Page 49 of The Deceptions
“Criminals?” Mack asks, twisting his expression. JJ, on the other hand, sits between us, studying Franco with a blank expression.
“You’re wanting to create alliances?” JJ surmises, rubbing at his chin.
“Among other things,” Franco says, not elaborating further. “Alliances. More opportunities. It'll be good for our economy and businesses. More money in our pockets. The return will be plentiful, and you boys will be the key to making this work.”
“You want us to work with the other gangs coming?” JJ asks, tilting his head. “You want to create something bigger.”
“Smart boy.” He offers JJ a prideful grin. “Bigger and better than ever, boys. Imagine having feelers all over the globe. Allies who bring more money to our pockets.” He raises his brows.
And more people under his thumb. He's not wanting allies. He wants playthings to manipulate and conquer. This is all a part of his chess game. He's strategically setting up pawns and kings until he can swoop in for the kill.
I can see it now. Our future of college freedom is gone. We'll be working and organizing shit under the other gang’s noses. Spying on them, no doubt. If Franco has his fingers in the college board, then everyone else is already ten steps behind.
Including us.
“And what's the plan?” I ask, leaning back on the couch, feigning intrigue despite the lead filling my stomach with dread.
“Frat row has been dismantled, and those chapters have been sent packing. All five houses on Greenwood Ave have been assigned to the crime families who accepted our invitations. They get a free education for life, degrees, and a plethora of initiates to choose from in the student body. In return, I get money and alliances.” The smirk lighting up his face as he reveals his master plan has goosebumps crawling up my flesh. “This is a new future for Greenwood University. And us…”
And what a goddamn future he brought to Greenwood. Whatever his initial plan was for this place, it kicked off our freshman year. Exploded, more like it. The student body expanded. New classrooms, dorms, apartments, and libraries were built, expanding the campus to the edges of the properties, resulting in more land being bought and more shit being built.
Greenwood University boomed into a prestigious higher learning facility overnight. Everyone wants a piece of this place. It’s the Harvard of our area. No one competes with us. We have the best sports team, filled with eager students ready for a win. The best in academics, earning multitudes of awards.
Greenwood University is the place to be. Too bad every person on the board of G.U. has a say in who enters this place and who doesn’t. And their leader? Fucking Franco. So, you bet your ass he only picks the best criminals to bring here and offer them housing. Oh, and let’s not forget the elites, as well. Governors. Mayors. Government officials. Movie stars. Models. You name it, he’s allowing their children entry for a damn price. So, mix that in with the scholarship students that he hand-picks, too–it’s a recipe for disaster. Not only have scholarship students been losing their lives or fleeing after a month’s time here, but bodies have been piling up over the summer.
He’s created the perfect scenario for himself. The perfect allies and soldiers can be recruited after they are vetted by us. His little sheep.
Fuck. I grind my teeth. We’ve never had issues with anyone on campus, except for a few run-ins here and there with other gangs, trying to show off. They never win, though. Neither do Malic and Wilder–our biggest fucking adversaries on campus. It’s like their main purpose in life is to fuck with us and what we have. For whatever reason, it’s like their mysterious boss came up with a checklist and put us at the top for them to knock around. It’s been four years of this shit.
If it were up to us, we’d isolate ourselves from the masses. However, with Franco having eyes and ears on campus, we must play these parts perfectly.
“They found another body,” JJ murmurs, putting his phone into his pocket. “Closer to the casino this time.”
“Missing organs?” I ask, looking around the crowd again, making sure no one is paying attention to us. Not even Mack notices us huddling closer together.
“The whole nine yards. You don’t think she…” He swallows a lump in his throat.
I shake my head. “Fuck, I hope not.”
“Should we mention the body to Franco?” JJ’s gaze shifts to me.
“He doesn’t seem too concerned, but I’ll shoot him a text.”
Quickly, I pull out my phone and do just that. Not that Franco will care. If it’s not harming his business, then he doesn’t need to care. It’s just another murder in his eyes. But there’s something fishy about it all. Especially with the body of a student who showed up near the beginning of the summer.
“He should care. This is his damn territory. Doesn’t he get suspicious of all the other families and gangs?” It’s the same questions we’ve been asking each other since the bodies startedappearing. Why isn’t he more concerned? Does he not see it as the threat it is? Someone is stepping into our territory, taking our citizens, and butchering them for their organs. Each and every one that pops up is missing kidneys, hearts, livers, skin, and everything in between. It’s fucking alarming.
“You would think,” I huff, getting nothing in return from Franco. Typical of him. Why should he care that bodies are piling up in his fucking city? Unless he’s the one responsible.
I lock eyes with JJ, who raises his brows like he’s on the same wavelength as me.
“This year is going to be lit,” Mack quips with excitement, oblivious to the important conversation happening around him. He flashes us his signature smirk. The same one that has been his mask for years, covering up the hurt bubbling inside him.
“Something like that,” I mutter in response, earning a look from him. But I ignore it.
My eyes glide from left to right, taking in the multitude of familiar and new faces walking through campus. Some look terrified. Others are confident and ready for campus life.
“Fucking freshman,” Mack grunts, shoving past a tall, scared looking kid who gapes at Mack. Probably hoping for an apology that won't come.
