Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Rafael dusted off his shirt, strolling up to me with a grin like nothing happened. “Anyway, like I was saying. We’re a full-service operation. Anything you need.” He slid his fingers through mine, turning up my palm. “Anything. Just call me.” He placed a scrap of paper on my hand.
“Why would I need—?”
Rafael flicked his music back on. He skipped a jaunty dance down the steps, hit the bottom with a slide, then Charleston’d away.
“So much weird inside so much gorgeous,” I mumbled, crumpling the paper and tossing it in the trash. “At least Cato drove the Royal Wenches away.”
Putting them out of my mind, I tracked down someone in administration and asked for a copy of the sophomore class schedule. It was surprisingly easy. All I had to do was tell the lady I lost mine, and she printed out another with no more questions asked.
It was a good thing Katie ditched me. I scoped out all the buildings, but not the ones that held my classes. I tracked down the ones for Owen, his friends, Saylor and the rest of them. Of course, there were two sophomore classes and I couldn’t be sure which one they were in. According to Katie, the schedules and class times were the same except flipped. If Class A has English Monday and Wednesday, Class B has it Tuesday and Thursday. I’d figure out where they all were after two days.
Katie was late to meet me for shopping after the big deal she made of it. I gave her a look that she ordered me to wipe off my face and replace with gratitude. It was a privilege to have Katie Langford as my personal shopper—her words.
Eight hours later, I staggered into Abbott Hall loaded with bags. Katie went wild tossing clothes at me. My input wasn’t required. My putting things back wasn’t allowed. It was a good thing my stepfather set up an account for me to make purchases throughout the school year. I just hoped he wouldn’t find out it was almost depleted in the first week.
I closed in on my door, awkwardly fishing the keys out of my purse. I hooked my finger through the ring and it slipped off.
“I’ve got it.”
My head snapped up as Owen jogged down the hall.
“No, don’t. I don’t need help.”
“Come on. You’re no less an independent woman just because a guy helps you with your bags.” Grinning, he plucked my keys up and turned it in the door, sweeping a hand for me to go in. “After you, milady.”
Jaw clenched, I edged around him.
“By the way.” His whisper poured in my ear. “I know who you are, Sinclair. We all do.”
A chill climbed my spine, stopping me in my tracks.
“What the hell were you thinking coming here? And with a Royal’s ring on your finger? You gold-digging Dregs just don’t know when to quit.”
“Fuck y—”
He flashed, grabbing my neck and slamming my head against the doorjamb. “No, bitch, fuck you!”
My bags crashed on the floor. Grip tightening, he forced the air from my throat in desperate gasps. I fumbled at my zipper.
“I spent all of last year on your stupid slut of a sister, teaching her that this is our school and we make the rules. You’d think you’d catch the hint and know you’re not welcome here, but it seems you need a lesson too.”
I got my hand in, frantically scrambling for my gear. Black bled into my vision.
“The first time, it was to see if I could. This time I’m going to do it for fun.” Owen’s hot breath burned my watering eyes. “You’re going the same way as your sister, Luna. I give you two months before you’re floating face down in the lake.”
Owen shoved me away. I sucked in deep lungfuls, corrosive hatred scouring every breath. My fingers closed over the stun baton.
Turning his back, he marched off, trampling my bags under his boots. I jammed the baton between his shoulder blades.
“Ahhh!”
I couldn’t tell who screamed louder. Owen seized—body convulsing as the electricity burned his veins. He collapsed, flopping on the floor, and I hit him again. And again.
And again.
Chest heaving, I bore over him, picking his head up by the hair. “You’re messing with a different sister now, bitch.”
Owen was out cold. He didn’t hear me, but the students peeking their heads out of their dorms did.
“You’re all going to pay for what you did to her. Being stunned till you piss yourself on the hall floor will be Disneyland compared to what you’ve got coming to you.”
“Hey!” Two guys thundered down the stairs, racing toward me.
Grabbing my things, I slammed into my room—bolting the lock and shoving a desk chair beneath it. Outside, they pounded on the wood, demanding I come out.
I slid down the wall—adrenaline and rage humming in my bloodstream.