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I see the dean has company. A young man stands at his side.
“Mackenzie,” he says, “let me introduce you to my son, Domenic. He’s a student here, too, though he’s a senior, and he’s majoring in math, so you won’t have many classes together. I hope the two of you will get on like a house on fire.”
The bolt of electricity that goes through me as I glance at his son is unwelcome. The guy is strikingly attractive, though, like a younger Nataniele, and also comes with a side order of the kind of charisma you can’t fake.
Domenic drags a hand through tousled light brown hair, his green eyes resting fully on me. He has high cheekbones and a generous mouth. He looks as though he’s perfectly aware of how good-looking he is—I can’t stand guys like that.
“Hey, Mackenzie,” he says.
“Hi,” I mutter, though my cheeks are already warming at his attention. Right now, I don’t want anyone’s attention. It’s safer to go unseen.
The dean speaks again. “I’m sure you’d like a tour of Verona Falls, get your bearings. I can show you both around.” He seems to think again, and adds, “or perhaps my son can show you around instead, Mackenzie.”
Domenic smiles widely, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Sure. I’d love to.”
His father beams back at him. “Great. That’s settled, then.” He turns his attention to my mother. “Gives us some time alone.”
Domenic sweeps out his hand. “This way.”
I duck my head and walk in the direction he’s gestured. He joins me, and we walk together in silence until we turn down another hallway, leaving both our parents behind.
As soon as we’re out of sight, he leans into me and whispers against my ear, “Pair of fucking gold-diggers.”
At first, I think I must have misheard, but as I glance his way, I can tell by the glint in his sharp green eyes that I didn’t.
I pretend I haven’t heard him, but inwardly, I shrink. Is that really what he thinks of me and my mom? Then I force myself to lift my chin and put my shoulders back. That’s not what’s going on here, no matter what this asshole says. I wonder what he’d say if he knew the truth—that I’d killed the last man who screwed with me. I bet he’d be more careful with what he accuses me of.
I keep my mouth shut. The last thing I need is confrontation when I’ve only just arrived. My mother’s words not to screw this up ring in my ears.
We head back down the stairs, and suddenly we’re no longer alone. This must be where the study halls are located, as other people around our age filter out from rooms, converging in the corridor.
I’m a little panicked at the sudden number of people, claustrophobic and overwhelmed. I try to remember my way back to my room, and I turn to Domenic, planning to ask him if we can go back.
Ahead, a couple of voices call out to him from the newly formed crowd. He lifts his hand in a wave and goes to join his friends, abandoning me completely. He smacks a tall blond on the shoulder, and then mock-wrestles with a black-haired guy with tats up the side of his neck.
A girl I don’t know—but then that’s not unusual since, let’s face it, I don’t know anyone—catches up with me so we’re walking side by side. She’s short and dark haired and pretty.
“I saw you talking to Domenic,” she says.
I think she’s going to say he’s her boyfriend or something. Great, that’s all I need. Making more enemies when I’ve barely been here an hour. I can’t deny it, though.
“Oh, yeah, I was.”
“Stay away from him, and his friends, too,” she warns. “They’re bad news.”
“In what way?”
“Los Demonios,” she says, her accent perfect. Then she translates for me. “The Devils. It’s what everyone calls them around here. You don’t want to go anywhere near them. The three of them will make your life hell.”
I don’t tell her my life is already hell. That I’m barely holding myself together as we stand here talking as if we’re just having a chat. I want to run away, but I have nowhere to go. I can’t flee because outside these walls is a life sentence in prison.
I watch Domenic’s retreating back.
“That’s not going to be easy,” I reply. “He’s going to be my stepbrother.”
Chapter 3
Mackenzie
