Page 72 of Speak

Riordan is burying his twin brother. His other half. His protector…

Riordan and any and all Prescott’s, his mother included, are to express stoicism and gratitude for everyone’s kind words. It’s the most depressing thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I’m sure his mother had no issues. Riordan and Chase were mostly raised by nannies until Chase was caught fucking one at fifteen. She had been thirty-seven.

I asked Chase later on why he decided to fuck her, to ruin her life, to send her to prison.

His answer?

“It was either me or Riordan.”

Granted, it wasn’t until one drunken night, at the Sigma house, after a bad joke that Riordan told me the whole story. See, there were good things about Chase. There were bad things about Chase. Mostly any good thing that he did were because of orforRiordan. Even then, sometimes those ‘good’ things, weren’t great. Nomatter what the intention was behind them, Chase did awful things for those he loved even if it meant damning his own soul.

In a sick way, I know he’d understand me. This. What I’m about to do. I mean, it won’t be me doing it, but still.

I do feel a little queasy as we head back to the Prescott estate back in Salem. The entire Prescott clan is riding in a limo ahead. I’m riding back to Salem in one with my father and mother. It’s quiet. Eerie. Nobody speaks and the silence is louder than Raven’s death glare. As we cross over the body of water via bridge that connects Rayne-Moore to Salem. My thoughts are on Tyler. On Riordan. On how Riordan never returned to my dorm after that first night. On how I’m to seduce Tyler.

I’ve never kissed a man before.

My thoughts flit to Raven and Damon, probably making really good use of that luxury hotel room they’re getting right now. Raven had gotten a scarlet wig, a black dress that covered her tattoo and was to overdo her makeup. I can still smell the perfume she spritzed on me before leavingto confuse him, she signed before spritzing me with my own cologne.

The plan is for Damon to get a room close to one of the penthouses. By the time Tyler and I should be getting to Inferno, Damon will be leading Raven up to the room as one of the high-end escorts that work there. When you drop over fifteen grand on a room at De Novo, people tend to look the other way at your extra-curriculars.

Now to lay on the Anderson charm from here back to Rayne-Moore.

“Son?”

My father, Henry Anderson’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Father?”

I let my eyes glide over to my adoptive father. Getting on with age, he was still handsome as ever. Big, strong, tall. All-American. A deadly silver-fox with brown-green hazel eyes. He’s grown out his mustache which he still gets professionally dyed so he looks early-fifties instead of sixty. The fact that I look like him was the reason my parents adopted me. “I asked if you were going to be staying with your mother and I?”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t think so. With classes having been pushed back a week, I’m doing two weeks’ worth of homework for next week. It’s better if I just head back to the dorms and get started on that this weekend. They’re finally opening up campus so the library will be open as well.”

My father nods. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, I was told you were the one to find Chase.”

I shake my head. “I was simply the one alerted. I was the one that called the RMPD.”

Father puts his leathery hand on my knee. “Still, I’m sorry you had to see Chase in that state. He was a fine young man. I’m sorry for your loss.” Before I can reply he adds, “There were a lot of drugs in his system.”

I nod.

“You aren’t…” he clears his throat, “polluting yourself, are you? Still going to your therapist?”

“I’ve been seeing the campus therapist for weeks now. Every Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on my schedule. I’m fine.”

“Good, good. You’ll let us know… if it gets bad again?”

“Yes, father. I told you I would at the beginning of the semester.” The car thankfully comes to a halt outside of the Prescott’s estate and our driver opens the door and I climb out in a hurry, waiting on Mother so I can help her out.

Red-haired, petite, and green-eyed, Elena Anderson, my mother, is the epitome of sophistication in her classic, Armani sweetheart neckline black funeral dress. Once she’s out of the car, I hold out my arm and her dainty little hand holds on to the crease of my elbow, her hand landing on my bicep. “Thank you, darling. I know you want to run off and speak to your friends, check up on them, but your father and I just want to make sure that you aren’t spiraling. The loss of a friend…”

“Mother, I promise you. I’m fine,”Chase touched what was mine and was planning on doing so much worse. He deserved what he got.I don’t say. “But you are right about me wanting to speak to Riordan.”

“My good boy. Go, darling. Avoid the other Prescott’s.”

That sends a chill down my spine. “Why avoid the other Prescott’s?”

“Something about the coroner’s report. We’ll let you know more when we find out more ourselves, alright?”

I was right. This is absolutely Syndicate business. I nod and lean down to kiss her cheek. “Okay, mother.” I bend to give her a hug. “Don’t leave me in the dark. Tell me everything you know.”

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