Page 24 of Brutal Prince

“Even then take note of new members, body language…”

“Blood on hands,” Darryn added, trying to be funny, except it wasn’t funny at all.

After the meeting, I spotted Lux, Harrington and Ridge shooting hoops and went to join them. It was hot and sun was burning the back of my neck, but I needed the physical release. Everything was getting me down. My family was constantly asking me if I was okay and Darryn kept bugging me about sticking to the plan. All I wanted to do was have a normal fucking school life.

Except nothing that was going on around me was normal and I’m constantly reminded of that. Lux limped along and winced every time he took a shot. Due to copious amounts of physical therapy, he can move around now without his walking stick. But he chose to have it on hand as a weapon.

That’s the problem. We’re all shit scared. Even Harrington was showing signs of unease. He always had a confident swagger, a domineering force, assuming that no one would dare touch him. And he’s right, no one did touch him. Instead, they went for the atrium and hurt his bestie really bad and I’m pretty sure his girlfriend was attacked too. Not that I’d ever dare ask.

We don’t talk about it.

“Going to the meeting tonight?” Ridge asked. Jeez, never far from the mind. I can’t fucking get away from it.

“No fucking way,” Lux was quick to answer.

“You know once you’re in, you can’t get out, man,” Ridge reminded us, scratching his buzz cut. “Unless they vote you out.”

Or kill you, I wanted to add, but kept my mouth shut.

“They can get fucked,” Cody snapped, protecting his bruh. “And I won’t be going either, unless it’s to light a fucking match.”

There’s a consequence to not going to the meetings. Buchanan will take note and pass it on to the Platinum members who pull the puppet strings.

After about an hour, we took a break under the shade of the Applied Science building. Our bodies were dripping in sweat from the blistering sun.

“You got anywhere with your undercover gig?” Harrington asked quietly, so Ridge and Lux couldn’t hear.

I grunted a no.

“Fucking useless.”

“It’s way more complicated than you’ll ever know.”

“Yeah, how? Give me a taster.”

I hesitated. I was sworn to secrecy, but this was a guy who was damn good at keeping secrets. I bet he’s a got hundred sitting under his wet shirt. And I’m starting to not give a shit anyway.

“Dirty cops destroying evidence.”

“That explains why an arrest hasn’t been made then.”

“Got an idea on who should be clamped?”

“Vanderbilt and Buchanan. Maybe more.”

I sighed. “Yeah.”

“It’s so fucking obvious who the culprits are…” he mumbled.

“Within the school. But on the outside, who the hell knows?”

He leaned in, rubbing his lips with his fingers, his eyes fixed on Ridge. “You know Tristan Fisher?”

“Nah.”

“Lux’s girlfriend’s cousin. Kickboxer.”

I shrugged, still oblivious.

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