waving at me from the car.

  He took a step but I shook my head. I gestured upstairs. Without a word, we headed to my room.

  “Zela, what’s up?” he asked. “Did something happen?”

  I walked to the other side of the bed and sat, keeping my back to him.

  “You’ve been acting weird all day. You didn’t come to me this morning. You sat at the Elite table instead of with us. You didn’t... kiss me goodbye.”

  I pressed my lips together. They trembled with all the things I wanted to say.

  “Did I do something?” Derek’s voice took on a tone I’d never heard from him before. “Tell me what and I’ll fix it.”

  “You can’t fix this.” I blinked and teardrops splashed onto my clenched hands.

  Heavy footfalls thudded behind me. Derek ran around the bed and knelt at my feet. “I’m sorry, Zela. Whatever I did, I’m sorry. Just tell me what to do.”

  I cupped his face and pulled him in for the kiss we’d both been missing.

  “Stop apologizing, dummy,” I whispered. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “I got some news on Thursday.”

  Derek brushed away a tear. “The kind of news you cry over. Tell me what happened.”

  I opened my mouth to tell him I needed time to process. My head was wrecked. I didn’t know how to feel about the situation, let alone how to talk about it.

  I opened my mouth... and it all came out.

  I told Derek everything about the blood tests, the results, and the man who fathered me. He paled with every word.

  “Dominick Dupre? Is he sure?”

  “Langman said they ran the test twice. They’re sure. We’re a familial match.”

  “Holy shit.” Derek fell back on the floor. He stared unseeingly somewhere to his right. I heard his thoughts churning away.

  I hesitated. I need to know. One day I’ll ask the question. Let it be now.

  “Derek,” I began. “All the stuff I’ve heard about Dominick Dupre. Tell me why. Why do people say he’s a bastard?”

  “Zee, we don’t have to—”

  “I need to know.”

  His eyes traced my face. He must have seen something because he nodded. “Okay. First, you should know that nothing’s been proven. It’s whispers about other people’s whispers that built his reputation.”

  “What do the whispers say?”

  Derek took my hands and pulled me down to him. “They say that he advises dangerous people. Mafia, cartel, CEOs who get crafty with the pension fund. He’s smart enough not to handle their money, but that doesn’t stop him telling them how to handle it.”

  I sucked in a breath. “How could he get away with that?”

  “Like I said, whispers. Nothing has ever been proven. No money in his business that shouldn’t be there. No surveillance shots of under the table payouts. But Dominick takes a lot of lunches with people you wouldn’t let know your address.”

  “Is that it?”

  “No. There’s one more thing that I know about...”

  “What is it? Please, I need to know.”

  Derek grabbed my waist and pulled me closer. He wrapped me securely in his embrace as though he thought what he’d say would break me if he didn’t hold me together.

  “There was a nanny.”

  “A nanny?”

  “Years ago, when we were kids obviously. Cameron’s nanny disappeared. I remember my parents talking about it one night when I wandered into their bed. They thought I was sleeping.”

  “What happened?”

  “She was young and lived here on a visa. One morning they found her room empty and her gone. Dominick said she must have been homesick and wanted to leave without a fuss. The problem was Cameron’s birthday was a few days away and she got them both tickets to go to Evergreen Playland.”

  I filled in the blank. “Why would she do that if she never planned to take him?”

  “Exactly. There were other things too. The police got on to her parents and they confirmed she didn’t go home. Plus, she told her friends more than once that Dominick wasn’t a nice man, and she only stayed because she loved Cameron.”

  I nodded slowly. “So, you’re saying my biological father is a suspected murderer who is tangled up with the mob?”

  “What I’m saying is a lot of stuff that has never been proven.”

  I tried to swallow around the lump forming in my throat.

  “What about Cameron?” I asked. “You’ve known him longer than me. What was my brother really like?”

  “You know what he was like,” Derek said softly. “You’ve known him for years.”

  “There had to be more to him.”

  “I’m sure there was but I never saw that side. Cameron and I weren’t friends. I didn’t have friends before you.”

  “You wouldn’t have had me.” I didn’t want to say it. The certain truth that tormented me since I discovered Langman at my door. “You were the wrong brother. If I had known the truth, it would have been Cameron. I would have come for him. I would have devoted all my time to winning him over. The day in the woods that set us on this path. I only freaked out because I thought he killed my brother.”

  “You would have freaked and refused to go along either way. That’s who you are.”

  “With how desperate I was to earn your trust?” I cried. “Who knows what I would have done for Cameron’s?”

  “Not that.”

  “He died never knowing the truth. Everything would have been different if he knew I was his sister.”

  “You can’t know that.”

  Derek’s touch was gentle as he caressed my thighs with small, calming circles. “You can’t torture yourself with what might have been.”

  I choked back a sob. Derek’s love and warmth couldn’t reach me in the place I was in.

  “What might have been is all I have. He’s dead, Derek. My chance to have a relationship with my brother disappeared one horrible night and I didn’t know to care until now.” Hot, furious tears ran down my face. “Do you know how awful that makes me feel? The only brother I’ll most likely have and I skipped the memorial they held at school because I didn’t want people to stare at me.”

  Derek took hold of me and gave me a little shake. “You di
dn’t know, Zee. I love you, and I love that your possessive streak brought us together, but don’t use it as a reason to torture yourself with guilt. If you had known, nothing would have stopped you from being there. Hold on to that.”

  I tossed my head. “No.”

  “Zee—”

  “No,” I cried. “It’s not enough, Derek. I have to find him.”

  “Find who?”

  “The killer. I have to find the person who killed Cameron.” As I said it, I never felt more certain of a single thing.

  He gaped at me. “Find the killer? Zee, that’s what the cops are doing.”

  “And they’re getting nowhere.” I wiped my face using the hem of my sleeve. “Langman told me himself. Months later and their only suspect was me. Private investigators were brought in and they clearly don’t have a clue because they haven’t arrested anyone yet.”

  “And you think you’re going to find something the CPD and a team of investigators can’t?”

  “I’m going to try.”

  “You can’t—”

  “Zela?” Mom sounded from the other side of the door. “It’s time for Derek to leave.”

  “Okay,” I called. “He’s going now.”

  He grasped my forearms when I tried to get up. “No, Zee. I’m not leaving until you agree you won’t go after the killer. Promise me.”

  “I won’t. You know me too well by now, Grayson. I could give you a promise, but we both know I won’t keep it.”

  “Zela,” Mom said again.

  “You have to go.”

  Derek didn’t move.

  “I’m not letting you go after a killer,” he said through gritted teeth.

  “You’re not stopping me either. He was my brother. I have to do this.”

  “What is with—!” Derek stifled his shout. He took a deep breath and tried again. “I want his murderer to be brought to justice as much as anyone by the police. He doesn’t deserve your eternal love and loyalty because you share the same DNA.”

  “Yes, he does,” I replied, feeling it with every fiber of my being. “That’s what family is.”

  Derek shoved away from me. “Ugh!”

  I went after him, pulled his hands away from his face, and tugged him toward the door. “If we push Mom, she won’t let you visit at all. I love you,” I said under my breath. “I know you want me to be safe, but I need you to understand that I’m not changing my mind.”