Page 27 of A Dead Man's B-Side
He tilted his head towards August, who’d still had his head thrown back and was sighing like a southern belle who’d been refused a visit to the seamstress.
With a final glare sent his way, I swallowed my satisfaction. “Fine. Fine, you can stay and… do whatever it is you planned on doing.”
At my words, August threw his head forward, a grin growing across his lips. “Really?”
“I saidfine, didn’t I?” I spoke harshly and stomped forward to pluck the lighter out of Wolf’s bony fingers. The latter smiled like the cat that got the cream.
I didn’t protest when August threw off his jacket and shoes before bouncing onto my bed like he owned the place, getting as comfortable as possible on a bed fit for one.
I only sent him a look to stay away as I went to join him with my back against the wall, leaving much space between us.
Wolf chose the quilted leather chair tucked under my desk, turning it around and plopping down before he groaned softly likehe’d just completed a full day’s work. Though I doubt someone like him would ever know what that feels like. “This should be fun.”
We both turned to August, but only I glared before hissing out, “Well?”
Unlike August, I wasn’t a complete idiot.
I could sacrifice Wolf’s knowledge of my cigarettes as a means to get what I want. Let him believe that my compliance came from his slight blackmail. However, it’d be unfortunate if he knew I had no intention of throwing him and August out.
And I wasn’t an amateur to jump at the offer the moment August proposed it.
“What?” August looked between us like he hadn’t the slightest clue this was all his doing.
“This charade was your idea. Now what? Do you even think three seconds into the future before doing something?”
August didn’t seem to mind my rude language as he shrugged. “I–well… What do you want to know about Castle Hill?”
Like I said, an idiot.
I shook my head in exasperation and pulled out another cigarette before lighting it, careless of the attention I was garnering. Wolf had his own secrets to keep, and August… I’ll deal with him if he tries to say a word. I could feel the pair watching me as I drew in the first breath before blowing it out, lifting a knee to rest my arm on. “Do you enjoy getting bullied?”
That seemed to hurt him, and I wasn’t mindful enough to say I felt bad to watch the sadness swim in his eyes. It made me almostwant to smile.
“Don’t listen to him, August. People like Callum Queen are only intimidated by you.”
I pointed the lit cigarette at Wolf but spoke to August, “He is not your friend–or… I doubt he even thinks of himself as such.”
Wolf turned to me with his eyebrows set. “You’re quite rude.”
I took another drag before letting out the smoke in a deep sigh. “Fine. Let me rephrase. Why does Callum Queen find himself in the liberty of picking on others?”
The silence was heavy, and August took to wringing his fingers, lost in thought as it took a moment for him to speak, “Well… Callum’s father… He’s on the board, so he walks around like he owns the place.”
I’ve never met a Queen before.
“Hmm. I’ve heard a lot about this board. What’s so great about it anyway?”
The words came out carelessly, like I only spoke to fill the silence. It had the desired effect, I suppose.
The way in which Wolf spoke, jumping at the first opportunity to speak with contempt, reminded me of Ajax when he spoke of Fenlon Hall, “It’s stupid, really. Just a big ploy to have us all under their thumbs.”
August scoffed, but it sounded sarcastic. I turned and found him, under the glow of the dim room light, gesturing at my cigarette pack. I only raised my brows for a moment before relenting and handed him the lighter along with a single cigarette. He watched myoutstretched hand before scowling, again sarcastically. “Cheapskate. Well anyways. It’s easy for Wolf to criticize the board so openly; his family’s on it. We regular folk can’t speak a–”
I turned to Wolf with a scrutinizing look. “Your dad’s dead.”
The boy in question reared back. “Thanks for the words of kindness. Except, I’m not the oldest.”
I shrugged, undeterred. “You wouldn’t want my words of kindness anyway.” The words of Callum Queen, only a day ago, came back to me, the meaning no longer lost on me. “Callum said you returned a king. What does that mean, then?”
