Page 2 of The Claiming

I return her smile and then the Principal calls, “Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Volkov. Please step inside.”

She steps to the side as they smile and pass her into the office, Siri dropping a cheeky wink in my direction as she resumes her seat. Before she joins them, the Principal extends her hand toward me and says brightly, “Cassandra. Welcome to Rockwell Academy. Your parents will escort you to your dorm and then please head to the great hall at two pm for the induction process.”

Her gaze is fleeting as she follows the Volkovs into the room and as the door closes, I raise my eyes.

“Short and sweet, I suppose.”

Daddy heaves a sigh. “I’m not–”

Mom interrupts. “We are fully aware you’re not happy, Ryder, but you can’t deny Cassie the education she deserves. You can’t keep her with you forever. People require space to grow and Cassie must find her way in the world outside of the compound.”

I’m interested as always when mom challenges him. She’s the only person who has that right and despite his obvious irritation, he gazes with affection into her eyes and reaches for her hand.

“I still don’t have to like it.” He growls and mom winks as we follow him as he strides down the hall, filling it almost entirely with his overbearing presence.

* * *

Rockwell Academy is far enough awayfrom home to require boarding and yet close enough if I need to escape home for the weekend. Not that I intend on leaving this place because, as mom said, the compound has clipped my wings for too long already. When you live in a motorcycle club with close to fifty bikers, no move you make is unseen. It’s all-encompassing and yet I wouldn’t have it any other way because, despite the unconventional way we live, it’s always been home to me.

Every single biker and their old lady is family to me, even the whores who work the bar and seek sanctuary within our steel-clad walls. My father is the president and is the most respected of them all, as well as being the most feared. But he’s always been daddy to me and that will never change and yet for the first time I will be away from his protection. I’m excited about that, curious and expectant, and the only reason I’m here at all is because I’m not alone.

As we make our way to the dorm, I ask, “When will Jack arrive?”

Jack is my best friend, brother from another mother and the one who’s been beside me since birth. He is also coming here and if I know my father, he only agreed because of it. Jack will be tasked with looking out for me, which is no different from what he has done his entire life, and the same goes for me. We are and always have been tightly bound together and yet when this chapter ends, he will begin a new one in the military.

Mom replies, “Next week, after the funeral.”

My heart sinks. Jack’s grandmother passed last week, and they made the trip to Connecticut to attend the funeral and deal with the legalities, along with their grief. She was in a nursing home and past ninety years old, but it’s still terribly sad and I hate knowing they are grieving.

We reach my block, set before a bank of trees and daddy hisses, “Security could be better. I’ll arrange for more lighting and some cameras.”

“Don’t you dare.” Mom rolls her eyes. “You’ve got to let go, Ryder. Trust Cassie to look after herself. You have taught her well enough. She has Jack if she needs help, but Cassie is more than capable of dealing with anything that this place throws at her.”

I flash her a grateful smile. She may not be my birth mother, but she is the only mom I have ever known and I couldn’t love her any more than I do. My heart is full of love for them both, as well as Caspian, my younger brother, who is currently at home.

Once again, excitement passes through me like a lit fuse as I contemplate my new freedom. Rockwell Academy – I’m coming for you and I can’t wait to discover the secrets you’re hiding behind the dark, depressing walls and dilapidated exterior.

TWO

FRANKIE

The place is buzzing with activity, and I stare around me with indifference.

“New blood.” Jesse chuckles beside me and I nod, my eyes scanning the area for anything of interest.

We’re heading from class to the gym, conscious of the new students filling the air with their excited chatter and I shove my hands deeper into my pockets and scowl.

“I hate orientation week.”

Jesse laughs. “Well, I love it. New recruits mean new opportunities and I’m so ready to tear through their defenses and give them a proper welcome.”

I shrug. “Let me know if you find anything of interest.”

“Frankie.”

A soft voice wafts over my soul like deadly poison and I huff, “That’s my name.”

I carry on walking and she runs to my side, her hand searching for mine that I clench firmly in my pocket.

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