Page 3 of The Ruthless Note

The police succeed in getting Christa to her feet. I’m too far away to hear what they’re saying, but I know why they’re here.

And I know why Christa’s face turns pale.

Her blue eyes shoot over the gym and skewer me. Pink lips curl up in an animalistic sneer.

I should be scared, but I’m not.

The crescendo is building.

A D D# E

Pulling. Pulling. Pulling.

No release in sight.

The police escort Christa out of the gym. Gasps ripple through the crowd. Phone lights flash and blink.

Principal Harris produces a handkerchief, sops up the sweat on his face, and motions to the disappearing police. “I should see what’s going on.”

In the chaos of students shooting to their feet and teachers fighting to keep order, Dutch yanks me right up against him. His breath hits my neck like fingers grasping at my throat and every muscle in my body pulls taut.

“I don’t know what the hell you’re plotting, but I will end it.” Eyes narrowing to slits, he hisses, “I willendyou.”

His threat ricochets through my body.

Before I can say anything, one of the officers returns to the gym.

The students go quiet again.

Jarod Cross stiffens.

Dutch is the only one who doesn’t seem to know or care that he’s practically manhandling me in front of law enforcement.

“Cadence Cooper?” the cop drawls.

I turn, my hand still held hostage in Dutch’s giant paws.

“You need to come with me.”

“Sure.” I wrench my hand back and spear Dutch with a dark look.

He returns the glower with an even icier one. Pale fingers clench into fists. His amber eyes convey only one thing—this isn’t over.

Ifeelthe weight of his promise and I fear the damage he’ll do to me. Not because Dutch is big and intimidating. Not because he and his brothers rule Redwood Prep with an iron fist. Not even because he has no respect for his father, authority in general or the law.

But because I don’t trust the way my body will react to him. Even if I hate him with my every breath, there’s a twisted, dark piece of me that beats to life when I’m near him.

Maybe it’s a good thing I’m being taken away.

I follow the cop into the empty hallway. “Why did you need to see me? Wasn’t the video enough?”

Last week, I made a deal with Jinx to get evidence of Christa shoving me into the pool. Christa was stupid enough to have her friends film her that day.

In exchange for the footage, I had to leak one of my biggest secrets to Jinx. A part of me thinks I might have jumped straight out of the frying pan and into the fire. But if making a deal with the devil keeps me alive long enough to protect myself and my future, I’ll do anything.

We turn the bend.

The officer motions me forward.

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