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And when his golden eyes meet mine, I know I’m his next prey. The monster wants me out of Redwood.
See, the thing about kings and monsters is they always have a weakness. And for Dutch, his weakness… is me. He just doesn’t know it yet.
There’s no perfect way to say this, so I’ll get to the point. It’s over for me. But it’s not because of you or Vi. Sweetheart, you are everything a mother could possibly ask for. Smart, strong, perfect.
I’ve been battling this dark cloud way before you and your sister were born. I don’t have the strength left to fight it anymore. I’m sorry I’m not good enough. I’m sorry I have to leave you behind in this cold, cruel world, but I know that you’re going to take good care of your sister. And I know you’re going to be strong.
Don’t worry. I’m not leaving you completely alone. I’ve contacted your brother to come and take care of you both.
I have to go now. Remember that I love you and Vi more than anything in the world. I’ll meet you on the other side. - Mom
I don’t know who New Girl is, but she’s keeping my best friend from his rightful place. She’s in my way. And I’ll do what I always do with the things that keep me from getting what I want.
Dutch: I sent the money to your account. Who’s the New Girl? Jinx: Cadence Cooper. Shy. Reserved. She’s been invisible to everyone since the start of senior year. But be careful with this one. She might seem fragile on the outside, but this wallflower bites.
He hooks his ringed finger in the gap and tugs me forward. “I’d really enjoy the chance to break you.”
“I’m not leaving because of you.” “Yes, you are,” I insist. The world is turning blurry because of the tears that I can’t keep back. “I’m tired of this school, the politics, the way powerful families think they can control everything.” He shakes his head. “I’ve been considering moving for a long time. I’m just glad I got to leave a gem in Redwood before I did.”
“I didn’t fight for you to get into Redwood just so you could study here. You have the talent to do music and be successful at it. And all the tools that you need to go far are within these walls.”
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Mr. Mulliez. I won’t let you down.”
I take my tray, keep my head down, and hurry outside to my usual table. Except someone’s already there. “Welcome, fellow slut.” She raises a fist and pumps it against her chest twice. “Mind if I crash.”
She steps into me, fearless and sexy as hell. “You listen up, Dutch. I am not your property. I do not belong to you. And as long as there is breath in my body, I will never give you the privilege of telling me what I can and cannot do.”
“See that girl behind me?” Dutch whispers. The jock’s frightened eyes jump to me before swinging back to Dutch. “You don’t mess with her unless you get my permission.”
“When I was a kid, my mom traded music for drugs. She’d drag me into dens with creeps and crackheads and sit me down at the piano. It was dark, smoky and there was something dangerous about it.” I shudder. “Something off about the music I played there. It tainted me. Tainted everything.” I huff. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
I point my furious gaze on him. “Because I’d rather choke on a basket of peaches.” “Peaches?” He arches a brow. I’m deathly allergic to them, but it’s not like I’m going to give him or Christa that information so they can try to murder me in the future.
Dutch folds his arms over his chest. “Looks like you’re my problem now, Brahms.”
Dutch is the first to look away. His jaw flexes and he curls his fingers into fists. Zane hops out of the sofa. “Damn, Cadence. Way to show up.” Finn nods his approval. My lips curl up a little. “Thanks.” Dutch swings around. His dark stare burns into me. I can see the desire flaring to life in his eyes. He averts his gaze, but it’s still there in the tenseness of his jaw, the flare of his nostrils, and the agitated hand that he slides into the pockets of his dress pants.
He leans down, meeting my gaze. “Don’t think of the crowd. Imagine it’s just you and me, hm? Beat that triangle the way you want to beat my head in with a hammer.” He pauses and seems to think about it. “But beat it to time.”
“Since when did you back down from a challenge, Brahms?”
“Don’t look at them, Brahms.” He leads me through the door. “Look at me. Keep looking at me.” He glances back. “Because if you run, I’m going to find you and you’re not going to like what I do to you.”
Tonight, thanks to Dutch, I broke that mold. Without thinking it through, I close the distance between us and throw my arms around his neck just as the net breaks and balloons come raining down above us.
“No, I don’t. I kept begging Cadey to teach me, but she’s always working late.” Her giggle is self-conscious. “So I kind of found my own thing.” At the mention of Cadence working hard, I get a prick in my chest.
“Anyway,” Viola waves a hand, “I wanted to thank you for helping my sister get over her stage fright.”
“When did the stage fright start?” Zane asks. Viola chews on her bottom lip and it reminds me of her sister. “Mom wasn’t always… in her right mind. Sometimes, she’d take Cadence to places that weren’t safe and forced her to play.” Finn looks disturbed. Zane curses. “What kind of mom would do that?” “One who has a drug problem,” Viola confesses. My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach. “When our mom died,” Viola’s eyes get misty, “I thought that Cadey would never play again. But then she got her scholarship to Redwood and she met you guys and now she’s having fun.
“Sorry about your mom,” Zane says quietly. “She wasn’t that great of a mom to be honest,” Viola admits, her eyes on the ground. “Cadey was the one who paid the bills and took care of me. She never really got a chance to be normal.”
“Oh my gosh. Do not tell her I told you all of that. She’d kill me.” “Your secret’s safe with us,” Finn says sincerely.
“Viola, it was great meeting you,” Zane says, trotting toward the truck. “Let us know if you ever need anything,” I tell her, backing away. She brightens. “Totally.”
Dutch catches sight of me and, for a second, it feels like I can’t breathe. Then he drags his gaze away and keeps walking right past me as if I don’t even exist. Zane and Finn give me pitying glances, but they don’t talk to me either. My heart cracks, but I force the hurt off my face.
“I belong to no one.” “That’s where you’re wrong, Cadey.” His amber eyes are glowing. “You. Belong. To. Me.”
“What the hell do you want from me?” I surge toward him. “You’ve been icing me out all day and then you get pissed off when you see me dancing with someone else? Choose a freaking side and stick to it!”
“Even if I screwed you tonight, it wouldn’t have meant anything,” Dutch says as if he needs to clarify to himself more than me. He turns around to face me. “I’m trying to end this before it gets worse. Believe it or not, this is mercy.”
“My loyalty is to Sol, always. But you heard about her home situation,” Zane says. “Her mom was screwed up in life and she’s probably left even more of a mess in death. After Viola dropped those hints, I did some digging. You don’t want to know the kind of people her mom was getting involved with before she died.” “Maybe we should stop here,” Finn says.
Sympathy has no place in this war. My brothers might have fallen for Brahms’ spell, but if I’m the only one standing, so be it. I’ll burn it all down to end this. Even if that means I have to burn myself down with her.
The truth hits me in the face. I’m going to die. Here. At Redwood. Alone. My only thought is of my sister and who will take care of her when I’m gone. I’m sorry, Vi. I wish I’d never come to Redwood.
She has to be okay. She has to be okay. It’s the only line in my head.
She’s barely breathing. “Cadey. Come on. Wake up!” I push down on her chest, calling on my faint memories of CPR that I did a few summers ago.
“Cadey. Wake up,” I growl. “That’s an order.” Clipping her nose, I press my mouth to hers. A moment later, she chokes up water.
Zane sticks a hand into his pockets. He slides me a demanding look. “Was this you?” “The hell?” I scowl. “Why would I arrange for her to drown and then save her?” “Last Friday, you said you were going to get drastic,” Zane recalls. “Is this what you meant?” Finn hisses. Both my brothers look at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Who do you think was behind this?” Finn asks, his arms swinging rigidly. “Only one person would be this stupid.” I fish out my phone from my pocket and show them the video. “If it was just about Cadence, they wouldn’t have sent a video. Someone wanted to make a point to me too.” “Christa,” Zane hisses.
“You think I don’t know how hard you work? You think I’m not grateful?” She shrieks. “I’m just worried about you. There’s only so much you can do, Cadey. Eventually, you’re going to break and I couldn’t survive that.” “Yes, you could. You’re stronger than you think, Vi.” “No, I’m not,” she insists. “Mom’s gone and if you go too, I’m going to be all alone. I’d fall apart without you.”
