He angles his mouth to my ear and whisper, “I think we both know the answer to that question. I don’t take you as someone that’s gullible, so I won’t treat you like you’re stupid.” His teeth nip at the shell of my ear before strolling to where his friends are sitting, in the back of the room.
I try but fail to compose myself as I take my seat, swallowing in order to wet my now dry throat. I shake my head clear of its thirsty bitch thoughts.
That damn boy is going to melt my panties.
I need to see what’s in this box, so I’ll deal with him later.
I pick up the small envelope taped to the top of the box and open it. Each word I read quickens my pulse. It ricochets against my ribs so loud, I can’t hear anyone around me.
You’ve stayed for too long.
It’s time for you to be gone.
You touch what’s not yours.
Now you’ll get what you deserve!
The card floats from my hand, fluttering until it hits my desk. What the hell does this even mean? If this is another one of Sam’s dumbass games, I might actually have to punch the bitch. At least she included a nursery rhyme in her antics this time, albeit a corny one.
Unsealing the box, I quickly peer in her direction, seeing if she’s watching, but she’s lost in a conversation with Rowan. It’s more of her yammering and him pretending to be paying attention. Poor tink tink doesn’t recognize disinterest slapping her in her overpaid-for face.
Returning my focus to the box I slowly lift the lid and the stench of decay punches me in the face. My throat contracts as I try to keep my breakfast down. What the fuck is in here? If some asshole sent me a dead animal I’m flipping my desk and burning it. Tasting the putrid smell of the box’s contents, I hold my breath and attempt to pull open the lid, again.
A touch on my shoulder causes me to drop the lid, nearly jumping out of my skin. I wince when my knees slam against the metal bars underneath.
“Woah there.” My heart rate is still dialed up to DEFCON 1, but my shoulders sag at the sound of Karl’s voice.
“You need to either wear a bell or make some damn noise to alert people of your arrival. You scared the shit out of me,” I eke out between sharp breaths.
“Not my intention. You had a look of trepidation and whatever is in that box has the whole room smelling. I came over to see if you needed any help?” His hands are up, in a placating gesture, like he’s trying to calm a cornered animal.
“I was trying to get your attention, but nothing I did seemed to work. Karl saw and came over,” Shay offers as if she knows I need her to corroborate his story.
“Thanks, I was just about to look to see what’s inside. I’m sure it’s one of the assholes from Sam’s fan club working to get a rise out of me,” I say. I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince them or myself that that’s the case.
Shay and Karl are standing at my side when I make my third attempt to reveal the contents of the package. I guess the third time’s a charm or a curse, my hand covers my mouth and I fly out of my seat to the trash can at the front of the room, all of the contents of my breakfast now laying at the bottom of the can.
“Oh don’t tell me you’re bulimic,” Sam and her fuck wad squad cackle from the back of the room.
I’m not even going to validate her comment. Bulimia is a serious disease and shouldn’t be made light of, but I can’t garner the words to address her at the moment. My mind is still stuck on what was in the box. My terrified eyes meet Shay’s concerned ones before landing on Karl’s molten-brown gaze. He looks murderous, his hand reaching for something, but Shay’s voice drags my attention to her.
“No suh. What di ras is wrong wit di people inna dis town er’, dem don’t righted.” She’s not lying.
Who the hell would send such a disgusting package and what poor girl did it belong to? There’s a female out there sans hand. I could see the manicured blue painted claw-style nails on the small hands, from the quick glance I was able to stomach. Based on that I’m guessing it was a female, but since I didn’t study it long enough I couldn’t be sure. The serrated edges along the wrist, where chunks of skin were missing, are evidence that whatever cut her was not smooth or sharp. She wears a square-cut diamond ring, the center stone surrounded by blue gems. The smell of decaying flesh made it impossible to look any longer. I know I’ve seen that ring before, but I can’t place where or on whom. The person’s face is just outside of my memory.
August is by my side before I can fully make my way up from the floor, spooking me until I see it’s him. He places the palm of his right hand on my back, massaging circles along my spine while helping me to my feet with the other. Once he’s sure I’m not going to tip over, he begins to walk me to the door.
“Come now Love, let’s go get you cleaned up. Karl will deal with that mess. Don’t you worry we’ll handle it.” His calm voice eases the growing panic from my body, but not from my head.
Who would do this and why are they singling me out? Why now? I’ve been in this town for three months and outside of some lame attempts at bullying once I started school, I’ve had no issues.
The prospect of having a driver who doubles as a bodyguard just became far more appealing.
AUGUST
Somebody is going to die tonight. This is a direct threat against our girl. I was able to help Riri by taking her to get cleaned up and then to get some fresh air, hoping to erase the stench of rotting skin.
Luckily class hadn’t started and Mr. Jameson hadn’t arrived yet. Of all the teacher’s classrooms for that to have happened, this one was the worst. He’s on the council, not as one of the original bloodlines, but he has Rowan’s father’s ear and the last thing we need is for our dads to hear.
We made Brian take the blame for setting off a stink bomb. What’re a few days of detention? He’ll be fine. It was a choice to take the blame or feel the pain. He was smart so he took the blame.
When Karl showed us the hand and the note, we knew immediately that it had something to do with the selection. The timing is too coincidental. Someone knows Emma’s been selected, but how? Only the council knows our picks. We’ve all been tight lipped. After our talk about potential choices, we agreed not to share until the girls themselves find out, which isn’t until later this week.
I obviously lied about my potential choice, because I’m just that type of fucker. No way was I telling the guys, especially Rowan, my pick. I can almost see the pandemonium when he finds out.
Fury is etched in the set of my auburn stubble covered jaw, the muscles on my face visible. Teeth bared, I snarl, “How the fuck does someone keep gaining access to Emma’s locker?”
“That’s not the issue here. The issue is that this is the hand of the secretary that gave Emma shit about someone accessing her locker. Making the question become, is this someone avenging her or someone out to get her?” Liam asks.
We’re all sitting around the table at The Tombs. We left school right after sixth period. I refused to leave Emma until I knew she was okay and even then, I still didn’t want to leave her, but I knew Thomas was picking her up for the meeting with her lawyer.
I briefed him on my way in, just in case Riri didn’t tell him. I need him to be on high alert. I like him, but his life is on the line. If anything happens to her on his watch, he’s a dead man.
Thomas is the best the Fraternitas has to offer outside of the guards watching the council members themselves. All the wives have drivers who double as guards, so naturally, our potential wife will have one. I know Riri is a fighter, but this world is a different kind of fight and if you didn’t grow up in it, it can swallow you whole.
“Are you even listening, dickhead?” Karl gibes, something smacking into the side of my head. The asshole threw a green apple right at me.
“I’m sorry, I’m a little distracted, what did I miss?” I inquire, rubbing my stinging ear.
“I said the note and the hand don’t make sense. The note is telling her to leave but the hand is of someone who messed with her. Either way, someone is toying with her and it doesn’t make sense why, it’s not like she’s any of our choices.”
Fuck!
My anger masks any potential tells, giving nothing away. If someone is targeting her because she’s a choice then I’ll just have to keep a closer eye on her. Doing that will never be a problem.
It’s a good thing she’s moving, at least she and her family will be better protected in their new home. She has no idea how easy it is to bypass her old home’s security system.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.