Page 36 of Inside the Wicked

The crowd is restless, confused, and scared as the image keeps flickering from me to the mysterious advert. Security dart around the place as if the interference is the warning of a live threat. One comes for me while others escort my parents out. I reach Adam, who puts his arm around me as we’re instructed by security on where to go, and my adrenaline races with triumph.

Adam leans in, speaking quietly. “Shit, did you have something to do with that?”

I’m giddy as fuck inside, but I try to keep it from my face to appear as shocked as those around me. “You sure you want to know?” I ask, giving him one last chance to back out.

He blows out a breath. “At least it’ll be a party in hell.”

Adam is the one pacing now, in the room the two of us were dumped in while security clear the house and try to figure out what happened. I explain what I can to him about Alistair and Jacob and Xoid. I leave out a lot about Silas for now.

“How do we know he’ll see it? Shit, all this time ... Who knows what he’s been going through? Fuck, sorry, I know you’re probably thinking that too. But has Forthson not found him yet? And fuck, it’s all over if either of them get even a slight tip-off about your secrets.”

“Adam—”

“And this Balenheizer guy sounds real slippery. But Xoid, now that’s impressive. Kaiser always seemed intimidating as fuck, but a whole underground network of illegal crime-fighters?!”

“If you would just?—”

“I mean, Ihaveto see the setup. You can take me, right? Trusted advisor of Kaiser’s girlfriend and all. This is some wild movie shit. I’m still not certain you’re not just pulling my leg here—I wouldn’t be surprised after the dick I was to you last year?—”

“Adam!”

He stops his rambling then as I massage the tension he’s building in my head.

“Don’t make me regret telling you. If you can’t handle it?—”

“Of course I can,” he says. “It may be twisted of me to find excitement in this, but it’s been so dull lately with postgrad shit over and nothing to do but stare into the face of my father’s disappointment.”

“I know the feeling,” I mumble.

He gives me a look of understanding as he throws himself into the armchair. “I bet they compare disappointment scores over presidential whiskey.”

I’m leaning against the windowsill, surveying the guests leaving and security still being excessive.

After all that was exposed by the anonymous tip-off I knew was from Jacob early this year, Gregory Forbes was put behind bars. Adam’s father, Rolf Sullevan, stepped in as vice president. The nation called it the most amicable partnership in American history given they’d run as competitors in the presidential election.

“What do you plan to do when we manage to find steady ground in a sane life?” I ask.

Adam groans. “Not you too. Do you have a plan?”

I huff a laugh. “Not exactly. The tragic woes of rich kids.”

“Do you think it’ll ever feel like we earned it? That we can decide on a career and belong in it for what we offer, not for who we are?”

“I think it depends how much we lean into our name, I suppose. Use it for gain.”

“It’s a gain without trying.”

I understand what he means. I’ve often wondered the same, and it’s why the dream of opening a school feltrightto me. My name could be used for good, for someone else. I don’t tell Adam about it. It feels too fragile right now.

“There’s a woman in Xoid—she’s absolutely brilliant. She comes from averyhigh-profile family, like us in a way, but she helps Xoid with her talent and connections for nothing in return.” My chest constricts as I think of Allie.

“Yeah? Can I meet her?”

“She’s missing,” I whisper.

Adam’s look turns grave. He’s starting to see the gravity of what we’re up against. It makes him think. “Have you still not heard from Liam?”

“No,” I say with a heavy heart.

---