Page 40 of The Ruthless Note

Moonlight spills over the parking lot outside. We’re one of the few cars left. The rest of the vehicles belong to the football players, who are still at practice.

Sports and the arts have a healthy competition here at Redwood, but I take pride in the fact that our band’s popularity is helping the arts to edge ahead of the game.

“If you’re looking for a weakness to exploit,” Finn says calmly. “There are many.”

I curl my fingers into fists.

“I’m down if the plan is beating him up,” Zane says, noticing my stance. “But I suggest you do thatafteryour fingers heal. All that guy will have to do is poke one of your callouses with a pin and you’d be totaled.”

“Nice to know you have faith in me,” I mumble.

Thoughtlessly, I open my car door. In an instant, a gush of empty plastic bottles, papers, trash bags and who knows what else tumbles out of my car and lands in a heap at my feet.

“What the…” I peer inside my truck and my mouth lowers in shock.

Trash is piled up to the roof. The stench is unbearable and I clip my nose.

Zane steps on the runner and looks at me over the roof of my car. “You got on Brahms’ bad side recently?”

Finn laughs. Or at least Ithinkhe’s laughing. I can’t see him thanks to the mountain of trash blocking my sight.

I notice Zane round the car.

“Look,” he pushes a hand through the garbage, “there’s a note taped to the window.”

Picked up the trash. Have fun with your own kind.

Zane bursts out laughing and starts snapping pictures of my desecrated truck.

Finn joins my side. “That’s bold. She wanted you toknowit was her.”

Anger sweeps my chest and back, storming into my face. This truck is my baby, as much as my guitar is. It’s almost painful to look at the damage. How the hell did she find the time and energy to pull this off?

My jaw flexes. I’ve always known that Cadence had claws, but it looks like the little cat is using her teeth to bite me.

* * *

Jinx: Prince Charming’s Royal Carriage Gets A Smelly Make-over

Someone left a very special surprise for our Prince Charming this evening. Sources say his royal steed was seen vomiting a trash heap. Someone isn’t playing very nice with the Crown Prince of Redwood.

Oh well. Perhaps, since Cinderella is used to traveling via giant pumpkins, she won’t mind sitting in a pumpkin without its nasty guts removed.

I wonder who was brave enough to start a war with the royal line at Redwood Prep? And will they be able to survive when the Prince delivers his revenge?

Stay subscribed and find out.

Until the next post, keep your enemies close and your secrets even closer.

- Jinx

CHAPTEREIGHT

CADENCE

If I had any sense of self-preservation, I would avoid Redwood Prep for a week. But my stubborn streak is alive and well. If I was going to retreat, then I wouldn’t have left that surprise in Dutch’s car in the first place.

Redwood Prep rises into view and I squeeze the hell out of my backpack straps.

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