Lords of Wrath (Royals of Forsyth University, #2)

by Angel Lawson

“When did you start playing piano?” she asks, her voice drowsy. I’m surprised by the question, but answer easily, “When I was six. My family didn’t have much money. It was just me and my mom at that point. My older brother, Alessio, was already graduating high school.” “You have an older brother?” “A lot older,” I stress, feeling her limp against me. “My mom had him young. We were never close or anything.” Alessio got out of South Side and never looked back. Not at us. She nods into my palms. “So the piano…” “My mom, she had this thing about wanting to provide for us, the way rich people provided for their kids. She was convinced if we learned to play an instrument, it could be our ticket out. She made a deal with our neighbor, Mrs. Budd, who had a piano, that Ma would do her laundry if she’d teach us piano. Alessio was awful at it, but I took to it pretty quickly.” I knead the back of her shoulders, working out a little knot of tension. “It’s the only thing I’ve ever been good at.” “You were good at soccer back in high school,” she points out. “True, but that was a team thing. Playing instruments...that’s something all of my own.” She flinches as I needle her back, but it’s obvious she likes how it feels. “Can you keep a secret?” She stills. “Yes.” “I’ve been saving up money for my own piano for a while now. I want a really swank one.” It’s selfish and greedy of me, considering my position with Daniel, but it’s all I’ve ever really wanted. Tristian would buy me one in a...