Page 43 of Rockwell Academy: The Twist

There is zero animosity in his words. No indication that he is aware of my interest in his sister, so I relax, curiosity telling me he has something else on his mind.

He grabs a couple of beers from the fridge beside the bar. “Here.”

I catch it and pull the tab and as we sit side by side, it strikes me how strange this is. We are rivals—or we will be in the future and I suppose this is no-man’s-land. A chance to play with the enemy before normality interrupts the break.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Have you ever heard the name Christian Duprey?”

Now I have his attention and from his reaction, he is fully aware of what that name involves.

“What about him?” His answer is guarded, and I fix him with an intense look.

“Do you know him?” I repeat my question, expecting an answer, and he nods, distaste heavy in his expression.

“I knowofhim and I don’t like it.”

“Same.”

I jerk my thumb toward the stairs. “I passed Jesse on the way in. Is he still involved with that art teacher?”

“You ask a lot of questions.” Frankie is guarded and rightly so. I wouldn’t expect any less.

“Listen.” I lower my voice. “I have a certain knowledge of the man and his creation of an organization called The Serpent Society. I also know what that involves and if your friend is involved with Miss Sloane, then he is in danger of signing his name on their membership card.”

Frankie is silent and I wait for him to speak, not prepared to divulge all my information before he acknowledges the subject.

After an awkward silence, he sighs heavily. “Why do you ask?”

“Because Christian Duprey is currently dining with Jenna Sloane at the Ripe Olive in town.”

Frankie’s expression turns to one of horror and he snaps, “What the fuck? Where’s Jesse?”

“Currently heading out, and I’m guessing from the expression on his face, he’s got a date with disaster.”

Frankie wastes no time and dashes out a quick text on his phone and then regards me with a blank expression.

“What do you know?”

“That he is bad news for Jesse.”

Frankie nods and is right to keep up his guard as he says evenly, “What do you suggest we do about it?”

“We take out the source of his recruitment campaign.”

For the first time since I met him, Frankie visibly relaxes and animosity is replaced with curiosity.

“What do you have in mind?” He asks, genuinely interested and setting the door ajar to let me inside his exclusive club.

“I’m suggesting a honey trap, of course.”

He raises his beer to his lips and waits for my plan.

I waste no time in filling him in on my intentions and by the end of it, we are both on the same page—for now, anyway.

19

SUMMER

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