Page 72 of Rockwell Academy: The Twist

“No!” She struggles, but her efforts are weak.

“I’m talking about the guy who believed he could use my challenge to gain membership to your club by raping Abigail Flowerday. The same guy who attempted to kidnap and murdermygirl, Miss Sloane. Does that ring any bells?”

Her eyes fill with fear as she senses retribution heading her way, and I gaze with derision at her pathetic form, naked and wasted before me.

“So, here is the deal. Answer our questions for your freedom.”

“What questions?” Her voice is heavy and I’m aware we don’t have long and I snap, “Who else is involved at Rockwell?”

She giggles, the drugs kicking in. “You want a peek in my little black book? Naughty, naughty, boys.”

“Where is it?” I ask quickly and she giggles.

“Well, you won’t find it in my bedroom drawer if that’s what you think.”

Fuck, I love the truth serum I laced her champagne with.

Frankie wastes no time and as he leaves, I ask, “Christian Duprey. Where is he based?”

“Silly child. Christian will never reveal his location in Redrock Canyon to anyone. It’s a secret.”

She laughs out loud as Frankie returns with her little black book, as she called it. He leafs through it and grins, his eyes finding mine signally triumph.

“It’s all in here, the stupid bitch.”

She giggles, “I love two at the same time. Are you here to party, boys? I can show you a good time.”

I roll my eyes. “Tell me where your next meeting is with Christian. When and where?”

“It’s a secret.” She giggles. “Nobody will ever discover the secret hiding place in Gideon Creek. Nobody will ever learn about the disused house we use for the final act, or that Christian will return on the last Sunday of every month. That secret goes with me to the grave.”

“What is your relationship with Christian Duprey?” Frankie asks, a hard edge to his voice.

“I love him.” She says simply. “We met at college and discovered a shared interest in debauchery. He is so sexy, so dangerous, and so delightfully sinful.”

Her voice is slurred and her eyes drop closed and Frankie huffs. “She’s done.”

He reaches inside his jacket and extracts a syringe, injecting her with a drug that wipes recent memory. When Jenna Sloane wakes up in the morning, she won’t remember a thing and will merely imagine she’s coming down with something.

As she drifts into unconsciousness, we remove the ropes and Frankie carries her into her bed, wrapping her under the sheets as if she was there all along. Meanwhile, I clear away the evidence and when we leave her home, it’s as if we were never there.

33

SUMMER

Ihaven’t seen Luca to speak to for several days since the cafeteria incident. I’m not certain how I feel about that. On the one hand, I’m glad. It was one of those experiences I have dreamed of and yet sparked terror inside my soul.

He is trouble.

Why do I crave trouble like some crave candy? I’m a lost cause and I still haven’t got the courage to enter my name to The Claiming challenge. I’m aware that spots are like gold. You add your name to the list and it’s a lottery who receives the message to show up in the dungeon on Friday night.

I’m brooding over my predicament at breakfast and find myself unusually alone. Willow Tree House is usually heaving with chatter, but for some reason they are still sleeping.

I’m guessing because it’s five am.

However, I’m not the only person up this morning and I jump when Imogen joins me, the door opening, distracting me from my problem.

“Hey.” I note the dark shadows under her eyes and smile sympathetically. “Can’t you sleep either?”

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