Page 22 of The Ruthless Note

I study my brother and realize he’d been about to stalk over to Miss Jamieson. Zane looks past my shoulder and sees Brahms.

We both share a meaningful look.

Before either of us can go after our targets, Miss Jamieson raises a hand. “Cadence!”

“Miss Jamieson.”

The two of them hurry toward each other and collide in the center of the hallway like long-lost sisters. I can’t tell which one looks more relieved to have found the other.

“I wanted to discuss something with you,” Miss Jamieson says in a high-pitched tone.

“Me too,” Brahms mumbles, casting me a quick glance.

Zane folds his arms over his chest. His eyes are glued to Miss Jamieson and he’s chewing on his bottom lip thoughtfully.

Brahms and Miss Jamieson fast-walk down the hallway.

“You’re not going after them?” Finn challenges.

“Do they look like they want to be chased?” Zane snaps.

The school bell chimes, alerting us to the start of class.

Sol slaps me and Zane on the back. “I’ll see you lovesick fools in class.”

“Who are you calling lovesick?” I growl.

“Who do you think will be in class? Me?” Zane points at himself.

Sol smiles and walks backward. “Well,Idon’t have a choice. Ma already informed me that one bad grade and I’m out.”

My back stiffens. Sol’s family doesn’t have it as well as we do. Plus his mom blames us for what happened in the summer. There’s a lot we have to make up for.

Zane and Finn both wear equally somber faces as we watch Sol trot away.

“You think he’s okay?” Zane asks.

“I don’t know. He doesn’t say much about his therapy sessions.”

Finn glances at me. “Have you asked him to play at the November Bash?”

“He said he doesn’t feel ‘up’ to being in the band anymore.”

“His mom probably pressured him to get away from us. She wants us to die slow, painful deaths.” Zane runs a hand through his hair. “We gotta keep an eye on him. If something else happens on our watch…”

“It won’t.” I jut my chin down. “It won’t.”

The hallway is empty now.

I fling my backpack higher on my shoulder. “Come on. We can’t let Sol go to class alone.”

Zane groans, but he dutifully drags himself down the hallway.

The moment I get inside the classroom, my eyes land on Cadence like there’s a beacon of light over her head. She's sitting at the back near the window, trying to blend in.

As if she could ever accomplish that.

She tilts her head down. Her long, brunette hair falls against her chest. Sunlight pours through the windows, giving her an angelic glow.

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