Page 51 of Bite Me

“I have Florence taken care of. The family should respect her wishes and mine.”

“I understand. All I ask is that you consider the consequences of her absence. An Everhart by blood out in Vviveren is a rogue.”

He won’t say, but it’s about reputation. My sister running away is a black mark on the family name, made even worse by her unpredictability and love of trouble.

“She has a great school. She’s happy. Leave her out of this.”

He sighs. “Unless something shakes my faith in your judgment, I will respect that decision.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

If I mess up, it’s my sister’s freedom we’re talking about. Her happiness. All my trust fund money isn’t enough to get her out from under his watchful gaze.

Emma and I have lives that are incompatible, and getting close to her . . . to her blood, it only leads to ruin. That’s why I can never let myself touch her.

Chapter Seventeen

Emma

“Had enough yet, thief?”

“Can you move out of my light? Your ego is blocking my view.”

And by view, I mean the lawn absolutely filled to the brim with sportsmen, some of whom have decided to take their shirts off and play a scrimmage next to the lakeside. I’m not complaining.

He scoffs as I pull my hair back to tie it in a bun, and his attention shifts to my collar bones. This is my weapon. If he gets to torture me every day in the kitchen, I’ll torture him the only way I know how.

It’s the only thing he’s not good at hiding. He may hate me, but I have something he wants. Only he won’t take it.

I know that fact is important, but I just can’t figure out why. It’s the only clue I have about how this man really operates. It’s evidence of a truth he’s trying to hide.

I shake the thought of Dacre out of my head, and I paste a satisfied smile onto my lips.

The smell of bonfire hangs in the air, and a cool wind blows from the lake. The fire illuminates the murky green of the lake against a periwinkle sky.

“Hey, Em! I’m ready to eat!” Parker calls with a wave.

Parker’s voice snaps Dacre and me out of our staring contest, and he walks away.

It’s our first real test in the culinary program. Like an exam, but scarier because if we don’t keep up here, we get more than a bad grade. We don’t have those in the culinary club, it’s more of a points system. Like getting gold stars in early school years, but Dacre, Verity, and Luther don’t give out points easily, and when you mess up, they deduct points. If I hit the midterm with low points, well . . . I don’t even want to give Dacre a reason to kick me out.

Parker gives me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Olivia says good luck.”

“I bet you wanted her to come, huh?”

His smile drops, and he rubs the back of his neck. Bingo.

“A little. But it’s gonna be fun. The guys have been looking forward to it all week. You nervous?”

“No.”

I’m watching Dacre get the others into position. The culinary club, a group of ten people, is responsible for feeding all the athletic teams tonight, which includes Parker’s Rage team. The dance company is here, too, but I heard Olivia is going overboard practicing for her new performance.

Dacre’s got his sleeves pulled up, and he’s issuing orders. I should really go, but I can’t help but stare at the tattoos on his forearms and the way his hair is falling into his face as he barks orders. I’m seconds away from being his next victim.

Parker follows my line of sight and smiles.

“Don’t you dare,” I say, finally snapping the buttons closed on my jacket.