Page 92 of The Darkest Note

I don’t want her for myself.

She’s not the girl I care about.

She’s the girl I need to run out of Redwood.

I curl my fingers into fists and pound the chair. It’s like I’m being torn from the inside.

The connection I feel with the redhead is real. Every time I think I’ve got a hold on myself, I hear her play and she wrenches something out of the deepest, darkest parts of me.

But I can’t pretend that Cadence isn’t getting under my skin too. Even now, I want to drag her into one of the empty classrooms. I’d run my hands down her body, over her curves. I’d swallow her throaty moans to keep her quiet so we don’t get discovered by the chaperones.

Because once I get a taste of her, I sure as hell won’t stop for anything short of a hurricane.

I rake my hands roughly through my hair, breathing hard and fast.

Need is pounding in my veins.

I scrub a hand down my pants.

A long groan escapes. I sound like a tortured mental patient.

Approaching footsteps warn me that my brothers are coming. I straighten up and scowl at them.

Zane is carrying a drum piece in a padded case. The school provided a fully-equipped drum set, but my twin never plays without his own snare.

“You ready to head out?” Zane asks.

I look behind him. “Where’s Cadence?”

“She’s staying,” Finn says.

My nostrils flare. “Who’s taking her home?”

I picture that guy offering her a ride, reaching over the stick shift, setting his hand on her thigh—my temper spikes.

“Why do you care?” Zane challenges.

I stare him down. “I don’t.”

“Then let’s hit the road. There’s no reason for us to stick around.” Zane throws an amused grin over his shoulder. “The admin want us gone faster. They think we’ll fall for jailbait.”

My feet are rooted in place. Leaving Cadence here to flirt with some jerk chaperone makes me want to smash my fist through a window.

But I don’t have a reason to stay.

At least not a good one.

Forcing myself to turn, I follow my brothers to the car.

“Wait!” A girlish squeal rings out, causing us all to stop.

The girl who hugged Cadence earlier comes leaping down the back steps. She’s huffing and puffing by the time she gets to us.

“I’m…” She pants. “Voila… Cadey’s… sister.”

I arch an eyebrow, taking note of the family resemblance. Viola isn’t as tall as her older sister, but she’s got that same delicate beauty. I can see the family resemblance in their eyes and in their smiles. Although I don’t have much to compare it to since Cadence rarely smiles at me.

“Hey, Viola,” Zane says.

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