Page 8 of Racing Hearts

“What’s expected in return?” I ask, knowing something like this isn’t free.

“You uphold the rules. Our society is to never be revealed or spoken about to another. What happens within these walls, stays within these walls, and when a member calls, you come. That’s all. We protect one another and this legacy, and in return, you will be one of us.”

I hesitate, looking them over. They are all rich kids with privileged backgrounds apart from Bones. They’ll have connections, ones I could use in my future. Besides, I do like being a team player, and a secret society seems like fun.

“Where do I sign up?” I smirk.

Liam booms out a laugh and claps my shoulder as he reaches down and undoes my bindings. “You just did. Come on, let’s swear you in.”

Autumn holds an ancient-looking book before me. “I, Autumn, scholar of the Society of the Silent Rose, hereby swear in Evan Shaw. His blood will become ours, his life given to our cause, brothers until the end.”

Her eyebrow arches, and I lay my hand on top of hers on the book. “I vow it?” The words seem right, and she smiles at me proudly as she presses the book higher and something pricks my hand.

Hissing, I pull it back to see a spiked throne on the top of the book now dripping with my blood. She opens the cover and lets it fall onto the pages inside as I suck the wound and watch.

She snaps it shut. “You’re one of us now, Evan. Whatever you need, we are here.”

I nod, dropping my hand as I look around, wondering if this is the start of a really bad horror movie or an epic coming of age story. Either way, I’m in it now. No turning back.

Regrets are for pussies.

“Welcome to Silent Rose,” Bones says with a jutted chin, and then they part, showing me an arched door at the end of the cavern we are in. As I pass, he leans in. “Don’t let the thorns cut you.”

Ignoring his warning, I push through the door, my mouth dropping open at what I find.

It looks like the inside of a manor house library, with a roaring fire at the back and couches before it. The wooden walls are covered in expensive works of art, and to the left is a wall covered with books. To the right is a seating area, a game room, and a staircase that leads upstairs.

“You can be anything you want here,” Autumn says as she steps past me and then grabs a chalice from the wooden side table. “Now, let’s get drunk and celebrate our new member!”

I can get behind that. Grabbing the chalice, I down it as they chant, wiping my mouth as I grin at them.

Secret society, huh? Maybe college won’t be so bad after all.

FIVE

Ihave a couple of hours before I need to be at the garage for my shift. Usually, I’d crash and get some much-needed sleep, but for some reason I shower and dress in my overalls, leaning into Alice’s door. She has a room here she can use whenever she needs to stay, and after last night, I didn’t want her far from me. Her dorm is always empty since she prefers it here.

She looks up from where she’s packing her bag with a frown. “You should be asleep. I heard you come in only an hour ago. Busy night at work?”

“Something like that.” The wad of cash burns a hole in my pocket, reminding me I need to use it later to pay for her new laptop. “Grab your shit. I’m driving you to school.”

“I can take the bus. You need to sleep,” she protests, but I just raise my eyebrow and she sighs, knowing better than to argue with me. “You’ve never driven me to school before. Why now?” she mutters as I grab my keys and lock up after us.

The house isn’t bad for what we pay, and it has an underground garage connected to all the houses on the street, which I like. She stares at me the entire way down, and when I start the car, she turns to me. “You’re freaking me out. Why are you driving me?”

“I have to be at the garage early, and this is on the way. Seat belt,” I tell her.

Her eyes narrow, but she obediently fastens it, and I pull out, heading into early morning traffic. The truth is, I don’t know why either. Maybe it’s my lingering fear due to what could have happened to her last night after class. She has the pepper spray I bought her, but she didn’t use it. I’ll need to have another talk with her. Maybe I can ask Bones to help her with some self-defense classes. He’s the best at that kind of thing. It might ease my mind a little since I know if I overpower her with my protective instincts, she’ll just rebel.

“Don’t touch the music,” I mutter as she reaches for the dial. She sits back with a sigh, knowing better. Hell, I don’t usually let anyone in my car. She’s the exception since she’s my sister, but she knows better than to fuck with my baby.

It doesn’t take us long to get to her fancy as fuck campus, and I park near the art building, idling at the curb as she grabs her bag and looks at me. The sun shines on her dark hair, hair we got from our mom. For a moment, she looks so much like her it hurts, and I lean in, dropping a kiss to her forehead. “Be good today. Call me if you need anything, and don’t leave class alone tonight. Get someone to walk you.”

“I’ll ask Evan,” she teases as she leans back, eyes twinkling.

I glare at her. “Anyone but that idiot.”

Laughing, she climbs from my car, leaning down to look at me. “I don’t know. He’s kind of cute. Maybe I will.” She slams the door and skips to the sidewalk, heading to class. I fist the wheel as I glare after her.

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