by Ruby Vincent
“The longer this goes on, the more I give up hope. He was killed in a school full of people. Why doesn’t someone know something?” I cried.
“Someone does,” she said, “and one day, either you or the police will find them. Trust me. Now take a breath, let it out, and finish getting ready. Remember why you’re doing this.”
I breathed deep till my heart slowed. It helped me get through dressing, putting on my makeup, opening the door for Derek, and the biggest hurdle of getting into his car.
“Are you okay?” Derek kissed the back of my knuckles. “It’s not too late to back out.”
“I’m okay.”
“The offer still stands to leave early. We planned on having our first time over break. We can find a spot and...”
“We’ll see what happens.”
On a regular night, I’d jump on the suggestion in his voice. Tonight was not a regular night. Jordan warned me once about using sex to feel better. I didn’t want my first time with Derek to be a distraction from my daddy issues.
We changed to lighter topics for the rest of the drive. All of my boys got into Somerset University, although it wasn’t a surprise.
“Are you going to live in the dorm?” I asked.
“Are you?”
“Yep. I want the full college experience.”
“As long as you get a single room, I’m cool with that.”
I shoved his shoulder. “What about you?”
“I thought I was, but Mom practically burst into tears when she saw the dorm catalog. She’s been going on about her ‘baby’ leaving for the past two weeks.”
“You do live closer to Somerset than I do. There’s no reason for you to move out.”
“There are a lot of reasons.”
Amusement beat back the confusing swarm of emotions ripping into me. “It would be fun for all of us to be in the same dorm again. Having you, Cole, Michael, Landon, and Adam right down the hall is my dream.”
“Why is Moon on the list?”
I shot him a grin. “Maybe I love him as much as you guys.”
“Don’t ever say that again. The smug bastard lords it over us enough.”
I full-blown howled. My heavy mood lifted as we turned onto a street lined with cars.
“Thank you.” I kissed his cheek. “You always make me feel better.”
“It’s what I do.”
Derek pulled up to a house I’d seen before. Ten years later, the Dupre mansion looked the same down to the vintage cars in the driveway. Derek put his hand on the small of my back and kept me close. He presented his invitation to a man in a three-piece suit.
“Derek Grayson and Zela Manning.”
The guy looked me up and down. “This is a private party, sir.”
“She knows about the Network.”
He said no more. Bowing his head, he gestured for us to go inside.
Stepping over the threshold was like passing through to another world. Mansions were no stranger to me. Wealth and riches had become a norm. But none of the amazing houses I’d seen over the years had prepared me for this. Every single thing I laid eyes on screamed money so loud it deafened me.
Priceless works of art led the way to the front room. They were displayed front and center, demanding to be seen by all who visited. Lights shone down on us from a chandelier that showed its age as well as the other pieces in the house.
I wasn’t fooled. Just one of these antiques could pay off her mortgage and set my mother up for life.
“Nice place,” I said simply.
“See the floors.” He pointed out the black and white glittering tile. “That’s diamond inland marble.”
“I’m sorry. Did you say diamonds? Like diamond diamonds? Real ones?”
“They are very real.”
“Do owners of financial companies all live like this?”
Derek gave me a look I didn’t like. “Let’s just say not even my parents could afford one million dollars per square meter.”
My stomach twisted. Even if this was paid for legitimately, this bordering on obscene display of wealth added to the picture forming in my head. The cars lined up in the front, the Rembrandt next to the coat rack, and diamonds you walked on. The Dupres wanted everyone to know they had money.
“If you’ll come this way, sirs, madams,” a voice said. “The party will be held in the great hall.”
Music floated out of the room and beckoned us. The great hall boasted few decorations, but the space spoke for itself. Servers weaved through expensively dressed people of all shapes, sizes, colors, and cultures. I’d say it was a diverse group if it wasn’t for the fact I counted so few women.
“Does the Network recruit women at all?” I asked. “Are the women here members or spouses?”
“Spouses or moms. We get our new members from the boy campus, so Dad kept it men-only to be their mentors.”
“That’s stupid.”
He barked a laugh. “It is, isn’t it? But who knows, that rule may change tonight.”
I put my head on his shoulder, sending love his way. “Is your dad coming to the party?”
“The bastard sent him an invitation and he tossed it in the trash. I volunteered in his place.”
“Zela. Derek.”
Landon waved to us from the other side of the room. Michael and Cole were with him.
“Did you see?” Cole spoke so quietly his lips barely moved. “Dowell is over there and I saw Santiago come in earlier but I don’t know where he went.”
Landon pointed over our heads. “Do you see that potted plant under the Caravaggio? I’ll get Heath over there and ask him about Cameron. You hide behind it. He won’t notice you.”
“This is all so cloak and dagger,” I said.
My heart fluttered in my chest, fed on pure nerves. I pressed my palm over my breast and breathed the way Jordan told me.
“Let’s wait until there are more people and noise to cover us,” said Landon.
The five of us remained in the corner talking and watching people come in. Everyone was here. Hunter strolled in with an elderly man who sat in the first chair he found and closed his eyes. Boys I recognized as freshmen, sophomores, and juniors joined the party with their chaperones in tow.
“They’re here with their parents,” I spoke up. “Doesn’t this mean the secret is out?”
“Yes,” Derek replied. “They have to know why they’re here. What we don’t know is why Dominick outed us.”
“For some reason, secrecy isn’t important anymore,” I said.
Someone caught my eye.
“Oh my gosh. Zach? What is he doing here?”
The current F student stepped inside the great room looking like he was wholly where he belonged. He stopped a server and lifted two glasses off his tray. One he gave to the pretty older woman by his side who shared his nose.
“What the fuck?” Derek hissed.
“Was he not kicked out?” I asked.
“I made Dad toss him on his ass first thing,” Derek said. “He drugged you, cheated during the tournament, and lost anyway. He wasn’t staying after that.”
“Dominick must have brought him back,” said Cole.
“Why would he do that?”
None of us had an answer.
“I can’t believe both of them are here,” Landon said. “Zach’s mom, Crystal, hasn’t been in the public eye lately. His dad is divorcing her and it’s getting pretty ugly.”
“How ugly are we talking?” I asked.
“She took a baseball bat to his Maserati and he called her a plastic whore in the media.”
“Holy shit.”
“I almost feel bad for the guy,” Michael added.
“Don’t.” Derek’s voice was hard. “He hurt Zela and I should have kicked his skull in a long time ago.”
I rubbed his arm. “No violence, my love. There has been more than enough of it.”
“I don’t know about that,” Cole said in a voice that prickled my skin. “Look at that smu
g as shit smirk. He hasn’t learned his lesson yet.”
“Guys, remember why we’re here. The place is packed. Let’s find Heath.”
Our group split apart with no more talk about Zachary. I couldn’t fathom why Dominick Dupre allowed him back or why he risked letting these parents know their kids were snatched out of their beds by a secret underground club running beneath their noses.
These folks don’t look pissed though. Smiling faces, tinkling laughter, and charming conversation surrounded me. Everyone is acting like this is just another party.
I located the Caravaggio and potted plant. I tucked myself away and continued scanning the crowd. This was the largest collection of famous men I’d ever seen—that any person has ever seen. Not even the Grammys had this kind of guest list. Movie stars, musicians, athletes, CEOs, politicians, and authors mingled on the diamond floors.
“—next for you, man.”
“I got into Somerset.”
I plastered myself against the wall. Landon and Heath were here.
“You still doing wrestling?” asked Heath.
“I’ll do it for fun. I’m going pre-law with the goal of opening non-profit homes for LGBT kids living on the street. We’ll provide services, help them with emancipation, and whatever they need.”
“That’s cool, Landon.” He sounded like he truly meant it. “Cameron said back then that you had other plans. It’s good you’re thinking bigger than sports. The Network is proud of their professional athletes, but I’ve always said that’s thinking too small. You blow out your knee and where the fuck are you? Sitting alone in your mansion hoping a cereal company puts you on their box. I set my sights higher. I’m at Harvard studying political science and I intend to take my career all the way to the top.”
The top? As in... the head of the government?
A vision of President Dowell flashed in my mind.
“Cameron had plans too,” Landon said. “To takeover Dupre Financial Holdings and dominate the financial sector. He would have done it too.”
“Damn right he would have. Fuck. I miss that guy.”
“It’s crazy that they haven’t arrested the guy who killed him,” Landon said. “If you ask me, it must have been that guy Cameron was fighting with at the fundraiser.”
The fronds brushed my cheek as I leaned in closer. Landon was good. He should be an actor too.
“Did he tell you about that? I never got him to talk to me about it.”
Oh no. Heath doesn’t know either.
“Cam didn’t give me a name, but I could tell something was up with him,” said Landon.
“Seriously. He was acting weird since the year started. Blowing us off and stuff. Santi and I guessed he was hitting some girl outside of school. He just smirked when we asked though.”
“You don’t know her name?”
“Nah. Like I said, he wouldn’t talk to us and barely hung out. He and Santi fought about it all the time.”
He and Santi were fighting?
“It must kill him now. All that bitching and arguing over nothing and then Cameron is killed before they could put it right.”
“That’s got to be tough. Was it just Cameron keeping to himself that bugged Santi?”
“It was lots of stuff. None of it matters now.”
“Did he—”
“Hey, let’s not talk about this anymore. It’s a party. So are you still dating that girl-boy, Zeke?”
I stiffened at the change of conversation.
“Excuse me?”
“Because you should ditch her,” Heath went on, clearly not picking up on his tone. “She’s caused the Network a lot of trouble. One of the board members let it slip that her interview swayed them to vote against the expansion. A girl like that will bring you down. You don’t want her crazy in your life.”
“I want her crazy in my life every second of every day. A girl like that pushes you to become a better man just for the sake of deserving her. One day, she is going to be my wife and we’ll push out a horde of ridiculously photogenic babies. Until then, you watch your fucking mouth.”
I clapped my hand over my mouth. I had to. I was afraid I’d burst out how much I loved him.
Oh, Landon. You’ve completely blown it... and it’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever done.
“Chill out, Foster.” Heath’s tone was decidedly cool. “It was friendly advice.”
“I don’t need your advice.”
I heard a muttered curse and the heavy footfalls of someone stomping off. Landon peeked his head around the plant.
“Sorry, baby. My questioning didn’t get very far.”
Snagging his collar, I kissed him hard.
“I’m going to be your wife, huh?”
“That’s correct,” he said a tad huskily. “You can only marry one man and since I was your first love, it’s going to be me. The other guys will have to suck it up.”
This argument we could have way, way down the line. Instead, I kissed him again till my lungs cried for air.
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” he said. “But we should take a break from making out and talk about what I did get from him. Cameron was fighting with someone and that someone was Santiago.”
Reality harshly popped our bubble. “You’re right. Santiago didn’t mention it to Cole. Not just that, he specifically told Cole that their senior year was like every other, while the truth was they were fighting about Cameron blowing him off and being secretive.”
“Strange. Michael, Cole, or Derek could try talking to Heath again. I’ll go at Santi with what we know.”
“Good idea.” I flicked his nose. “You’re amazing. I have to find a bathroom, but I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Alright.”
I walked out of the great room and one of the staff came up to me immediately.
“Are you looking for the bathroom, madam?”
“Yes.”
“It’s down that hallway and to your left. There’s a sign.”
“Thank you.”
I walked down the hallway and turned left. I glanced at the door with the sign and looked away, not slowing my stride. I didn’t need the bathroom.
Months had passed. Cameron’s room might be packed away and bare. Still, I wanted to find it. I wanted to see the space where my brother grew up and discover if it was as cold and meant for show like the rest of this house.
One by one, I visited the dining room, kitchen, library, two guest rooms, and a study. I crept up the backstairs just off the kitchen. His room had to be on the second floor.
The passage was shroud in darkness. I couldn’t chance turning on the lights. As my eyes adjusted, I moved down the hall continuing my exploration. My heels were soundless on the plush carpet. No one would know I was here.
My fingers closed around the third knob on the left. I glanced in and four pairs of eyes look back at me. The Who poster covered most of the wall.
This is it. I threw open the door. It’s Cameron’s—
A tall, large figure emerged from the gloom. “What do you think you’re doing?”
I stumbled back, clutching my chest. “I’m s-sorry. I didn’t know—”
“Someone was up here. Obviously.”
“I shouldn’t have done this. I’ll go—”
“Get in here.”
“Mr. Dupre—”
“Now, girl,” he barked.
My sense told me to disobey the command, yet my trembling body took me inside. I reached for the switch. Light cast over the space and the man before me. Dominick’s face was expressionless as he took me in. I read nothing that gave away why he’d been alone in the dark in his son’s room while a party raged downstairs.
Not for the first time, I wondered how such a severe, rough-looking man produced a boy with the face of an angel. And now I’d have to wonder how he produced me too. We looked nothing alike. I didn’t have his thick brows, small eyes, wide-set nose, or thin lips. I didn’t have the contempt etched int
o all of them.
“I know you.”
I paused five feet away from him. “Yes. We met at career day.”
“The upstart little F.”
“I’m an upstart E now.”
“I know that too. Zela Rae Manning,” he said, surprising me. “The girl who single-handedly destroyed our plans for the expansion.”
“I wouldn’t say I did it single-handedly.” I raised my chin, steadily holding his gaze. “I had some help.”
The corner of his mouth twitched in what might have been a grin. It was gone as quickly as it happened.
“It’s not an issue now. The Network has moved on.”
“So I’ve heard.” I turned away from him and swept the room. It was exactly like I hoped. It appeared as though Cameron just stepped out for a minute. Posters of old rock bands and vintage cars were on every wall. A massive bed took up most of the space. It was covered in green silk sheets to match the green desk chair and green curtains. Green must have been his favorite color.
“Why were you in here alone?” I found myself asking.
“You’ll be giving the explanations. What are you doing up here?”
“I wanted to see his room,” I admitted. “I never got a chance to know the real Cameron. I regret it now.”
Heavy footsteps advanced on me. I whipped around.
“Don’t spout your bullshit in here. In my son’s room,” he barked. “My boy was no fan of yours and the feeling was mutual. I saw the little video you made together.”
My heart rocketed against my ribcage. He wasn’t going to hurt me but those cold, pitch black eyes looked truly frightening flashing with anger.
“It’s in the past, Mr. Dupre.” I willed my voice not to shake. “I’ve forgiven him and moved on. What else could I do? Cameron is gone. Holding a grudge poisons you. There is no point.”
“I don’t agree. Grudges are not poison. They’re fuel. The grudge I hold for the person who killed my only son will see they get the punishment they have coming to them even if I’m not alive to enact it.”
I took a step back and he moved with me.
“I am not that person,” I said clearly. “I didn’t kill Cameron.”
“I know that, girl. Your blood wasn’t a match for the blood in the room.”
My flicker of shock was brief. “Of course you know. You’re his father.” I looked around his room. A space the complete opposite of the cold, lonely, art museum outside. “And you loved him,” I said. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”
