Page 53 of Dark Things
I find a quiet place in the back of the cafeteria. Normally, we’d eat somewhere off campus, but Haunt has practice. My ass hits the chair just as the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I close my eyes for a moment before spinning in my seat.
“What?” I snap. I can’t be bothered with niceties, especially with this cocktail of emotions swirling through me.
“Is now a good time for our chat?” Brooks says, taking a seat without waiting for my response.
I clench my hands into fists under the table and bite my tongue. “There are ears everywhere.”
“We’ll be discreet. This can’t wait, and you know it,” Colter says. He sits next to me as Staff sits across the table, leaving the remaining seat on my other side open.
I look up, trying to find Haunt, because I can’t carry this conversation myself. I’ll end up punching one of them, and then all the progress I’ve made will be for nothing.
“Be quick about it then. You’re disturbing my lunch.”
Colter scowls, his anger written all over his face. All these little quirks bring me back to places I never wanted to visit again. Anxiety swims through my gut and my nails dig into my palms leaving indents in the skin.
“You’ve both been places you shouldn’t have and we need to know why. There’s some delicate things going on, and we can’t have people getting in the way of what needs to be done,” he says.
I examine them for a moment, trying to see how deep they’re in this mess. Staff has his stoic face on, but Brooks looks off into the distance, the tick of his jaw prominent.
“Places we shouldn’t have been,” I hum, releasing my fists and bringing my hands to the table, tapping my fingertips lightly on the wood surface. “Seems like someone is getting a little territorial about their town or is it that you’re just good at following orders like lost little puppies?”
Colter does not care for my question. In fact if I was someone else, I’m pretty sure he’d have taken a swing. I adjust my seat, trying to look like I can’t read his tells, but it’s hard.
“Did I miss much?” Haunt asks, slamming the tray with our sandwiches down and taking his seat. I can feel the waves of aggression rolling off of him.
I squeeze his forearm and smile up at his beautiful face. “Colter was just explaining that we were not welcome at a few places in the area. Guess we didn’t get the memo from the welcoming committee.”
“Is that so? Well I have to say, so far I’m having a fantastic time. There’s so much to see and do in this town. And the people here are extra special, especially that guy we met the other day. What was his name?” Haunt says, turning to face me before unwrapping my sandwich and handing it to me.
“Michael. He was a real piece of work, but I’m pretty sure he’s not going to be a problem anymore,” I reply, giving him a quick kiss before taking a bite of my turkey and cheese.
“And how would you know that?” Brooks asks, his eyes pinging back and forth between the two of us.
“Gino doesn’t keep track of his toys as well as he should,” Haunt says, taking a sip of his water before handing me the bottle. I gulp some done watching their reactions.
“Let’s cut the shit. You know who we work for and we have a pretty good idea that you’re working for the other side. What we want to know is how deep your love goes for a sex trafficker and what your plans are,” Staff says.
His demeanor changes in an instant when Istraighten in my seat and lean over the table. “You should watch your words,” I growl. “As much as you think you know everything about how the game is played, you really know nothing. All of this is bigger than a small town pissing contest.”
“Enlighten us then. Because from where I’m sitting it looks like the two of you are in this as deep as we are, but your assumptions about us are wrong. Whatever you’re thinking I promise it’s not it,” Colt says.
I mull over his words for a moment, swallowing another bite before I take a stab at what the real issue here is. If it’s one thing I know, it’s how these boys think, and Iknowit’s not the money or the power they’re after.
“You want something from Mario, probably something only he can give you. That’s why you’re working with him. Am I getting warm?”
Brooks scoffs, but he isn’t fooling anyone. While I have no idea what they would need Mario for, there’s no doubt they wouldn’t turn to him unless they were desperate. Their parents have more money than most people in this country so it’s not that. And power has never been interesting to them. If anything, all four of us tried to blend into the background as much as possible, leaving the limelight to our parents.
“Know what I think,gioia mia? I think the boys have gotten into some shit searching for something that they can’t find, and now they need an out. You and I are looking like a ticket out of this mess,” Haunt says,rolling up his sandwich wrapper before pushing the tray away.
“What do you know about her?” Colt slams his fist on the table, making my water bottle almost tip over. A few curious glances swing our way.
My lips press in a firm line. “Her? You’ll have to be more specific.”
“Belle Vanderbilt. You know something, I can feel it. Too many things have been happening around you two. There’s a reason why you're here, why certain incidents are popping up all over.”
A rush of anger sweeps through me. I’m vibrating with fury, and it takes everything in me to not stab his hand with the blade in my pocket.
Haunt places his hand on the back of my neck and begins to rub soothing circles. It doesn’t relax my tense muscles like it normally would. I also don’t miss the look Brooks gives Haunt.
