“What are you going to make him do?” Brooke whispered eagerly.
“That’s not your concern.” I grabbed my burger and took a bite.
Lila stared at me for a moment, then put her head down and started eating.
I saw Mr. Rowen pass the cafeteria doors as I stood to leave.
He didn’t notice me.
I was almost disappointed. He was going to make this too easy.
Fourth period blurred. English—a discussion about intent versus outcome. I didn’t take part. I had a lot on my mind.
When the bell rang, my phone buzzed.
Academic Integrity Committee
Meeting scheduled. Tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.
I locked the screen without replying.
Ashford High carried on—and I smiled.
I held little power in my home life… but here it was absolute.
I was already finalizing my plan, reviewing contingencies, and considering costs before I stepped into the hall.
I noticed Beck Maddox heading out the door. Standing well over six feet, he looked nothing like you’d expect an eighteen-year-old boy to look. If he didn’t have that “not to be fucked with” look, the girls would be all over him.
If my life wasn’t the way it was,I’dbe all over him.
Beck was only in one of my classes this year. He had one friend he hung out with, Stain. Both of them were linked to a local biker gang, the Steele Reapers. Occasionally, I’d catch him watching me with amusement as I handled a student who had gotten out of hand.
Unlike the others in this school, he met my stare head-on, and I respected him for that.
In the back of my mind, a dark road waited—gravel, headlights, a line crossed that couldn’t be uncrossed.
I shivered. For one small second, I wished there was another option, but I cleared my head of those thoughts. I’d do what I had to, and that was that. There weren’t many lines I wouldn’t cross to stay off Ben’s radar.
I had a thought that made me smile; ruining Lucas Rowen wasn’t required for my plan to work, but I was going to do it anyway.
I was a bitch like that.
CHAPTER THREE
TARYN
When I walked into the gym, I spotted Aaron cuddled up to Jenna in the top row of the bleachers.
We made eye contact, and I motioned for him to join me.
He whispered in Jenna’s ear. She nodded and kissed his cheek but watched him make his way toward me with concern.
I smirked. Seems she was smarter than Lucas.
“What’s up, Calder?” Aaron bounced up to me.
“I need a moment of your time.”
