Page 151 of The Silent Note

I glance back at Dutch. “We only have one semester left. It’s not like we have to stare at his face forever. And Greywould prefer this too, compared to the alternative.” I swing back around. “As long as he stays in his place.”

Cadence looks frightened, but Dutch considers Sol and then me.

“It was you and Sol’s blood he spilled,” my twin says. “You two get to decide how we take our price.”

Sol’s lips arch up.

Dutch looks at him, darkly. “I don’t care what you do in your private life, Sol, but decisions like these,” he gestures to Hall, “we maketogether.”

“Fine,” Sol agrees, lifting his chin.

Cadence opens her mouth like she wants to say something, but then she seems to think better of it and shakes her head instead.

The musical bells chime.

Dutch draws his arms around his wife’s shoulders. “We’re going to class.”

“Bye, guys,” Cadence says, her eyes sad.

Sol waves sloppily. I notice that he’s not quite meeting Cadey’s gaze.

I press my hand into Sol’s chest. “Remember, keep your rat away from my wife.”

Sol nods and motions to our new lackey. “Go to class. We’ll call you if we need you.”

Hall darts off.

Sol juts his chin forward. “Come on. You going to class or what?”

“Yeah.” My eyes catch on his hand. Unease spreads through me when I notice the dirt under Sol’s nails.

Has he been setting more fires?

“Hi, Zane.”

“Hi, Sol.”

We’re getting more attention as the hallway floods with people heading to class, but we both ignore the calls. It’s like the girls don’t even exist.

“Sol…” I say uneasily.

“Damn, Miss Jamieson really turned you into a decent human being, didn’t she? Shut up, Zane. I know what you’re going to say.” Sol chuckles and, for a moment, the sparkle is back in his eyes. “And you don’t have to worry. I’m not going to lose it completely, I swear.”

“I have your back either way. The Kings will never change.”

The smile gets harder on his tan face. Sol stops in the middle of the hallway and stares at me. “You’re wrong, Zane. You and Dutch have wives now. Those girls are your everything. Of course I don’t expect The Kings to stay the same.” He slaps me on the back and walks ahead of me. “And I kind of like the way things are changing now.”

My heart beats hard against my chest. Anxiety is an unfamiliar feeling, but it’s coming out in full force, crashing into my lungs and choking me.

There are some changes I like.

Dutch being happy with Cadence? I like.

Us surviving all of dad’s attempts to hold us down? I like.

Grey Jamieson taking my last name? I really,reallylike.

But whatever’s happening with Sol is frightening.

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