Page 76 of The Claiming

“Yes.” Frankie is thoughtful and his hand tightens on my shoulder. “I ordered ten costumes, so there are two extra.”

“We should check them.”

My voice raises in my excitement and Jack nods. “If one is missing, it must have been someone who had access to them or knew about them. That narrows it down a little.”

The server returns with coffee and we fall silent until she has gone.

Then Frankie says in a low voice, “They are kept in the house.”

I glance at the other table where Santi and Ali are locked in conversation and it strikes me that one very important person is missing and come to think of it, I never saw him when I left the party either.

“Where’s Jesse?”

Before anyone can answer that a cheery voice asks, “Did you miss me, guys?”

We glance up as Jesse stands by our booth and I’m surprised how Frankie’s arm tightens on my shoulder and his leg tenses against mine, as Jesse winks and joins the other guys.

THIRTY-SEVEN

FRANKIE

Jesse looks fucked. Really fucked. He attempted to hide it with his usual shit-eating grin but I saw it in his eyes. They are bright—too bright and the shadows under them tell me he didn’t sleep much last night.

I’m guessing Miss Sloane had a lot to do with that and catching up with him is now my number one priority.

My thoughts are spiraling as I try to unravel the mystery of the ninth centurion. It must be somebody with access to our house and also to our conversation. They must have known the details of the challenge, but I can’t guess for a second who it could be. I have never seen a serpent tattoo on any of the guys, even though it could be another student in the academy.

I don’t like mysteries, especially ones that involve me, and if there is a sick predator among us, it’s only a matter of time before I make them pay—the Majerio way.

* * *

Conversation shiftswhen breakfast arrives and I zone out as Cassie and Siri chat shit about the party. Who was there, what they were wearing and who they were seen with. Jack is silent too and I wonder what is running through his mind? It’s obvious he’s brooding about something and I wonder if it has a lot to do with the woman I have made crystal clear is mine now.

I made sure he registered my arm resting possessively on her shoulders and the way I shared my menu with her, our heads close together as we selected our food. It was all done for his benefit because whatever feelings he has for my girl must be pushed aside and forgotten about until I am either bored with the situation, or he is.

However, after last night, my interest is merely growing and now Cassie lives in The Elusive house, our relationship will be easier.

My attention shifts onto my cousin and I note her happy smile and the soft looks she directs like love darts toward the man sitting beside her and I wonder about their relationship. Does he feel the same way? I’m curious about that because it could be a problem if he does. I’m aware that Siri is not the ordinary mafia princess she was brought up to be. She’s adventurous, determined and no pushover. Her softer side is her usual one, but if pushed, she can be a force to avoid at all costs.

I wonder if Jack will ever see that side of her.

I already made the decision it’s her life and I’ll not interfere in that unless she is threatened. She can make her own mistakes and I’m not her father. We don’t live by the old rules. Our sinister family re-wrote them and Uncle Ivan would be a hypocrite if he changed his mind now.

Family is everything and despite not being blood relatives, I’m aware that when our parents attended Rockwell, they dealt with that. They had their own ceremony while they were here and it involved a dagger and the mixing of blood, bonding them tighter than nature intended. They are a family by blood and firm resolve, and what happened when they left this place is the stuff of family legend.

Now Rockwell is throwing up a new challenge and I kind of like to rise to a challenge, so as soon as we finish up and head outside, I say with a steely gleam in my eye.

“It’s time to head back and tear that fucking dungeon apart. If there is a way into the tunnel, we are going to find it today.”

The guys agree and the girls nod with the same determination. Whoever is hiding behind a centurion mask uninvited, is about to learn he’s messed with the wrong guy.

* * *

As soon aswe returned to Rockwell, Cassie and Siri went back to their dorm to collect the rest of their stuff and Jack said he’d help them carry it back. Before I join them, there is something I must deal with first and as we return to the house, I pull Jesse aside.

“What’s going on?”

He avoids my eyes.

---