Page 9 of Revere
Probably because he’s embedded a tracking device under her skin so he could find her regardless. I wouldn’t put it past him.
My jaw clenches, and I bite back that particular comment. I promised Mila I would at least try to play nice this summer. And considering Kole is the one who is paying for the apartment we’re renting since my parents cut me off, it’s the least I can do.
Still, I find myself asking, “Do you think Kole would let you go to breakfast without him?”
What is wrong with me?
“Yes.” She narrows her eyes. “He has his own things going on this summer.”
“Like what?”
As far as I knew, Kole tagged along because he didn’t want to miss Violet for two months while she was away at this criminal psychology program. But if hehas things going on,that can only mean Sigma Sin has him on some kind of mission, and my stomach sinks at that realization.
No matter how far I think I run, there is always Sigma Sin hiding in some dark corner.
“I didn’t ask what he’s doing.” Violet’s tone sharpens, and I sense her getting defensive. “He has friends in LA. People who know his family.”
“You meanhis fraternity.”
She frowns. “Not all Sigma House is evil, Patience.”
“Say it like you believe it next time.”
“I do mean it. Just because he’s meeting up with members while we’re in town doesn’t mean anything terrible is happening. He and Declan are still sorting things out after?—”
She cuts herself off, quickly looking around the room. I don’t blame her, because at Briar, you never knew who might be listening.
“No one cares here, Violet,” I remind her, grateful to be on a campus that isn’t controlled by the House. “Sigma House is just any other pointless fraternity as far as the students on this campus are concerned.”
“Still…” She bites her bottom lip, focusing back on me. “You know Kole has a lot on his plate after everything that happened.”
I do. Not that I care.
Declan and Kole staged some giant takeover of the fraternity a few weeks ago, sending both Declan and Teal’s fathers to jail in the process. In my opinion, they should all be locked up. The scale they use to weigh each other is irrelevant when they’re all guilty.
It’s an endless game of power and greed. Declan and Kole might have convinced themselves they had good reason tooverthrow the Sigma House Council, but they’re no better than the men they outed.
And to make matters worse, they’ve dragged my brother back into it.
After years of living in a psychiatric ward, not speaking to anyone, he finally left. He was finally moving forward. And the first thing he did was go straight back to the House. Never mind that Sigma Sin’s antics nearly killed him when he pledged. Or that he nearly died during his trial and hasn’t spoken since.
He went back to them.
Just like everyone else in my life.
Flipping my phone over, I check to see if there are any new messages from Mila. She promised to keep an eye on Alex while I’m in LA this summer. And since she doesn’t mind being around Sigma House, it works in my favor for once. But as I stare at an empty screen, I remember that she hasn’t sent me any updates.
“I don’t want to spend the summer fighting about Kole.” Violet reaches over to take my hand, snapping me out of my thoughts. “This summer isn’t about him. You and I have been dreaming of getting into this summer internship with Professor Gray since we first started at Briar, and we finally did it. Don’t shut me out. We’re in this together.”
Violet’s blue eyes blink in a silent plea, and guilt swells inside me.
I’ve been shutting everyone out lately—especially my roommates. The first real friends I’ve had. But it’s hard to trust my friendship with them now that I don’t know where their loyalties lie. With their men, who run the House that nearly killed my brother, or with me.
It’s not their fault they fell in love with monsters, but it changes things.
“I know,” I lie. “We’re in this together.”
The words burn on the way out because the truth is—I’m alone. I have been since Alex got locked up in Montgomery Psychiatric Ward. He was the last person who understood me. The last person who cared. And even now that he’s out, he’s simply one ofthem.
