Page 3 of You Belong With Me

I lower back down to his level. “Exactly. That’s the beauty of having a fuck-ton of money and power,” I say. “What I don’t get is what any ofourshit has to do with your little gang.”

“Savano,” he laughs.

I blink at him. Savano? What the fuck is that supposed to mean? He says name like I should know what the fuck he’s talking about.

I straighten and glance at my brother, but it’s Jackson who speaks up. “Savano,” he repeats. “Wasn’t that Tyler’s last name?”

August continues to laugh manically. “So youdoknow.”

“Knowwhat?” I ask through gritted teeth. I hate that this douche knows something he’s not telling us.

“You made it look like an accident, but we know you killed him.”

Tyler Savano was a member of the Burning Crown, but a few months ago, he committed a capital offense—he tried to force himself on a Sacred Son’s consort. And even when he was warned, he continued to threaten her.

That shit isn’t tolerated around here. One strike, you’re punished. Two strikes, you’re fucked. There is no third strike in the Burning Crown—not when it comes to fucking with our consorts.

“And? What of it?” I say.

I’m not going to justify what we did to Tyler. We have rules in this society. Tyler understood that. Roman had claimed Lux, and Tyler fucked with her anyway. The sentence for that is death, period.

“And…” Austin spits out the blood that’s pooling in his mouth. “Tyler was Saint Savano’s cousin.”

The fuck?

“SaintSavano?” I repeat, confused. Is that the guy's name, or some fucked up title they’ve given him? “Are you guys monks or something?”

“His name isSaint, but they call himSin.” The guy shakes his head and laughs like he’s the only one in on the nonexistent joke. “You wanna know about Shadow and Ash? Ask your cousin. He’ll tell you.”

I only had one cousin, and that was Gabriel.

I glance at Christian and Jackson, but they both just shrug. Fucking perfect. I turn back to August. “Askmy cousin?” I repeat. This guy has lost his fucking mind. “How am I supposed to ask a dead man anything?”

His head lolls to the side as he continues to laugh under his breath like this entire conversation is the most amusing thing ever. “I’d tell you, but that would spoil all the fun.”

“I think the head trauma is affecting his cognition,” Christian says, arms crossed, staring down at August.

Bending, I bring my face down to his level, careful to stay back a few feet, in case he decides to spit again. “Shadow and Ash can’t take down the Burning Crown,” I say slowly. “So whatever you and your friends have planned, I don’t give a fuck.”

“Oh, don’t worry, you will,” August says with another maniacal laugh. “You guysreallyfucked yourselves. And Sin won’t stop until you know it.”

CHAPTER TWO

Wyn

I wakeup with a jolt that runs the entire length of my body. My eyes fly open, and I realize I’m lying in my own bed, in my apartment, light streaming in from the open curtains.

It’s morning, and I’m in my apartment.

How did I get here?

I’m running through my memories of last night when I see something or someoneshift in my peripheral vision. My first thought is that it’s my stalker, but then I remember with terrifying clarity that Gabriel showed up last night—a verynot-deadGabriel—and he had a knife to my throat.

I don’t remember anything after that. Did I pass out? Did he knock me out? No idea, but obviously, he got me out of Rush House somehow and brought me home.

I’m on my side, and every muscle in my body tightens. I stare straight ahead at my front door, trying not to move. I pray Gabriel hasn’t realized I’m awake, and I wonder if I can make a beeline for the front door. Can I make it outside before he realizes what’s happening?

But as those thoughts swirl in my head, Gabriel walks into my line of vision. He lowers himself onto the bed and shoves a glass of water in my face. “Drink this.”

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