Page 82 of Unspoken Truths

Gasping, his eyes widen, and I know all he’s hearing is the ringing in his ears. Plucking his fingers off Rachelle, I push him away to prop him against the wall as he covers his ears in pain. I wasn’t gentle, nor did I mean to be. The dickweed deserves a little hearing loss, God knows he never has anything to say unless it’s to hear himself talk.

Maybe he’ll keep the bullshit inside of his head instead.

“Walk with me, little sister,” I grunt, jerking my head away from Dale.

Eyes wide, her feet start to move almost as if she doesn’t realize that they are.

“What was that about?” she asks.

“I told you, no one fucks with you unless it’s us,” I tell her, my hand heavy at the base of her back as I walk her to class.

Next year, we’ll be in more of her classes. Theo is already working on ensuring that happens. It’s more difficult since she transferred in as late as she did. The idea is always to push further into her life until we’re all she sees.

Now, I’m certain that we’re not doing the right thing. Rachelle was such an easy scapegoat to choose for our bet. New, poor, and pissing me off at every turn because she’s stealing my dad away from me.

The reasons are petty in the face of the demons that actually live in her head. It’s fucking child’s play. Yet, this is the path that we’re on, and I don’t know what to do about it. The previous Kings wouldn’t appreciate us refusing to do what we’re meant to do.

“That’s not the gift you think it is,” Rachelle says, pushing her hair over her shoulder.

“What’s his issue, other than the fact that you’re clearly a better writer than he is?” I ask.

Ignoring her surprised glance, I continue moving through the hallway toward her class, telling myself it’s easier to deposit my stepsister where she needs to be than to wait for someone else to fuck with her. I don’t have time to babysit today.

“How would you know that unless you read it?” Rachelle asks.

“It’s the school newspaper, Little Mouse. Everyone reads it, and I always make sure to read the parts where my friends are spotlit,” I grunt.

This isn’t anything more. She can’t believe that it is.Rachelle doesn’t even have to know that I didn’t read the article until last night on my phone while I sat outside her door.

“Mmhmm,” she mutters. “You’re very confusing.”

“Was the gun to my head yesterday confusing?” I ask, moving behind her so my lips are against her ear. It’s crowded in this section of the hallway, since the restrooms are here as well.

“Honestly? Yes,” Rachelle admits. “Your father barely knows me.”

“And yet, he wants to give you his name,” I murmur. Dad was serious about that, and once Barrett left, he sat Julia, Rachelle, and I down to discuss it. His name, a trust fund, and as much safety as he’s capable of giving her.

Carlysle Prep School and the Kings are the only domain that he has limited access to. That’s the agreement the parents have with the school so they can craft our minds into the finest the world has ever known. It’s also why the Kings came into existence, to put a stop to shit that may fuck with the code the school has.

The bet came later because secret societies have a way of getting twisted over the years. The Kings promise things that people want, and we want freedom. It’s why we were so excited for this when we were chosen. They’re more powerful than even our parents, which while they knew, we have to jump through a lot of hoops in the meantime.

Not every set of Kings actually complete their bet, and leave the school in shame. It’s happened a time or two, and that group goes on to lead mediocre lives. We don’t want that for ourselves.

But the price is so much higher now. My thumb secretly rubs her back, and I can feel the muscles there twitch. Something tells me she’s not often touched, despite the fact that she’s dating one of the most affectionate people I know.

“There’s a lot he talked about last night,” she says softly, sighing. “I’m doing better today but?—”

“Lie to other people, but not to the one who sat outside your door and listened to you scream,” I say. At her startled eyes as she twists to look at me, I shake my head. “Eyes front, little sister. Pay attention to where you’re going.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t pick my lock again,” she mutters.

“There’s a camera outside your door now,” I tell her. “No, keep walking, good girl. Dad set it up when you went to your room. His exact words were that I needed to respect your boundaries unless I heard my name. He didn’t say I couldn’t sleep outside your door, though.”

“I think that’s pushing the bounds of the argument,” she says. “You must do very well on the Debate team.”

The fact that she knows that makes my lips twist as we get closer to her class.

“I’m the best,” I grunt. “You look tired, what are your plans after school?”

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