Page 18 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

In a way, that’sallI care about these days.

I was hoping her file had arrived already. Why did her arrival at Saint Amos take so many people by surprise? I doubt it slipped Gabriel’s mind. He’s the most intelligent and cunning man I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting.

Her file would have told me all I needed to know. Where she came from, what her connection to Gabriel and the school is. No one justenrollsat Saint Amos—students have to be referred by the bishop of their diocese.

If I know who her emergency contact is, I could contact them and find out even more.

But not without her file.

And maybe that’s exactly what Gabriel wanted. Maybe he didn’t want anyone knowing who she is, or how she’s connected with him.

Why?

“When is he leaving?” I ask, keeping my voice casual.

“Let me confirm.” She lifts a finger, giving me another honey-sweet smile. Then she turns her head a little and calls out, “Sister? When does Father Gabriel leave?”

“Thursday afternoon,” a voice replies from one of the rooms branching off this reception area.

“And her file?” I ask. “When are you expecting it?”

Stella turns back to me. Her shrug is nearly invisible beneath her habit. “I’ll let you know as soon as it comes in. But I doubt there’ll be a transcript. Probably a few report cards and her family history. She was homeschooled, you know?”

“I’m aware,” I murmur. “Thank you, Sister.”

How long will I have to keep Cassius in check? I refuse to make a move until I know how she fits into all of this. From the sounds of things, she was brought here by the provost himself.

I’m not okay with an innocent being caught up in the fray. We planned this so there would be no collateral damage.

Our window of opportunity is closing. Fast.

And there will never be another chance like this.

Chapter 6

Trinity

“Hey, wake up!”

I scramble to a sit, blinking hard as I try to focus.

Jasper’s leaning over my cot. He’s dressed in his school clothes. The last time I saw him he’d been wearing athletic shorts and a vest.

That had been yesterday afternoon.

“What time is it?”

“Didn’t you hear the bell? It’s breakfast,” he snaps. “We all say prayers before. They won’t let you lie in unless you’re sick. Are you sick?”

I wish I could have convinced him I was. But the only thing wrong with me is the sudden conviction I’ve lost my freaking mind. I slept right through dinner? No wonder my stomach feels like a black hole.

I’d been planning to take a quick nap. After all, no one had told me what I was supposed to do after I finished Calculus, my last class of the day. Jasper must have come to bed at some stage, but I don’t remember that at all.

What Idoremember is how tongue-tied I’d been at meeting my Psychology teacher. I guess he’s not too young to be a teacher, but he’s definitely too good looking. How is anyone supposed to concentrate?

Maybe that’s why he chose to teach at an all-boys school.

Jasper scans my rumpled cardigan and jeans. “You can’t wear that.”

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