Page 156 of The Ruthless Note

Zane knocks back another beer in a single gulp and swipes his hand over his mouth. He storms back toward us, his eyes dark. “Why?”

Sol’s eyes close briefly. When he speaks, he sounds tired. “I wanted to see it burn. For once, I wanted to destroy something instead of just sitting quietly while it destroyed me.”

“I told you I was handling Miller,” I grind out. Anger is pulsing in my veins. I feel that familiar burning.

“You think that isn’t suffocating, Dutch?” Sol sits up and stares a hole through me. “That stupid need you have to control everything. You think I put up with it because I’m weak?” He shakes his head. “Miller targeted people he thought he could crush. That’s all this school does. If you’re weak, you’re screwed. If you have a little money or fame, you’re gods. You think just because I hang with you, I’ve forgotten which camp I belong to?”

“Sol.”

“I didn’t know her stupid lighter would be in there,” Sol spits.

My hand is sweaty. I wipe it against the side of my pants and slide my tongue over my bottom lip.

The look in Sol’s eyes is quiet chaos. “I went straight to Harris. Told him it wasn’t Serena who set the fire. And you know what he said?” Sol snorts. “It doesn’t matter which one of you goes. So just shut up and graduate.”

Tears form in Sol’s eyes. He swipes at one almost angrily.

“It doesn’t matter…” His voice trails. “I’m going to the police.”

I inhale a deep breath and process everything he said. Sol is being torn apart by guilt right now. I can see that, but I also know that he deserves to be here as much as Serena or Brahms.

We fought to have him here.

It’s not just about Sol anymore, it’s about our honor. It’s about our reputation.

Sol has to stay in Redwood Prep.

“No,” I bite out.

Sol glances at me.

So do Finn and Zane.

“You go to the police, it’s game over. They went easy on Serena, but you’ve got a prior infraction. They’ll have you arrested. We’re not just talking about getting kicked out, Sol. We’re talking about jail.”

His eyes flash with fear.

“We’re not going to let that happen,” Finn says firmly.

I nod. No we’re not.

A sudden banging on the door makes us all jump.

My muscles coil. Who the hell would dare to…

“Dutch!” Cadence’s voice blasts through the door. “Dutch, I need to talk to you right now!”

Fin looks at me. I return his stony gaze with one of my own.

Cadence can never know the truth about that fire today.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE

CADENCE

My fingers clump into fists. Without a care for all the people who are watching, I bang my hand against the door.

All this restless energy gathering in my chest is about to take me out. I want to do something. Throw my hands up. Scream bloody murder.

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