Page 42 of Shadow and Skulls

Ash rushes up behind us, whispering something in Jackson’s ear.

“Yeah. We got it covered.” He waves Ash away before turning back to Tank and me.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, focused on Ash as he hurries back into the school.

“Yup.”

When I turn to Tank, Jackson begins to make a tsking sound with the click of his tongue.

“What? I just want someone to tell me the truth.”

He sits up straight. “I always tell you the truth, Kelsie.”

“But you sugar coat it.”

“Well, Tank here shouldn’t be telling you club business.”

“Well, Tank here isn’t part of your club.” I realize my mistake as soon as the words leave my mouth, but Tank doesn’t look worried that I’ve spilled his secret. He just laughs.

Jackson laughs too. “NorCal, SoCal, it doesn’t matter. It’s club business just the same.”

My shoulders fall in relief.

He turns serious. “Kelsie, you know I don’t hide things from you.”

And he doesn’t. He brought my dead uncle to the warehouse in the back of his pickup so I could see for myself that he was really gone. I’ve never been so relieved in all my life. I’ll forever be grateful to Jackson for that.

“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just really worried about Charlotte.”

“I get it.” He pats my leg. “Hey, we’re not in lockdown anymore, so no worries, okay?”

“Okay,” I sigh, standing. “Thanks for keeping me company while I ate my lunch. Tell Willow the barn kittens are almost completely weened. If she wants one, she should come over soon, so she can have first pick.”

He groans as both of them walk me up to the building. “Yeah, I’ll tell her. I’m heading home now. Did you really have to tell her she could have one? We have enough animals for a farm.”

“Youdohave a farm!” I yell as I step into the building, the door falling closed behind me.

I drop my tray off in the cafeteria before rushing down the hall to get to my next class. Unfortunately, I bump right into Matt.

He grabs my arm and pulls me into the corner. “Have you seen Lexi?”

I yank away from him. “No.”

He stares down his nose at me, keeping me cornered. “Don’t think I’m scared of your boyfriend. You know your club can’t touch me, right? If your boyfriend hasn’t figured out who I am, you should probably tell him.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend anymore, remember?”

Matt’s dad is an attorney. It’s probably for the best, because I’m sure he’s going to need a good one at some point in his life.

Matt leans in close, pushing his nose in my hair. “I didn’t know your pussy only works for men of a certain age. Does he remind you of the guys who used to pay your uncle to fuck you?”

It’s a knife to the chest, but I’ll never let him see how deep he struck.

“No. It only works for dicks bigger than my pinky finger. Sorry yours won’t make the cut.”

His fingers wrap around my neck in anger, and I’m not sure where my reaction comes from. Maybe I’m channeling strength from the women of the Skulls. Or maybe I’m just tired of being in Matt’s presence. Regardless, my knee connects with his groin just as Principal Fowley steps around the corner.

“Kelsie!” she exclaims.

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