Page 110 of Kings & Carnage

Maybe I was imagining that part, but I didn't think so.

I had a feeling our enemies weren't just alumni. They were among us too, kids who saw the Kings’ determination to ferret out Aventine's killers as an opportunity to gain favor with their crime families instead.

The question was, how did we tell the difference?

"Fuck," Rock muttered as we headed for the cafeteria. "This is fucking weird.”

"Definitely not a good vibe," I said, moving a little closer to him.

We were almost to the cafeteria doors when one of the Rooks tipped his head at Rock. "I talk to you for a sec?" He glanced my way. “Alone."

I could tell from the way Rock looked at him that he was trying to decide whether to tell the guy to fuck off and say what he had to say in front of me, but in the end he nodded and looked down at me. "Go ahead without me. I'll be right behind you.”

The cafeteria was only a few feet away, my friends, and presumably Neo and Oscar, waiting inside. Plus, Interim Dean Garcia was at her post outside the cafeteria again.

Either the board of directors hadn't given her much to do or she was unusually interested in student affairs.

I peeled away from Rock and walked hesitantly toward the cafeteria entrance.

"Hey there," she said to me as I approached. I wanted to dislike her, or at least be wary of her, but her brown eyes held nothing but concern. "How are you holding up?”

"Okay," I said. I shook my head, deciding there was no reason to lie about this at least. "That's not really true. I think I'm still in shock.”

We’d just seen Alexa a few days earlier.

Now she was dead.

"That's perfectly understandable," Interim Dean Garcia said. She seemed to consider her words. "My door is always open, Willa. If there's ever anything you want to talk about, I mean.”

I couldn't shake the feeling that there was a hidden message in her words, but I couldn’t imagine what it was. She'd been installed by the board, and that meant she was one of them.

Like Roberto.

"Thanks," I said. "I appreciate it.”

"Of course. You have an ally if you need one.”

Jesus. If she'd been a cop, a jury would have acquitted me on the grounds of entrapment. Was she trying to get me to talk? Planning to feed information back to the board, half of whom were Aventine alumni?

I smiled and nodded. "Thanks again.”

Then I tucked my chin and hurried into the cafeteria like I was fighting a strong wind, because that was how it had started to seem.

It was noisier in the cafeteria than in the hallways, but the volume was still muted compared to every other day. I got in line and grabbed an order of mac and cheese and a hot chocolate, because if this wasn't a day for comfort food I didn't know what was.

I made my way to the lunch table I shared with Claire, Quinn, and Erin, and now apparently the Kings because Neo and Oscar were already at our table, eating and talking to each other in low tones.

"Hey," Claire said when I slid into my seat. "Anything new?”

I shook my head. Claire assumed that because I was with the Kings I knew something she didn't, but other than the name Alexa had dropped of the owner of St. Andrew’s, I didn't know any more than she did, and I wasn't sure the Kings did either.

"Well, she definitely didn't just slip right?" Quinn asked. "I mean, nobody goes out hiking this time of year.”

"Actually, that's not true," Erin said, dipping a spoon into her yogurt. "Winter hiking is a thing.”

Claire rolled her eyes. "It's not an Alexa Petrov thing.”

"It's definitely weird," I said, shooting the Kings a glance.

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