Page 102 of Brutal Knight

I loosened my fists, trying to calm down before joining Rook. It was essential that he didn't suspect a thing before the deed was done. For his sake.

* * *

After the helicopter ride,I took Rook to an ice cream shop, even though I was certain we'd taken enough time to satisfy my father.

Rook asked for vanilla, but I insisted on a banana split with extra cherries. I made them scrounge up a candle and sing happy birthday.

I wanted him to have a real treat, something I knew would make him really happy.

Extra cherries was his favorite.

He ate the whole thing in three minutes in between babbling about how exciting it was to see the city from above.

I swear he was still a kid sometimes.

Well, he was about to grow up fast.

I ate my plain chocolate slowly, so slowly it was more like slurping soup by the time I was finished. Rook didn't say anything about it, but shook his leg impatiently. "Hey, do you still talk to Tatiana?"

I suddenly stopped, giving him a dark look. "Why?"

"I don't know." He shrugged. "It's been a while since you said anything about her."

I didn't like talking about her. She'd become something so important to me, that our relationship had become a curse. Even though I trusted Rook, I couldn't let anyone else know how much I cared for her.

"She's fine," I bit out, quickly changing the subject. "What about you and Crystal?"

"I said hi to her the other day." He blew out a breath miserably. "I don't think she heard me."

"She's an idiot. I don't know why you like her."

"She's not an idiot."

"She's a spoiled trust fund kid, who doesn't give a shit about anyone except herself." I was describing practically everyone at our private school but Crystal was no exception, except that she'd flirted with Rook one day when she was trying to make her boyfriend jealous. Rook had been instantly smitten, drawn in by the rare attention.

"Is not," he mumbled, staring at the silver table between us.

"You should go for Loren, she's sweet."

"She's also in love with you."

I stood up, done with this conversation. "They're all idiots. Let's go."

He jumped to his feet. "Maybe we can play a game of chess before you have to go home."

"Maybe." The word was sour in my mouth.

I took my time to walk to the trash, throwing away my cup and napkin. He was out before me, rushing to climb into the car, not even waiting for Bernard to open the door.

But Bernard dutifully stood by the door, holding it open for me as he gave me a meaningful look before shutting it behind me.

I watched Rook's knee bounce, bounce, bounce as we drove, chatting about a new chess strategy he'd learned off the internet. After ten minutes, his eyebrows furrowed. "Where're we going?"

"I have to pick up something for my dad first."

"Can't you do that later?”

I shook my head. "No."

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