Page 14 of Rockwell Academy: The Twist

He holds up his phone. “Student’s WhatsApp group. It appears to be the only subject worth talking about.”

Santi shakes his head. “You don’t wanna be part of that yet, Luca. Unless you prefer to tie yourself to one woman for the entire semester. I mean, why would you?”

“I’m interested, not committed.” Is his careful response and Ali interrupts.

“You disguise yourself as a centurion and hunt a woman in the dungeon. If you catch one, you pledge to stay loyal to her for the semester and she becomes your property if you like. At the end of the semester, you both get the choice to stick or twist.”

Luca raises his eyes. “Which means.”

“Either stay together or set you both free. If one of you decides to twist you both twist. “

Santi jerks his thumb at Jack and me. “Frankie and Jack have that decision to make.”

“When?”

Luca turns to me and I note the interest spark in his dark, turbulent eyes and I shrug. “Next week. Before the new Claiming season begins.”

“What are you going to do?” Ali asks, leaning forward, his curiosity reaching out to me.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

I stare at Jack as I say the words and don’t miss the hope that flares in his expression telling me everything I suspected.

“What about you, Jack?” Luca asks with interest and Jack shrugs.

“As Frankie said, I haven’t made my mind up yet.”

I lean forward and regard him carefully. “Does Siri know you haven’t made up your mind?”

There is a warning attached to my voice because it’s in my best interest for Jack to hook up again with my cousin. I’m aware their relationship hasn’t moved on, which is fine by me due to the promise I made to her father. It also helps keep Cassie solely under my control because if Jack threw his hat into the ring, I’m not convinced that Cassie wouldn’t snatch it up and run with it. They have unfinished business that a blind man could see, and until I am bored with her, I will do everything in my power to interfere with that.

“I haven’t caught up with her yet.”

Jack sighs. “Listen, Siri and I need to have a conversation before we make that decision.”

He grasps another beer, effectively cutting the line of questioning, and I wonder if the conversation he needs is witha different girl entirely. My girl, which will happen over Jack’s dead body.

Ali cuts through the tension with his next sentence.

“Santi’s right, Luca. Wait it out this time and test the water first. Rockwell is pussy paradise and there is more than enough to go around. If you find someone worth hanging onto, then by all means, take your shot, but she must be part of the challenge for you to capture her and be prepared that someone else may get there first.”

Luca says nothing, which I’m beginning to realize is his super power. I recognize it because it’s also mine. Our thoughts are kept hidden behind an enigmatic expression, and I don’t need to know the guy to understand exactly how his mind works.

He is a mirror image of me, which could either prove tricky or a godsend. Luca Romano could be exactly the man I need to save Jesse and I wonder if he would be up for that.

7

CASSIE

Ireally like Summer Majerio.

We met up with Imogen and Summer in the cafeteria and it didn’t take long for me to warm to our new friend.

“So, Cassie, should I download the forms to declare you clinically insane?”

Summer rests her chin on her hands and stares at me with a pitying glance.

“I’m guessing you’re referring to my involvement with your brother.”

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