Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
The test he was caught cheating on in the ninth grade that resulted in his parents paying off the teacher.
The name of the tutor he hired in the tenth grade to do all his homework assignments.
The guy Giovanni hired to take the SATs in his place.
The severe dyslexia diagnosis he was hiding that explained the history of cheating.
His secret relationship with Gabriella. His coke addiction. His Asian porn addiction. His continued love of public masturbation, and the many places around town he’s taken his penis out for the thrill. And that was just a fraction of the list.
It was all there written out, and just like the completed dares, it came with photos, videos, documents, and whatever was needed to provide proof. A photo of him kissing Gabriella against a tree with his hand up her skirt was taken shortly before he died. I recognized the outfit Montana was wearing, and the latte stains Cato got on it.
“That’s why he swore they’d know if he ever said something he shouldn’t,” I said. “That’s why he was so freaked the night he tracked me down at the party. Someone’s been watching him, digging into his life, unearthing his secrets. Fuck’s sake, the owners of this club don’t need to make threats or list penalties. One look at this list when you join up, and you’ll keep your mouth shut.”
“This goes beyond hacking,” Wilder said, reclaiming his seat. “It’s like someone implanted a camera in his forehead and a recorder up his ass. They know things they shouldn’t know. They have access to information they shouldn’t have access to. And of all things, they use it to run a dare club.”
“But look at what this dare club has been able to do.” Pain choked me. “Look at how it’s been weaponized to control Royals, put Dregs on puppet strings, and destroy a member’s enemies. This club was the Phantom’s murder weapon and we never would’ve known if it wasn’t for Giovanni. How many other people have been hurt, tormented, raped, or killed because of this club, and no one ever knew?”
“We might never know. The page only shows recent truths and dares, and they don’t show private ones at all. I can’t hack this site, Luna. The Phantom sent a private message to the very fucking account we’re on, and I can’t tell you who.” His expression shredded my heart. “I’m so sorry.”
“Hey,” I said, dropping everything and taking his hands. “You have nothing to apologize for. I wouldn’t even have gotten this far without you. You, Rafael, Cato, and Lucien. We’re getting closer to him, Wilder. I know it. It’s only a matter of time.”
I chewed my lip. “There is one thing I don’t understand though.”
“What is it?”
“Why in the hell would a member see all their dirty, dark secrets listed out like this, and then turn around and invite their friends? Gabriella said Giovanni got her into the club. Why would he do that when the people in charge freaked him out so much?”
He scrubbed his face, sighing. “I don’t know, but there has to be a reason. It only benefits the leaders to have dozens of flies spinning in their web. They’d make sure their recruiter was effective. But that’s the good news.”
“Good news? What do you mean?”
“Natale is gone. It’s only a matter of time before we lose access to his account. Fortunately, he was a recruiter...” Wilder scrolled down and clicked a link that read share. “He would send the link for people to join and create profiles, Luna. He also sent the instructions to prevent hackers like me from finding the link if I ended up in the wrong student account.” The first smile stretched his lips. “I don’t have to tell you where I’m going with this, do I?”
My smirk matched his. “No, you don’t. But is it that simple? Won’t whoever is behind this club know I’ve joined? I have to sign up through my student account.”
His smile didn’t go anywhere. “Not a problem. I can’t hack this site, but I can hack a student account hogtied and blindfolded in my sleep. Just pick one.”
Squealing, I jumped on his lap and planted a searing kiss smack on his mouth. Wilder was never sexier than when he was helping me plot Royal destruction.
“Speaking of,” I drew out, giggling as his hands found their way beneath my shirt. “There’s something else we have to do tonight, and someone else we have to torment in the morning.”
“Just tell me who.”
Chapter Seven
I craned my neck, straining to reach the zipper on my new dress. It was tight, short, Katie-approved, and lethal. It was also the single most frustrating piece of fabric on the planet.
First, there was forcing it over my hips. The chains up and down the sides had no give, and they scratched me for the trouble. Then, there was doing up the lace over my cleavage. Super cute and sexy. Super intricate and irritating to do up. But the last and final step, reaching the damn zipper down my back, was proving the most difficult.