“Absolutely.”
“But the other one didn’t. What was his name? Ben Sanders?”
“He got shuffled along to another chapter.”
“Why do we want to be a part of a secret society that has the power to do that again?”
“Because I want to unravel it from the inside out and make it my bitch.”
While using it to get my BFF into the White House.
“Sounds good to me. Think it’s possible?”
I take a sip of coffee as I contemplate the best answer I can give her. “I think it’s possible to make waves. Given time.”
“Is that enough?”
“No. Tegan Fowler, do you know her?”
“Yeah. She’s part of the reason I came to Oakwood. She’s a chess grandmaster. We played in competitions sometimes.”
“Huh. I only know her obliquely. We had business negotiations together. Until she moved.”
We share a look.
“The way it was all hushed up, I knew something was going on. I was there the night it happened. One second, there were whispers and then dead silence.” I study the ladybug that flutters onto the kitchen counter and smile as it ambles over to my hand. “I’d already heard about the Veronians, but I knew then and there I’d pledge just to make sure that kind of shit wouldn’t happen again. Not on my watch.”
“That’s a lot to put on yourself.”
“You have to do something with your life.” When she snorts, I ask, “You’re in the Pies, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. I regret it now. The Oakwood chapter is brutal. I transferred from Columbia and they were nice and kind there. It was so wholesome.” She pulls a face. “It’s a bitchfest in Poughkeepsie.”
“Why are you sticking with them?”
“Because Tegan wouldn’t tell me what happened to her and I keep asking around.”
“Found anything out?”
“From what I can tell, it was just another random event. The same old bullshit sororities host to make themselves feel better about believing they’re superior to the rest of the student body. But afterward, everything shut down. It was systematic. They had protocols in place.”
“That cover-up was professional. When Tegan left the campus after the police could find no evidence to pin on them?” I hiss between my teeth. “It riled me up something fierce. I spent all summer figuring out ways to help her, but this was the only thing I could think of.”
I can’t bring up Shay and his ambitions, but my intentions with the secret society have always been multifaceted.
She clears her throat. “I should maybe introduce myself.”
“Huh? I know who you are.”
“Well, I’m Wynter Kinnock, sure. But… have you heard of the Satan’s Sinners’ MC?” There’s awareness in her expression. It says “don’t try to lie.”
“Yes. They’re allied with people I know in the city.”
“Your family. The Five Points? I’m the daughter of the Prez.”
“No offense but…you?”
That earns me a snort. “I know. Not an ad for biker spawn, am I?”
