by Leia Thorne
“Oh, and I can trust you? This whole town is just…insane.” She laughs sardonically. “Just…leave me alone, Sawyer.”
I stop at the base of the staircase, watching her walk away. Everything is wrong. Rush…Remi. How the hell did it get this far gone? Somebody has to do something.
Whether I expose myself to this society or not, whatever it costs me… Fuck it. I pull out my phone and send Remi the video chat.
It’s in her ballpark now. Once she watches the conversation between Gage and Mrs. de Pont…and hears for herself that her sister was Lesley… Shit. I scrub a hand through my hair. I had wanted to do this more delicately, tactfully. Ease her into the realization. Not drop a bomb on her right in the middle of school.
The truth is like that sometimes, though. Like a gaping wound that keeps bleeding through the poorly wrapped bandage. Once the damaged layer of the wound is ripped away, exposed, it’s impossible to keep it protected.
Remi has been through a lot already. She’s no stranger to struggle, and despite her recently acquired frivolous attitude, I know she has depth. She’ll accept this, too.
I don’t see Roland for the rest of the day. I’ve sent him messages, but he hasn’t replied yet. I looked for Remi at lunch, but she was suspiciously missing, too. By the time the last period lets out, I’ve made my mind up to drive to his house. I need to tell him about what I’ve done.
After I pack my books away in my locker, I head toward the entrance of the academy. I’m almost free when Gage corners me.
Students hurry past to escape the academy, paying us little attention as Gage brackets his arms on either side of me against the wall. “We need to talk,” he says.
I grip my bag strap, back teeth gritted. “I doubt we have anything to say to each other. Now, please move.”
Gage waits until the last of the student rush has past, the hallways emptying, all but a few stragglers. Then, his blue eyes meet mine, his stare penetrating. “Rush has been suspended. Remi has gone MIA. Everything is starting to fall apart, and it all started with you and Roland.” He eases a fraction closer. “What happened this morning? What did you say to Remi?”
I lift my chin in defiance. “This all started with Remi, Gage. When she showed up to this school. Actually,” I say, tilting my head, “it all started with Lesley, if you want the catalyst.”
His nostrils flare. “Sawyer, whatever you’re up to…”
“The truth, Gage. I’m up to the truth. Don’t you think it’s time you came out with it?”
He sighs heavily. He removes a hand from the wall and touches a strand of my hair, following its path over my shoulder. “You have no idea,” he says, his gaze trailing his hand’s path. “You want to paint me the villain. That would make things simple for you. But there is no such thing as a strictly chaotic evil character, Sawyer. You’re too smart to believe that.” His eyes snap to my face. “I’m the pawn. Just a pawn in a network of kings and queens who are vying for power.”
My eyebrows knit together. “What are you talking about? What have you done?”
He slams his hand against the wall, making me flinch. “Dammit. You need to stop, Sawyer. Just stop pushing my buttons. I should tear your panties down right here and fuck you up against this wall.”
I inhale a steadying breath. “To put me in my place?”
A slow smile tips his mouth. “You’re so stubborn, hard as hell. But I’ve breached those high walls of yours. I know where you live, all the dirty little things that make you wet.” His hand slips down the wall and tugs at the hem of my skirt, his fingers slipping beneath to caress my thigh. “Do you think about us while Roland is inside you?”
I fasten my eyes closed and grab his hand. “Stop.”
To my surprise, Gage does. This was probably all an attempt to divert my attention away from whatever I was getting close to…but it worked. My breathing shallows as he removes his hand from my skirt.
He lowers his face even closer, so close I can feel his breath touch my lips. “Whatever you think you know, think again.” His mouth hovers so close to mine…and then he pushes away from the wall. “Stay out of my business, Sawyer. I’m warning you.”
I watch him shove the front door open and leave the building. My mind spins, wondering what the hell is really going on here.
My phone beeps with an appointment reminder. I glance at my phone screen and curse. I forgot about my stupid appointment with Dr. Callahan this afternoon. I glance around, as if someone or something will tell me what to do.
I need to see Roland. But I need to keep my mother and Gage’s father off my case. I head outside and click my key fob, unlocking my car door. Maybe there’s a way to get out of these meetings for good.
Gage might be a lot of vile things…but there’s one thing he excels at more than any other.
Manipulation.
He could be trying to play me, or set me up—but I can use it. And what’s more, I can take a play from his book on how to handle the good doctor.
Chapter 14
Remi
Sawyer knows.
Which means Roland most likely knows also. And Gage…
I’ve watched the video too many times this week, trying to figure out what it means. No matter how many times I watch it, I feel like I’m missing something. I play it once more, my heart in my throat.
“Remi is my daughter’s biological sister. She’s not to discover this until I deem ready. Is that understood, Mr. Astor?”
Gage knew the truth this whole time.
My stomach pitches, and I reach for the glass of water before me. I’m camped out in the diner, waiting for Marvin to arrive with the Town Car and Mrs. de Pont. I’ve been here since I ditched first period. I’ve somehow survived this week by staying late after classes, picking up extra classwork to work on in the library, and skipping lunch…but I knew today it would be impossible to keep avoiding the Saints.
I didn’t want to go home—couldn’t go home—but I couldn’t stay at Brighton either.
When Sawyer sent me the text, I knew before I opened it that it was going to be bad. But I had no idea how bad. I had suspected that Gage was aware of my relation to Lesley. That he had ulterior motives where I was concerned, to make a grab at some high-ranking position in an elite association. But what really tore through me was learning that Tabatha was the one who put him up to it.
It makes no sense. Why would she involve Gage? What task did he have to perform?
And how the hell am I supposed to look her in the eyes now?
I’ve been dreading this moment all week.
I drag my fingers through my hair, anxiously waiting for her to arrive. Tabatha insisted on taking me shopping for a costume today. Her masquerade ball is right around the corner, and I just have to find a way to…what?
Survive.
That’s what it comes down to. Survival. High school is difficult enough all on its own—but throw in a secret society, one devious boy with cruel intentions, and an elite level of kids with no boundaries to hold them back…and the halls of Brighton become Armageddon.
A beep drags my attention to my phone screen. Another text from Gage. He’s determined to see me. After the way we left things the other night, and how I’ve been avoiding him at school, I’m going to have to reply eventually. I just have no idea what to say, and I doubt I can hide any of this from him. One look into my eyes, and he’ll know I’m concealing something big.
My heart lurches as the black Town Car pulls into the diner parking lot. I put my phone on mute and drop it into my bag before I head out of the diner.
Hell, I hope my drama class pays off. I’m about to put on the performance of my life.
Tabatha hands me an envelope in the backseat of the car. “What’s this?” I ask her. The paper is a delicate cream color and soft to the touch. Expensive.
She smiles over at me from across the backseat. “An invitation for your friend, dear,” she says. “You’ve both worked so diligently on the essay contest for
the masquerade, it would be remiss of me not to invite Palmer.”
I nod knowingly. “Thank you. She’ll be ridiculously happy.”
“Of course.” She turns her attention to her driver. “Marvin, please park around the back of the building.”
I slip the invitation into my bag as the Town Car maneuvers into a parking space behind a boutique shop.
“I try to avoid running into people I know,” Tabatha explains. “The bored women of Crescent Valley can talk your ear off if you let them.”
I smile wanly. I feel as if I’m hovering on the edge of a razor, trying not to slip. Every time I look at Tabatha—the adoptive mother of my biological sister—all I hear is a roar in my ears, her voice so clear on the chat with Gage that it causes a sort of feedback.
The woman who appears to care so genuinely about me cannot possibly be lying to me. And if so, maybe there’s a good reason…
What if I just ask her outright? Just drop all pretense and force her to acknowledge this deception between us. What would be the worst that could happen?
“Tabatha…” I start, and my voice fails.
“Yes, Remi?” Her features pinch in concern. “What is it?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. Just nerves, I guess. I’ve never been invited to anything so lavish before.”
She dismissively waves a hand through the air before Marvin opens her door. “You’re above every single person to be in attendance, Remi. You just remember that.”
I blow out a heavy breath, then exit the car when Marvin opens my door. Right. Suddenly, I’m an heiress to a fortune, and the homecoming queen of an elite prep school. I have zero fear that anyone will see through that sham.
As I meet her at the backdoor to the boutique, she says, “After the masquerade, no one will question you or your position in society. Trust me.”
Trust me. And I want to…I want nothing more than to believe her, but I want to ask her to clarify what she means. Only the door opens, and an older woman greets Tabatha with a huge smile. “Thank you, Larissa,” Tabatha says.
Larissa flatters Tabatha as she leads us to a private section of the shop; one she explains is for VIP clients who want to shop in privacy.
As Tabatha accepts a teacup from Larissa, she turns toward me. “I assume you didn’t have a proper coming out party.”
A clipped laugh escapes. There’s nothing proper about me. “What’s that?”
“When a young woman reaches maturity, she’s brought out into society, so to speak. Introduced properly, I suppose you’d say. Mostly back in the day, it was a way for parents to announce their daughter was ready to be married off.”
“Gross,” I remark.
She laughs. “Agreed. But…there is a certain charm to the whole event. And the gowns…” She sighs and touches my hand gingerly. “Just breathtaking. Anyway, since I presumed you’d feel a little reluctant to hosting a named event in your honor, I thought the alternative would do nicely.”
“The alternative? Mrs. de Pont…I mean, Tabatha. You really don’t need to go to the trouble for me.”
“Nonsense,” she says, setting the cup on the glass table before her. “There is no trouble where you’re concerned, Remi.” Her smile reaches her eyes, and I wonder again how this woman could possibly be against me.
“The masked party is perfect, I think,” she continues. “The very act of unmasking you to the society at the masquerade… Welcoming you into the fold. It’s brilliant.”
My throat constricts. I touch my neck, willing my glands to relax. Is she talking about society in general or the society—the illusive secret society that she wants me to take over as chairwoman?
“When am I going to…” I trail off, unable to verbalize my concerns.
“What, dear?” she asks. “You can ask me anything.”
Okay. “This society…are they going to be there? Is that what you mean?”
Her features become grave, her eyes meeting mine. “Once you know who the members are, you know.”
I read so much into that statement, it terrifies me. “I think I understand.”
She nods once. “Good. Because once you’re unveiled to the members, and I announce your succession to my position, there’s no turning back, Lesley. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, but it’s so much more than that.” She places her hand on my shoulder. “It’s your life, an identity. Who you are now.”
My eyebrows draw together, but I nod my understanding. Does she realize she just called me Lesley? I doubt it was intentional; an accident. Only, I can’t help but wonder if that’s how she truly sees me through her eyes. Like the daughter she lost.
“Here we are,” Tabatha says, as Larissa enters the room with an armful of gowns.
The shop owner places the dresses on hangers around the room to display them. And they’re gorgeous. I don’t even need to touch the material to know it’s expensive. Tabatha rises and selects a crimson and black gown. The sparkly silver dusted across the bodice is so glittery it looks like the gown has been sprinkled with crushed diamonds.
Maybe it has…
“Oh, here we are,” Tabatha says. She brings the gown toward me, her hands delicately caressing the skirt. “I had something very similar selected for Lesley to wear last year before…” Her eyes mist over, and she sniffs hard.
A lump clogs my throat. Despite my reservations, I stand and accept the gown. This woman has been there for me in a way no one else has recently. And I know she’s still in pain; missing her daughter. I might not understand what her intentions were during that chat, but maybe…
I hold the dress close to my chest as I look up to meet her eyes. “If you despise Gage so much—” my voice only slightly wavers “—why would you push him toward me?” I shake my head. “What did you ask him to do? Befriend me? Initiate me into his Broken Saints? I don’t understand.”
Silence thickens the air around us. Tabatha’s wide eyes linger on my face, unblinking. Finally, she clears her throat and walks slowly toward the door of the dressing room. She flips the lock.
Apprehension crawls over my skin.
Keeping her back toward me, she says, “I was desperate.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “And I’m confused.”
As she spins around, she looks far more fragile than I’ve ever seen this woman who has only shown strength. “I’ve known about you for some time,” she says. “I admit, I had always been curious what Lesley’s sister was like. Maybe it was a morbid curiosity…but I couldn’t help how I felt.”
Now I’m really fucking confused. “I still don’t understand,” I say, my voice becoming strained. “What does Gage have to do with any of this?”
She takes a measured step in my direction. “I wanted to know more about you and I thought…if I approached you, I might scare you. You weren’t aware of Lesley, or me, or the past.” She shakes her dark hair from her shoulders. “As much as I despise Gage…yes, you’re correct there…he was the only asset I had near you. He was attending Brighton with you. He could get close to you. And I just knew, as soon as he laid eyes on you, he would become suspicious.”
“So what…?” I walk a small circle around the room to think, give myself time to process. I should’ve known that someone like Gage would never be interested in a girl like me. “You sic the boy who you believe harmed your daughter on me? All so you can spy on me?”
“No, Remi…it wasn’t like that. Please.” Her mouth tightens into a hard frown. “I just wanted to know more about you, and I made a dire mistake by including Gage. He did hurt Lesley, and he’s hurt you now. I’m sorry for that.”
Something feels off. I exhale a lengthy breath. “I should go.” I pick up my bag and start toward the door.
Tabatha reaches out but doesn’t touch me. “Wait. You have to know the whole truth.”
Do I even want to know? Every time there’s a big reveal, my entire world changes. “I’m not sure that I do.”
She sighs. “He does care for you,” she says
. “In his own warped way, the only way a man of Gage’s making can care for someone, that is.”
“According to you, he cared for Lesley, too, and look what happened to her?” I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth. “Oh, god. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that…”
Her features blanch, and she looks at the floor. “No, you’re absolutely right. I’m the one who is sorry, Remi. I thought I was being clever. I thought I could become close to you and punish Gage at the same time.”
I shake my head. “What do you mean?”
“There’s a way we can both get our revenge on Gage Astor.” She approaches me at a glacial pace, as if trying not to spook me. But I am so fucking spooked right now. “As I said, I know Gage does care for you. Oh, he still wants to steal your birthright, don’t get me wrong, but in his own selfish, deviant way, he believes he loves you. He will dethrone you and worship you in tandem, that’s how devious he is. His distorted brain will maintain that you’re not strong enough for a position of power…that he’s helping you.”
“Okay…”
She lifts her chin. “Allow him to love you, Remi. And then your first official act as my successor will be to have Gage removed from the society. You can be the one to cripple him where it will hurts the most.”
I admit, in a diabolical way, it makes sense. Gage does care about his status in this secret society more than anything, anyone else. It would destroy him.
Is this my revenge?
“Gage ruined my Lesley,” Tabatha continues. “But this world and it’s ridiculous laws would never hold him accountable for the part he played. He deserves to answer for his sins. That is why our society lives by our own rules, our own laws. We decide who should be punished and how.”
I sit down in the chair. “If I agree to this, Gage won’t just go away, his tail tucked between his legs.” A hollow laugh escapes me. “Oh, no. He’ll want his own revenge, Tabatha.” I look up at her. “I don’t want to go through the rest of high school or my life like that.”
