Page 9 of Unspoken Truths

But what about Rachelle?An unkind voice whispers inside of me.

“What else?” I ask, eyebrow raising. “I think we need some clear guidelines.”

Theo glances up, intrigued. “Fuck, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a bet, Nacio.”

Eighth grade feels like a very long time ago, and the boy we terrorized sucked us all off while we filmed it. We didn’t show anyone, but it was enough to get the kid to move to somewhere like Germany for school.

I bet they’re a hell of a lot nicer than we’ll ever be.

The weak break, while we rise. That’s always how it’s going to be.

“We make her think we care,” I grunt, smirking. “We each play our hand at bullying, being nice, make her feel fucking crazy. I want her to be unable to eat, scared to tell anyone about what we’re doing because it doesn’t seem that bad.”

“Head games,” Jared says. “I made her vomit mud today, does that count toward this?”

“We start tomorrow, but yeah, shit like that would work,” I agree.

“We need to find out what she’s afraid of,” Elijah mutters, thinking out loud. “Play the nice guy, see how far she’s willing to believe it before we crush her.”

“Whatever it takes,” I growl. “It’s personal now. My father kicked me out of my own damn house over the little bitch.”

“Group bet or everyone for themselves?” Theo asks, chewing on the end of a pencil.

It’s a terrible habit. Glancing at Elijah because I’m too far, I jerk my eyes in Theo’s direction. Understanding completely, he winces and lunges forward, grabbing and tossing the pencil onto the table.

“We’ll need to decide,” I say. “We always tend to work better together, but no one can know it. If everyone thinks the bet is for whoever fucks her first, then the school will treat her like a whore. No mercy, giving her the same energy they gave her today.”

“Only much worse,” Jared says with a nod. “Marci almost looked as if she wanted to stop things when she started walking off the field and watched me shove Rachelle into the mud. No one can feel badly for her.”

“If they do, they’re not allowed to show it,” Theo grunts. “There are few people who are on our level, or off limits.”

I can name exactly three, and I don’t think any of them will care what we do with Rachelle.

“So we’ll name her as a whore and off limits to anyone else until after we complete the bet,” I explain. “It ends when she agrees to leave the school. That’s the only ending I’m willing to accept.”

“Fuck yeah,” Jared says.

Filling up the glasses again, he prepares one for Theo with exactly half a swallow. It won’t affect his ability to study at all, but it’ll seal the bet.

“So are we together in this?” I ask. If I want her gone, I have to accept whatever consequences come of this, which I am. “We’ll play with her in any way that gets the job done. Slut shaming, fucking her, grinding her face into our boots whenever we see her. Nothing is off limits.”

“So you saw how she kissed my boot like a good girl,” Jared says with a dark laugh.

“I saw it all,” I say. “I want more of it.”

“Yeah, I’m in,” Theo says, pushing his book onto the table and lifting up his glass. “The bet rises again.”

“So shall we fall or stand tall,” I grunt alongside my best friends.

This is why we’re the best, destined to become leaders in the world. We’re willing to do whatever it takes.

I hope you enjoy playing house with my dad, little girl. Your days are numbered.

CHAPTER3

RACHELLE

I’m nervous as I stand in front of the house, waiting for my ride. My mom’s energy is just as bad as mine is currently, and she’s researching public schools as we speak. I left Emil to calm her down, his soft touch over her curls making my heart clench. It’s clear that he adores her.

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