Page 28 of Lovely Deceit

“Games are fun,” I explain, after I see my first response wasn’t acceptable. “You taught me that.”

He chuckles. “Oh yes, they sure can be. I saw her sister almost naked once. Since they have the same body type, you’re in for a treat. Is she a virgin?”

My stomach clenches. Not just because of his question, but his revelation about seeing Eden’s dead sister almost naked and not giving a fuck about what it makes him sound like. “No,” I say. “Definitely not.”

“Pity,” my grandfather grinds out. He sighs. “Whores. The lot of them.”

He shakes his head, and I can’t help but shake mine for a far different reason. When I was young, I used to eat up what my grandfather said, taking it as gospel. But when common sense comes into the mix, how can we want women to be virtuous but also be good in the bedroom? Why do we want them innocent but also want an experienced lay? It makes no sense.

Eden’s not a whore.

My cousins’ and uncles’ wives aren’t whores. They’re just doing what they signed up for so they can live the life they were promised.

My grandfather hits my shoulder. “When you do fuck that pussy, I want a detailed account.”

Over my dead fucking body. Jealousy rages inside me, and the words Alaric spoke to me the other day come rushing back.Do you think she’ll ever want you with your family? She won’t fuck your grandfather.

He won’t touch her. I said it then, and I promise it to myself now.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Barclay?”

The words come as easy as breathing. “Because I enjoyed watching him dig his hole.”

My grandfather laughs. I don’t know if it’s the champagne, but I haven’t heard that genuine sound from him in a long time. “Even so, you should’ve said something.”

“What are you going to do to him?”

“I’ll have to talk to the other Elders, but I’m not happy at all. We chose Alaric for a reason. He’s never given us a hard time before.” He squints into the crowd, and I follow his gaze, but I don’t see Alaric anywhere. “Add watching him to your duties. Eden first, Alaric second. I want to know why he’s back here. Why he’s completely disregarded my order.”

I nod, but I keep what I know to myself. It would be easy to tell my grandfather the secret Alaric’s already let out: he’s at Carnegie for a reason unrelated to the Knights. People only pursue things out of love or fear. At least, that’s been my experience. He’s either afraid of something and running away or running toward something.

I turn to leave, but my grandfather’s words hold me back. “I’m mildly impressed with your performance of late, Leonardo. Don’t let me down.”

“I won’t, Grandfather.”

I spin, heading toward the stairs, and he lets me go this time. The war I’m having with myself hits a fever pitch as soon as I step outside of the Knights building. I’m all pent-up hostility and stress. Before, I’d find a girl to ease everything inside me. It’s the only way I was taught how. But my only desire right now is to track Eden down. Even if I don’t come out of my room, at least I’ll be surrounded by the same walls as her.

15

Eden

What’s more surprising than getting an early phone call from my father on a weekday is being summoned to brunch with him.

Leo and Oliver weren’t exactly thrilled about my leaving campus without them, but eventually relented. I’m not even sure the prospect of only being with my father actually helped the situation. Or the fact that he sent a car for me because they would rather have followed me there, I’m sure.

I approach the Garden Terrace, a posh place to eat a few blocks away from my father’s many offices. My skirt swishes around my knees, though I’m sure it’s too short or not the right color for the restaurant’s dress code. And I certainly haven’t paired it with the right type of shirt—a giant sun wearing sunglasses that is both funny and on trend. The crutches just put me over the top, ensuring that everyone will stare at me.

My stomach flips as I enter. Dad stands when he sees me, and I give him a hug before sitting. We’re at a table for four, and I notice the other settings haven’t been picked up yet, but I don’t care about that. “I’m glad you wanted to see me,” I tell him honestly, leaning the crutches against the table.

He places his napkin on his lap and picks up his glass, motioning toward me. “I thought we could celebrate a little.”

I pick mine up, noticing the carbonation and suspecting it’s champagne like last night. I clink my glass with his. “Thanks, Dad.”

A part of me glows inside. Dee was always Dad’s favorite, so I had a hard time getting noticed around him. The thought of Dee, though, has me swallowing the solid brick that’s wedged itself into my throat.

I take a sip, and then set my glass back down. I have a whole list of things I want to ask him, mostly regarding Dee, but also about the Knights. Last night when Oliver and I left, we were given a small book. Inside, there are hundreds of pages of Knights rules and regulations. The hierarchy is explained. Their beliefs. And also, their punishments.

I can’t help the little niggle of doubt that worms its way into my head, and I wonder if Alaric Barclay has been made aware of the complaint I put in against him. If he has, he certainly hasn’t reached out to me. Thankfully, I received my phone back at the same time I was given the Knights book. I had dozens of missed calls from Leo, but none from Alaric.

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