Page 38 of The Vipers and Their Vendetta

He steeples his fingers to his lips. “Obviously, I heard about you crashing your bike last night. I assume from the way you’re walking around today that you weren’t badly hurt.”

“A bit bumped and bruised, but I’m okay.”

“And am I right in saying the twins and Zane found you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I’m lying, but honestly, I just don’t want to get into what happened with the Preachers. I’ve got the feeling that won’t look good for any of us.

He clears his throat and sits straighter. “I’m sure someone has informed you about the rumors surrounding your half-sister’s death.”

I can’t meet his gaze, so I tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear and nod.

“You understand that if there was any proof of anything like that happening, there’s no way those boys would still be at this college?”

“Yes, sir.”

He sits back with an exhaled breath. “Good. And you understand that idle gossip will not be tolerated either?”

I know what he’s saying—that I’m not supposed to talk about what happened to Reagan, or even mention Reagan’s name. Isn’t that what the others said? That talking about her was cause for an instant expulsion.

“I understand.” A painful lump knots in my throat, and I fight breaking down in tears again. “I really am sorry, for everything. I never meant to cause so much trouble.”

He considers this. “I should really inform your dad about everything that’s happened.”

A shot of adrenaline pumps through my veins, and I sit up and lean forward, my hands pressed together in a prayer. “Dean Rossi, I’m begging you, please don’t. I know he’s the one paying my fees, but I am an adult. I should be allowed to choose my own future, and I choose to stay here.”

“It’s not as simple as that, Ivani. I’m the one who gets to choose if you stay or go.”

I want to shrink into my seat. “Yes. Sorry, sir. Of course.”

I want to plead my case, but I also don’t want to make things worse for myself.

“If you stay, you can’t keep digging into what happened to Reagan. You have to let it go. I realize that won’t be easy for you, but I can’t have you creating drama here. You understandthat we have the offspring of some very powerful families here at Verona Falls, and stories about dead girls never go down well.”

Yet the family of the girl who died were happy to take a payoff. Unless what the Vipers believe to be true is—that Jarl took the money, but always planned to take revenge on the three young men everyone believed responsible.

A new frisson of fear goes through me. What if the Vipers are the ones who are in danger?

But then I shake that thought from my head. No, it’s been two years since she died. What possible reason would he have to get revenge now, after all this time?

Unless someone coming in and stirring the pot is enough to do it.

That someone being me.

“Please, sir, just give me another chance. I’ll keep my head down and won’t cause trouble, I swear. I’ll be a good student.”

I mean the part about being a good student, but the rest of it…? Well, I’m not sure how I can bring myself to simply forget about what happened. How can I lead my life without knowing the reason Reagan jumped off that tower, or even if she’d been alone or not when she fell?

Had the Vipers been involved, or had it been someone else?

“Very well,” he says. “One more chance, but you walk the straight and narrow. I mean it, Ivani.”

Something inside me slumps, and it’s all I can do not to slide to the floor in relief. “Thank you so much.”

I get out of there as quickly as possible, closing the door behind me.

The Vipers hate me now. How could they not? Not only do they seem to think I was sent here by Jarl Olsen to find out about them, but they also believe I accused them of assaulting me. I try to tell myself it’s for the best, that they won’t come anywhere near me now, but that doesn’t stop my heart from breaking.

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