Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Cairo beheld me, his expression changing as he got it. “Young, vulnerable, alone. People who were bullied or denied justice. People filled with hate who are primed for someone like Cavendish to come in and do exactly what you said, whisper in their ear.”
I nodded.
“Just like the original Men of Honor. They weren’t all wealthy landowners. A good many of them were just violent, sadistic beasts who enjoyed terrorizing a town. Cavendish was the same, and he wanted all the members of his little clubhouse to be like him.” His gaze locked with mine. “But he underestimated you.”
“And I him,” I said softly. “Rainey paid for it.”
“That’s why Ellis and Cavendish split. Ellis wanted a group of heirs salivating over a big check. They’d sabotage, bribe, and cheat to help clear the way for Foundry.”
“But Cavendish didn’t want the Men’s money. He wanted their power. He wanted to bring back the days of fear and control they had over Bedlam. Bedlam wasn’t meant to be run by the Society. It was meant to belong to the Men.”
“And if Ellis gets his way, Cavendish would’ve ruled over a pile of dirt,” Cairo said, dropping by my side. “If the bastard kept his word, they’d have gotten some money out of it. But they wouldn’t have gotten the town, or the glory of ripping it from the Society’s grip. All of them Men of Honor, but two groups chasing after different legacies.”
“Yes. Yes, exactly.” Again I loved him too much to show my relief at him engaging with me.
Cairo made a noise in his throat. “Begs the question, why did Cavendish develop a sudden death wish?”
“That day outside his house, he said he didn’t want to die. He had to sacrifice himself because of me. I’m a hypocrite and he’d prove it even if it cost his life. I have my memories back, and all that stuff still doesn’t make sense. I have no idea what his death was supposed to accomplish, other than clearing the way for Zoey to take over torturing me.”
“Can’t believe that was the endgame.” Cairo stretched back on the sheets. His shirt rose up, drawing my eyes to his sculpted abs. Before, Cairo didn’t go a day without touching me. Every morning I was sliding over his sudsy body in the bath. Right then, I was inches from him and a few feet from the bath, but I never felt farther away from that couple who couldn’t keep their hands off each other.
“Cavendish didn’t have to die for Zoey to play her sick games with you,” he continued. “His death was supposed to set off something else. The question is, did it?”
Gingerly, I joined him, curling up close to his side. “At this point, I don’t know how we’d find out without questioning Dante and whoever is left of their group. I know Jacques is figuring out a way to get our hands on Davidson, but we can come at this from the other side. Find out who in town was in Cavendish’s orbit, and ripe for his grooming.”
“You mean that little after-school club he volunteered at?”
“I mean my love Roan’s highly unethical and illegal access to Bedlam U’s therapist’s records. That’s how we found out Blake Jensen existed in the first place. It’s how we’ll find a bunch of young, vulnerable loners who are pissed at the world.”
A slow, feral smile stretched his lips for an entirely different reason. “Ivy de Souza,” he said. “You may just grow on me.”
Chapter Three
Arsenio
“It’s smart. Honestly, we should’ve thought of it first.” Cairo, Legend, and Jacques leaned on various pieces of furniture in my room. I sat on the bay window—my bad leg propped on a mound of pillows. I flicked between them and the busy street below as I clicked my lighter. “Josephine denied us access to the database as punishment for sloppiness. I assume that ban is lifted.”
“It is,” Legend replied. “Josephine doesn’t give a shit at this point. She shoots off curses I’ve never heard of whenever I mention Steven Ellis or the Crows. She wants them taken down.”
“And yet she just enrolled three more in our fucking school,” Cairo said.
“It’s not like they put their gang affiliation on the application. She’s ready and waiting for them to give her a reason to kick them out.”
“They won’t,” I said, shifting away from the window. “They’ve learned from Jeremy’s mistakes. They’re not going to underestimate us this time, and they won’t strike first. Doesn’t change the fact that we have to get them out of our town. I’m not too fond of doing it under this Dante’s orders. I don’t wear the leashes.”
Jacques spoke up. “Once we have a clear path to Davidson, we’ll free the sheriff. Ivy is correct that a swing and miss will result in torture or death. Dante and his crew are fond of both.” The vein popped in Cairo’s jaw. “She was also right that the best and fastest way to identify that crew is to find all the Ivys and Zoeys in town. Those that were perfect candidates to his grooming.”