Page 111 of Raise Hell

“I want to know why we can’t just leave her alone. So, she got railed by last year’s seniors, that isn’t proof anyone in Havoc House attacked her. And it isn’t like she came back to town and immediately went to the police.”

“But she did go to the police.”

I feel a sick sort of shock. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ve been informed that she went to the station with a fake name just last week, requesting copies of the police report. Apparently, she arrived on a motorcycle,” he replies caustically. “I can only assume it was yours. Sloppy, even for you.”

“But she didn’t make a statement or report a crime, right?”

“Not yet,” he allows. “But it is only a matter of time before she does. Girls like that crave attention, do anything they can to get it. And once they have it, suddenly they cry rape when a man finally gives them the one thing they’ve been begging for.”

I have no illusions about the sort of man my father is. My mother is the type to never truly speak ill of anyone, but a lot can be learned from what she doesn’t say.

She never needed to tell me that he is a monster. That was obvious from the moment he finally decided to be a part of my life.

My hands grip the edge of the billiard table until they hurt. “Who attacked her?”

He eyes me warily. “Who is to even say there was an attack? The girl seems fine to me.”

Wood creaks as my fists tighten. “Who attacked her?”

“You think this is the first time that there has been a mess to clean up at St.Bart’s? We’ve all done it. We keep each other’s secrets. That is what it means to be a part of Havoc House.”

“Maybe I don’t want to be a part of Havoc House, if this is what it represents.”

“This was the deal we made.” His voice is low and dangerous. “If you will not agree to hold up your end, then I see no reason to hold up mine.”

The deal that allows me to get my sister the education she deserves. The same deal that keeps money flowing into my mother’s bank account every month so she doesn’t have to clean other people’s houses for poverty wages.

The deal that will position me to ensure they both have the best for the rest of their lives.

Everyone likes to think that Drake Van Koch has it made.

Except I don’t want to rule the world, not if it means standing on a mountain of bones.

My father is determined to preserve his legacy, and I am his only option for accomplishing that.

“Four years at that fucking school,” I grind out through clenched teeth. “I’ve become president of Havoc House, just like you wanted. I’m carrying on the family name that means so much to you. I’ll take part in the Initiation so the Van Koch’s association with Havoc House isn’t lost. But I’m drawing a line in the sand. Olivia isn’t a threat.”

He shakes his head. “The alumni disagree.”

“The girl is pretty stubborn,” I reply with a cold smile. “What if she won’t leave?”

“I suggest you convince her to leave on her own. No more visits to the police station or sniffing around Havoc House. The alumni are in agreement. If you fail to do what has been asked of you, all of you, then there will be severe consequences.”

“What consequences?” I challenge. “You guys planning to have her killed?”

There is a long moment of silence as we stare at each other.

When my father finally speaks, there is absolutely no emotion in his voice.

“An alumni representative will be arriving shortly to St. Bart’s. If this girl is there when he arrives, that will present a significant problem.” My father sets his glass down hard on the edge of the billiard table. He sweeps past me to the door. “One way or another, Olivia Pratt will not become a risk to everything we have built.”

The door slams shut hard behind him as my father leaves the room.

Icy cold settles over me as the impact of his words sinks in.

If I don’t figure out a way to convince Olivia to leave St. Bart’s, then the alumni will do it for me.

They really might kill her.

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