Page 105 of The Ruthless Note

Don’t freak out,Cadence. Just keep walking.

“I didn’t think you’d show,” Serena says, sliding across and making room for me around the bench.

She stakes her elbow on the table and rests her chin against her fist, looking like a model with her long black hair, striking eyes, and the leather jacket over her Redwood Prep blouse.

“What is that supposed to mean? Why wouldn’t I meet you for lunch like I always do?” I set my tray on top of the picnic table, slide one leg and then the other over and sit down next to her. “Am I supposed to be doing something else?”

“Here’s the thing,” Serena says, offering a smile tinged with sadness. “You’re Dutch’s girl now. Like officially.”

“Come on, Serena. This again?”

“He walked you to class. Do you know what that means? It means you’re no longer one of us. You’re,” she raises a hand to the heavens, “elevated.”

I squint my eyes and look around at the other kids. They’re all watching me, waiting for some kind of show.

I have no idea what they expect. Am I supposed to get up and sprout wings because Dutch insisted on walking me to class?

Redwood’s interpretation is totally off. They have no idea just how much of a terror Dutch has been.

Has been?

No, is.

Currently.

Present tense.

There’s no escaping from his clutches.

I think about what he said in the practice room.‘Just once. And I’ll get you out of my system.’

I’m some kind of virus to him.

And he’s the guy I abhor.

Just because we end up sticking our tongues down each other’s throats every now and then doesn’t mean I’m his.

Dutch’s girl.

Ha.

Maybe Dutch believes I am. But it’s definitely not in the sweet, romantic, relationship-y way that Redwood Prep is thinking. It’s in a controlling, vindictive way. Somewhere in his depraved little mind, fighting for control of me gets him excited.

Am I supposed to be flattered by that? By his ruthless need to prove he owns me? It’s not like he actually cares either way. Dutch has made it clear. Once he takes my virginity, I’m nothing to him.

And maybe I should see if he means it. Maybe I should wager the rest of my days at Redwood Prep on Dutch keeping his promise to leave me alone after he takes—correction, Igivehim what he wants.

Something deep in my body resists. Letting him have what he wants is akin to physical torture. There are only a few things I can control here at Redwood Prep.

The fact that I fooled Dutch Cross by wearing a wig and makeup is one of them.

Getting under Dutch Cross’s skin is a close second.

Across the way, Paris and her posse stride into view. They take the table usually reserved for the Cross brothers. Paris spears me with her dark gaze, but she doesn’t come over.

I’m a little surprised by that.

Serena sees the line of my gaze and leans in. “She’s not going to bother you anymore.”

---