Page 84 of The Prom

Imogen was never supposed to be in danger. We would follow her movements and keep eyes on her the entire time. The corsage was my idea because when we were in costume, she could easily slip out of sight.

It worked to an extent and Jack, as always, kept a steady eye on her, but now we are racing across town to the house we were informed he is taking her and I hope like hell that Jesse told us the truth about that.

I glance at the app on my phone that is tracking her in my ‘find a friend’ and I remember the last time I called it up, when she appeared to head off to Cripple Creek. The way she glowed when she returned confirmed my assumption that Imogen has a man and one she doesn’t want us to know about.

I have my suspicions though and that worries me too because fuck if history isn’t repeating itself — excuse the pun, none intended. First Jesse and Jenna Sloane and now Imogen and Drake Bellingham. I saw the way they stared at one another and it didn’t take a genius to work out the attraction.

“The guy who took her. Any idea who he is?”

Siri’s tone is grim and I confess, “I have a mind it’s Mr. Bellingham.”

“The history teacher.” Siri gasps and Summer nods in agreement.

“I saw the way she looked at him and something about the way his gaze lingered on her confirmed my suspicions.”

“What is it with the teachers in this fucking academy?” I yell, anger mixing with guilt that we have placed Imogen in this position at all.

Frankie turns and the expression in his eyes reassures me a little. “We’ve got this covered, Cass.”

His eyes glitter with danger, and that is something I sure need right now. I must place my trust in him because he assured me several times over the past few weeks that he’s got this. He has spent many hours with Luca as they covered every eventuality and this was always an option. Imogen was the natural choice to save Jesse because out of everyone at Rockwell, she is the only person who interests him.

My thoughts turn to Drake Bellingham and my heart pounds. How did I miss this? Of course it’s him. When Jenna Sloane was removed, they sent another recruitment officer in her place. This time they targeted Imogen and I’m guessing it’s because of Jesse, who is, to our knowledge, the only person they are currently grooming at Rockwell Academy.

Frankie and Luca have been in touch with River, who is on the way to recovery and desperate to help. He told them everything they needed to know about the society and how it works and it’s down to him we knew what to do to get Jesse back. Now we are in a car speeding toward God only knows where, hot on the tail of my best friend and the guilt is overwhelming as I face the fact we may be too late.

FORTY-TWO

DRAKE

I waste no time in heading to the drama department. I can’t believe I never thought of it before. A mask will give me the ability to blend in with the crowd and I must hand it to them, the gladiator costumes was a stroke of genius. It completely covers the wearer’s identity and I can watch over Imogen without discovery. It will also keep me the fuck away from Angela, who is like a constant bad smell under my nose. How I detest that woman and can’t wait to deal with her as a Reaper clears up shit. That is one broken angel who should be hurled into the trash. Women like her aren’t broken, they are smashed beyond repair.

I move fast and as I edge inside the drama department I waste no time in taking the stairs up to the wardrobe department where they keep their costumes. I’m convinced I’ll find what I’m searching for there, but it turns out, I discover way more than I bargained for.

As I inch inside, a muffled groan alerts me that I’m not the only one in here and as I flick on the light, I’m on my guard as I search the room.

I note a figure tied to a chair, tape covering his mouth, almost naked save for his boxer shorts.

“Fuck, Jesse.” I make haste and rip the tape off and note the swelling on the side of his head, blood trickling down past his eye.

“Imogen.” His voice is urgent. “She’s in danger.”

Chills run through me as I grasp an item of clothing and press it hard against his wound and as I untie him with my other hand, I growl, “Tell me everything.”

“We don’t have time. He’s taken her to Redrock Canyon. There’s a house there set low down in the mountains. Call the cops. They’ll get there before us.”

I pull out my phone but it’s not the cops I dial and as Ryder answers, I urgently fill him in on the details. I’m guessing it will take them two hours by road, but we have other forms of transport at our disposal and the helicopters will be a quicker way to travel, but the mountains may make landing more difficult. The darkness also presents a challenge, but our transport is designed to deal with that.

I fill him in and he wastes no time in issuing instructions and I throw Jesse some clothes off the rail and say quickly, “Take yourself to the medical room. That wound needs tending to.”

“No.”

He scrambles into the clothes. “I’m okay. You need me and I’m coming with you.”

He grabs a black robe from one of the rails. “This should work.”

I don’t question him and as we head toward my car, I hope like hell we’re not too late.

He fillsme in on the journey.

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