Page 161 of Unspoken Truths

“I had a visitor about a month ago,” I begin. “It was Magnus Rothschild.”

“Shit,” Nacio breathes, biting his lip. As worrisome as things are, I have to admit that the summer workouts are working for him. His skin is golden and tanned, his neck corded in strength and muscle.

“That was my exact reaction,” I add. “Your father is making waves, very upset about what he says happened to his daughter.”

“Dad is losing his mind over this,” Nacio admits. “As a past King, he knows what it means to have Rachelle marked as a bet. He’s trying to save her.”

“He can’t,” I snap. “All he’s managed to do is bring up her expiration date.”

Nacio’s eyes widen, his gasp able to be heard. However Theo and Elijah appear to be just as taken aback, so I don’t think it’s a red flag. I didn’t expect this either.

“Explain,” Nacio demands, fists clenching.

“Magnus says we started so aggressively, we’ve made people notice the little mouse. The sooner we scrape her off the playing board, the better,” I explain. “October thirty-first is our date to be done with our bet.”

“That’s soon,” Elijah mutters. “We’re done after that? We get everything they promised?”

“That’s the plan,” I grunt. “Eyes on the prize, guys. Just a few more months to make her life complete hell. She’ll be begging for the end.”

The guys nod, though we’re all pretty quiet as we begin to walk across the lot to school. Lili pulls into a spot in her vehicle quickly, and the little mouse steps out of the passenger seat with a much shorter haircut.

“Fuck,” I mutter. “You didn’t tell me she cut her hair, Nacio.”

“I didn’t think about it, and we haven’t had a chance to talk,” he says, shrugging. “She told my dad she needed a change.”

This hairstyle should appear severe, but it’s wavy around her face, giving her a soft, youthful look. Staring until I have to look away, I try to memorize her with the smile on her face as she waits for Lili.

It may be one of the last times I get to see it.

* * *

LILIANA

For the first week of school, things have been as expected. Rachelle has been slammed into lockers by the Kings as they walk through the halls, has bruises all over her body, and has been tripped by Marci and the bitches in the classes she has with them.

Apparently, the Kings not only choose violence, but also are outsourcing their work.

Ignacio is abstaining from the bullshit, though he can’t stop it. We all discussed it over breakfast the morning of the first day of school, which is why he was running late. Unless Rachelle is in danger of being seriously hurt or killed, he can’t interfere.

The knowledge that the Kings have to move up the date of Rachelle’s execution is a chilling thought. No more secrets means exactly that, and Nacio was very upfront about it. He even held her while she cried.

I fucking hate this backward society. Too much testosterone and not enough brains if you ask me.

Walking through the hallway after my last class, I head toward my locker to meet up with Rachelle. Our classes are so far away from each other this semester. The administration decided to put her in classes that would help “increase her performance” due to her low marks.

Not one of her teachers other than Dr. Richardson chose to speak up against this, but it was already too late. We have a new headmaster named Oliver Cooper who is in his mid seventies, a member of the Kings’ Society, and has sharp, cruel, intelligent eyes.

Dad says he’s considered a legend, and accepted the position as a nod to his time in the society. I see trouble, an assisting hand so the Kings can do whatever they want to Rachelle, which is terrifying.

Repacking my backpack and putting my cellphone in while at my locker, I glance around for Rachelle. Slowly, the hallways begin to thin, giving me a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Slamming shut my locker, I zip my bag up and shove my arms through the straps. Walking toward her locker first since it’s on the way to her last class, I glance around for any signs of her. I can’t hear screams because while the hoards of students leaving on a Friday have thinned, there are still people milling around.

Fuck, where are you, baby?

I’m careful to walk in the middle of the hallway, not wanting to get pulled into a classroom. I’m paranoid, wearing my knives, and have also begun to carry a stun gun in my pocket. I know that Rachelle has one as well, but sometimes it’s impossible to get to depending on how you’re grabbed.

I have no issues stabbing one of the boys today.

---