Page 96 of Unspoken Truths

We don’t specifically know it’s them, but it’s really the only option. Theo has already shown that he has a penchant for being in places he shouldn’t be.

“What?” Nacio asks. “No, I don’t. How did they manage that? We haven’t had a chance to talk with how crazy the last two weeks have been.”

Mr. Emil blows out a breath as if he doesn’t believe him, but I have noticed that Nacio has been absent lately. Nacio has been run ragged between jobs for his dad and school. That’s what happens when your father thinks you have too much time on your hands and he needs to fill it with extra tasks. Sucks to suck.

Rachelle stops fighting to hit him for a moment, blowing out a breath.

“Did you have a chance to speak to the headmistress?” she asks.

“Yes, come in and I’ll tell you,” her stepfather says. Moving to do as he asked, we listen to his next words. “I’ve demanded a parent-teacher conference, and Mrs. Hartwell immediately asked if it was true that your last name needs to be updated in the system.”

“Updated to what?” Nacio asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

We’re standing in the front entryway, and Rachelle rolls her eyes.

“You can give him the cliff notes, I need to see if the assholes got to my laptop,” she says, almost running across the house for the stairs.

“What the hell is happening?” Nacio asks, his hand raking through his hair impatiently.

“I’m assuming Theo had all her grades changed to zeros or incompletes based on the conversation I had with Mrs. Hartwell,” Mr. Emil growls. “Rachelle is being officially adopted into our family to give her the protection of my name and because I want to give it to her.”

“There, now you’re caught up,” I say sweetly.

“You’re both infuriating,” Ignacio mutters. “She seems fine. I figured she’d be losing her shit about this.”

“Rachelle is fine,” I lie. She’s dealing, but I think she’s beyond simply being sad. My girl is pissed. “The problem is that even if she’s able to show that she did the work that’s been done on the computer, the rest is a wash.”

“She won’t rank as high when grades are finalized,” he breathes. “Fuck. The guys and I didn’t discuss this, not that it matters now that the trigger’s been pulled. It could have been either of them that asked Theo for this, or he may have decided to do it on a whim.”

“My computer is wiped,” Rachelle says with a groan as she returns. “I found the back up, though.”

She doesn’t say what that was, her gaze suspicious of Ignacio.

“I swear I didn’t do this,” he says. “We’ve all been worried about how well you’re doing, though. You were sure to rank high.”

“Not anymore,” Rachelle says wistfully. “What’s next, Emil?”

“You’re home,” Julia says, stepping into the foyer. “Emil told me about what the rat bastards did.”

Ignoring Ignacio, she gives Rachelle a hug.

“Ugh, I swear I had nothing to do with this,” he complains.

“You are who you associate with,” Julia murmurs. “Therefore you’re also a bastard.”

“My parents were married when they had me, Julia,” Ignacio says, frowning.

I’m thoroughly enjoying her fitting remarks, because she’s not willing to give him an inch.

“That’s besides the point, son,” Mr. Emil says. “We’re going to sign this paperwork and then head directly to the school. I refused to wait until tomorrow, Rachelle. You should know the verdict today.”

“Thank you,” she says with a nod.

Walking forward, he herds us into the living area where paperwork is spread out over it.

“My lawyer is on the way to notarize the documents and witness our signatures, and then we’ll leave,” he says. A knock on the door brings one of the maids to answer it, and she ushers in the lawyer. “There’s Harold now. Thanks for the fast response.”

“You said it was important,” he murmurs.

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