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“Perfectly clear,” River answered, his flawless grin back on his face. He could always hide his emotions better than the rest of us. That hadn’t changed. My fists were clenched on my lap under the table. River’s messy black waves and dimpled smile portrayed him as the perfect golden boy. I knew better. Though he’d learn to play that part well when he needed to.
“This is the last year before you’re all expected to take over for us,” Richard said with a scowl. He didn’t want to give up his power over us, but rules were rules. Even he had to follow them. “Do not disappoint me. Any of you.”
“Yes, sir.” West spoke up gruffly, obviously in a hurry to finish this conversation. Richard could say whatever he wanted, but we ran the school. Word might get back to him eventually, so West and I would just have to be careful. Because there was no way in fuck River was getting away with what he’d done to us.
“Elias?” His sharp gaze cut to me, and I swallowed, forcing myself to keep my words to myself. Not for my benefit, but for my mom’s.
“Yes, sir,” I ground out.
“Good.”
We ate in silence, and I shoveled in my food as fast as possible without drawing attention. West and River were doing the same, wanting to get out of here as much as I did. I half rose out of my chair until Richard shot me a warning glance. I sank back down, and my stomach clenched as I realized this conversation wasn’t over.
“West, your uncle called,” Richard said, sounding bored. “He wants to know who the girl was that played with you boys last night. He wants her on the team.”
His uncle was the girls’ basketball coach for Braidwood University. When I’d had West call him, I had no idea it had been Kat who was playing. But now that I knew, it made it that much sweeter. I didn’t know what she expected, waltzing back here and acting like nothing would happen.
“She’s not from here,” River answered before I could. “She goes to a different school and is on the team there.”
Raising an eyebrow, I looked at him curiously. He was protecting her for some reason. I’d figure out why later.
“It was Katalina.” I didn’t miss the hate-fueled stare from River as I answered.
“I know where she’s at.” Richard pushed his plate away. “We all voted to allow her to leave. We’ve had tabs on her since the second she stepped foot out of Braidwood. Although, it was much harder to track you down, River.”
River tensed, his grip on his fork going tight. “My mother explained it all.”
“She did. Yet we have no idea what you’ve been up to for the last six years.” Richard’s voice filled with suspicion. “You already know we’ll be keeping a close eye on you now that you’re back.”
“I’ve already been told.” River set his fork down, looking ready to leave.
“Is she coming back to Braidwood?” West asked.
“She doesn’t have to,” Richard answered simply. “We voted to allow her to stay away until after she finished college. I’m surprised she came back to town on her own.”
“Why?” Anger filled my voice. “West and I wanted to leave for college—”
“You do not get to question us,” Richard cut me off, his gaze turning deadly. “She gets to graduate before she comes home.”
“What if she chooses to come here and play her senior year?” West asked.
I didn’t even have to look at him to know he was coming up with an idea. River’s face went deadly when he realized it too. Excitement and nerves churned through me. She’d tried making our lives a living hell the past couple years. If she came home, it would be time to repay the favor. I shook my head, ignoring the image of her as a kid that refused to leave me alone since I saw her last night. Back then, she wasn’t all that innocent either. But fear held her back. I had a feeling that wasn’t the case anymore.
Richard thought about it for a few seconds. “If she wants to come here to play on the team, that’s completely up to her. You all leave her alone. Understand?”
“Yes.” My lie flowed smoothly. Whatever West and I decided to do, we’d have to be careful. Though, I didn’t see our parents getting too upset about it since Kat was going to come back to Braidwood at some point. We were just going to help her come back sooner.
“You all are free to go,” Richard dismissed us. “And to show your good will of getting along, Elias, you can walk River out.”
Scooting my chair back, I stood up and rounded the table to give my mom a quick kiss on the cheek. “Love you, Mom. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I hated leaving her with him. If I could, I’d get her out of Braidwood and away from him for good. But I couldn’t. Not yet. But next year when I graduated, it would all change. I couldn’t fucking wait.
River was already out the door, and after exchanging a look with West, we rushed to catch up with him. We raced through the foyer, our footsteps echoing through the massive space. The large oak front door slammed before I ripped it back open. River was halfway down the driveway, and he slowed to a walk as we got closer.
He spun around to face us before we caught up to him. Small lights illuminated both sides of the long driveway, and his smug grin wasn’t hard to miss. Without a word, I lunged forward and landed a punch to his stomach. He doubled over, backing away a couple of steps while he let out a laugh.
“You think you could have caught up to me if I didn’t want you to?” he asked once he straightened up again. “You two are still slow as fuck. I don’t know how they let you become co-captains of the basketball team. I’m guessing playing favorites because of your last names.”
