Page 136 of The Forbidden Note

Zane Cross isn’tgoing to bemy ruin.

The cocky bastard already is.

* * *

Everyone gathers in the kitchen. Dutch is sitting at the head of the table, fingers clenched and eyes glaring a hole into the fancy glass surface.

Cadence is at his right, her eyes full of worry.

Sol is in the chair next to her, his fingers drumming the table. There are dark circles under his eyes. He looks like he hasn’t been sleeping well.

Finn is sitting beside me. He hasn’t said much. Not that he usually does. If he has any thoughts about what he saw in the hallway earlier—his brother practically naked and pinning me to the wall—he’s keeping them to himself.

Zane is leaning against the counter, head cocked to one side, dark hair sliding across his forehead. He’s now dressed in an undershirt that shows off arms corded with muscle and ink. Those loose grey sweatpants do nothing to hide his powerful hips and thighs…

Predatory blue eyes meet mine and he smiles that dark, seductive smile of his that tells me I’m definitely about to be his prey and I might even like it.

I glance away, shaken.

“Tonight is the most important piece of our plan,” Dutch says. “We can’t afford for any step to go wrong.”

“Where are we on the details?” Sol asks, eyes hooded beneath thick lashes.

Zane makes his drumstick dance over his finger. “I already contacted the caterers.”

“And I have the camera blockers,” Finn adds.

“I’m picking up the van later,” Dutch says. “I might be late.” His eyes slice through Zane’s. “Don’t start the party without me.”

“Relax, Dutch.”

“I am relaxed.”

“No, you’re wound so tight you’re about to pop. Since when were you so anxious?”

Cadence sighs. “It’s me. I’m nervous and overthinking.”

“This isn’t like last summer,” Dutch says harshly.

“It better not be,” Finn grumbles.

“Cadey reminded me that security will be tighter because of the dance. We might have chosen the wrong night to break into the basement.”

“The masquerade ball will cover our tracks. Nothing can go wrong,” Zane says.

Dutch’s face is still tight. “Don’t get too cocky. If anyone spots us and tells Harris, we’ll lose our advantage. He already went on a power trip after suspending us. He’ll be bolder next time.”

“Harris isn’t the only one who’ll come after us if we get caught,” Finn says.

Dutch looks at him.

Sol frowns. “Who else do we have to worry about?”

“Dad.”

Zane rolls his eyes. “We always have to watch out for dad.”

“Sloane’s case.” Finn’s handsome face tightens with secrets. “I think he knows something. Something he doesn’t want us finding out. The way he spoke to Miss Jamieson at the dinner… he tipped his hand. He’s worried.”

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