Page 150 of Knox Academy Omnibus
“It wasn’t a request,” he seethes. “Grandfather willnottake no for an answer.”
I stare at him. I won’t be the first to break eye contact; Onyx doesn’t scare me. “I said no.”
“We will come and get you, so let’s do this the hard way. I love it rough, Amelie, so resisting is just foreplay for me.” He gives me a dark grin that terrifies and thrills me, my heart pounds and my palms get slick.
“IfI do this, tell your father I won’t be doing any of his other bullshit self-defence crap,” I snap back as Onyx abruptly stands and leaves. Why they sent him to tell me the good news is beyond me. Anyone else would have been better than him. That is one Knox brother I am no way near to forgiving.
“What do you know about this obstacle course?” I turn to Elsie.
“It is a huge event, though only certain families take place. The Knox family win every year, though word has it that it is a secret society event from when some old ass dudes were in university.”
“Elsie!” I hiss under my breath.
“What?” she whispers back, her eyes like saucers.
“I think you figured it out! We need to sneak out, spill a drink on me.” She still doesn’t register what I’m saying. I lean in and tip the drink myself and juice goes everywhere.
“What the hell?” I yell, drawing all eyes to us. “We need to get changed before class.” I grab Elsie’s hand and drag her to my room, into the bathroom and shut the door, turning on the shower.
“What are you doing?” she asks and I shush her.
Pulling out the stolen book from its hiding place, I hand it to her. She studies the cover and flicks through the pages.
“I have been over and over everything in my head, and I know we had theories but a secret society makes sense. From the ones I have seen on TV they are a tad sketchy, but it would make sense why they all have the tattoo, including Baxter. Why else is he all evasive with any questions I ask?”
“But what does it all have to do with you? I mean, do you even think it involves you?”
“I don’t know, but I plan to find out. It can’t be a coincidence that my mother shows up out of nowhere and this necklace is an exact match for the tattoos,” I point out, fingering the pendant on the thin chain.
“They won’t tell you anything. Maybe it’s time to forgive them? You could get close to get answers. Even if you don’t really forgive them, you know?”
“They’ll know something is up if I forgive them that easily, especially Onyx. We have a hate/hate relationship.” I laugh.
“If youareinvolved somehow, that means they’re all lying or using you, so you need to find a way to get them all under your spell. Again. It worked before. It wouldn’t surprise me if they have bugged your room.”
“I didn’t think about that.” My eyes widen in surprise. “Maybe we should set a trap and see if we can catch them somehow?”
The drink I spilled a little too enthusiastically has soaked through my uniform, so I strip down to my underwear.
“I know, let's go out there and talk about what it would take for you to forgive Kalen. He would be the one to target. The twins would be harder nuts to crack.” Elsie shuts off the shower and I stash the book away for safekeeping, not that it is of much use to us if we can’t read whatever weird language it’s written in.
We exit the bathroom and Elsie strikes up conversation about the Knox brothers while I pull out a new uniform.
“Are you ever going to forgive them? I mean, most girls would fall at their feet and be happy with the crumbs they leave them.”
I sigh because it’s the truth. Why they all like me blows my mind. I’m not your average girl.
“I don’t know, Els, how can I forgive what they’ve done?”
She turns to me as if she is thinking. “Food is always a good place to start. I know how much you love pizza.”
“Pizza and puppies. I think I could be swayed to forgive if a cute fluffy puppy was involved in a real apology.”
I finish doing my tie, grab my Knox backpack, and Elsie and I leave my room. I hope Elsie is wrong and they’re not bugging my room, but she’s right, I won’t find out shit if I don’t forgive them or at least make them believe they are forgiven.
Two steps out the door, a young guy dressed in a suit steps out in front of me. The suit isn’t expensive, but fits his huge frame to perfection. My eyes roam his body and I lick my lips when I take in his face. I’m graced with a smirk, beneath his aviators he obviously caught me checking him out. His dirty blonde hair is styled nicely, and I wonder what his eyes look like beneath his sunglasses.
“Hello, Miss Rossi. I’m Jasper and I have been sent as your protection.”
