Page 51 of The Ruthless Note

Stalking back to the pool, I glare at my brother who’s sitting down and drying his shirt off with a towel. It’s not doing much. He still looks just as soaked as before. Sol is on the opposite side of the bench, encountering the same problem.

My nostrils flare. “That’s not funny, Zane.”

“What’s not funny?”

“Give me back my clothes,” I bark.

Zane’s eyebrows scrunch together. His acting’s getting better because he genuinely looks like he has no idea what I’m talking about.

“I didn’t take your clothes,” Zane says.

“Sol?”

He lifts both hands. “I didn’t either.”

I glance over my shoulder. “Any ideas where it could have gone?”

“Hey,” Zane protests, “how come you’re not blindly accusing Finn?”

“Because he wouldn’t do something that stupid.”

“I’m offended,” Sol says with mock outrage. “So you’re sayingIwould? You’re lumping me in with this guy?” He points at Zane.

“The clothes couldn’t have walked off,” I growl.

Finn lifts a hand. “I do remember hearing movement in the locker room, but I didn’t think it was anything suspicious.”

“Whoever it was, they would have seen we were here,” Zane says.

“No one at Redwood would mess with you like that.” Sol rubs his chin thoughtfully, his dark hair clumping all over his head. “You sure you looked everywhere?”

My fingers curl into fists. “There’s one person at Redwood who’d be insane enough to try me.”

Finn smirks.

Zane smacks his hands together. “Why am I so entertained by this?”

“Who?” Sol asks, glancing at me and then Finn and Sol. “Who’s crazy enough to cross Dutch?”

I turn sharply and stalk out of the pool.

You want a show, Cadence? I’ll give you a freaking circus.

CHAPTERELEVEN

CADENCE

My locker slams shut unprompted, nearly yanking my nose clear off my face. I jump in shock and glance up to find a pair of disdainful brown eyes staring at me.

“Paris, to what do I owe thedispleasure?”

The cheerleader takes a threatening step forward. “You think you did anything special, Trash Girl?”

“Oh, Trash Girl?” I smirk. “Very creative.”

“I know it was you who messed with Dutch’s car.” She hikes her chin in the air and looks down at me. “And if you think for a second that you’re going to get away with…” Her eyes catch on something in the distance and then widen to talk up half of her face.

“Oh my Gucci,” Paris whimpers.

---