Page 1 of Kingston
ONE
ELLIOT
Nervous energy skittersdown my spine as I pull my car up the steep driveway to Hawthorne Hall. It’s a gorgeous old house overlooking Kingston University—recently renovated, it still maintains its architectural roots. I inhale through tightly clenched teeth. There’s something about this place that sets off alarms in my head. Or maybe it’s the anxiety about what I’m doing that causes sweat to pour down my back. Whatever the reason for this unsettled feeling in my gut, I’m determined to barge directly into the lion’s den even though the scared girl inside me screams this is the worst idea ever.
Don’t. Do. This.
There’s a very real possibility these guys are going to chew me up and spit me out when they realize the Elliot Ashford they vetted is actually female. I’ve deceived them. My dad would die if he knew I forged his name on a letter of recommendation.Fuck.It’s going to get back to him.
And these brothers? They’ll likely laugh at me and slam the door in my face. This is their domain, and they only extend invitations to the wealthiest, brightest, most elitemaleson campus. My dad was initiated in his days at KU, and I know from his stories that women simply don’t join the brotherhood. But living among them is the only real shot I have at figuring out what the fuck happened to Will and exacting whatever revenge I see fit once I’ve uncovered the truth. I’m nervous as hell, but I won’t go quietly. They’ll have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming.
An image of Will smiling at me flashes through my mind, and I hear him in my head.You’re a badass, baby girl. You’re stronger than you know. You’ve got this.
Fuck.I miss the hell out of him. I can’t back down now. Swallowing hard to clear the growing lump in my throat, I let my eyes roam the gigantic structure and the expensive cars lined up along the drive. From the looks of it, I might very well be the last to arrive for the introduction of the prospective initiates. My gut roils again at the thought of my deception. It’s probably for the best I didn’t arrive earlier. Things are about to get very, very interesting.
I grit my teeth and collect my bag from the seat beside me, then set it in my lap. They’re going to be pissed off. I feel it with every fiber of my being. So few people get invited each year… and here I am, taking up one of the three coveted spots.
My plan to join the ranks of the brotherhood at Hawthorne Hall is either going to be the smartest thing I’ve ever done or the dumbest. Either way, I know the key to the disappearance of Will Whitlock lies within those walls, and there’s no way I’m not going to fucking figure this out. The thought that something happened to make him disappear? It’s like a knife twisting in the soft flesh of my belly. It pulls all the air from my lungs and makes me dizzy.
I’d never attempt this if I thought there was another way. Going through the initiation will be brutal, I have no doubt. And that’sifI can convince them to let me stay. With my fists clenching in my lap, my eyes flick to the heavy wood doors at the top of a flight of steps. My cousin—my best friend—walked into Hawthorne Hall, but no one ever saw him walk out.
He’sgone.
Fucking enough, Elliot. Get out of the goddamn car.
I grip the handle and open the door. Swinging my legs out, I stand and smooth my skirt with one hand. I give the door a good push, letting it slam shut before I spin back to face the house. With a deep breath, I open my bag to check for the tenth time that I’d put the invitation in there—in case there’s any question. I scan over the expensive-feeling card stock, taking in each word of the invitation once more.
* * *
Elliot Ashford
The Brothers of Hawthorne Hall request your presence.
Friday, the twenty-sixth of August
at nine o’clock in the evening
That’s all it says. It’s very to the point, and the commanding tone jumps right off the card. On the reverse side, in tiny print, it mentions I should bring whatever I’d like with me because I’ll be assigned a room. The initiation period begins tonight—pledge night. My stomach turns again, anxiety riding high. I have the distinct feeling I’ve signed my life away.
But it doesn’t matter. I have to do this. Gathering my courage, I stride quickly up the driveway, my strappy heels clicking with every step. The invitation was formal, so I went for a high-waisted pencil skirt and flowy blouse which hits right at my midriff. I hope like hell I’m appropriately dressed. Shit, it doesn’t matter what I wear. I’m female.That’sthe stumbling block, no matter that I have an invitation with my name on it in hand.
At the imposing, intricately carved door, I press the button at the panel on the left and faintly hear a chime inside the house. I can’t afford to appear weak in any way, but my palms sweat and the clenching in my chest becomes unbearable as I wait for someone to answer the door.Fuck.I inhale sharply.I can do this. I have to. I will.
As I’m about to reassure myself again, footsteps sound, and the door swings open. I press my lip-gloss-slicked lips together and fight the urge to turn tail and run. Instead, I pop my hip to the side and give a small smile. For a moment, the guy standing before me freezes. He doesn’t have a clue what to make of me. Makes sense. They’re definitely expecting their initiate Elliot to be a dude.
The expression on the guy’s face morphs from a blank stare to confusion and finally lands on a smirk as his eyes travel the length of my body. His gaze lingers on the faint outline of my breasts before slithering down over my hips to my legs and even my feet. The return trip to meet my eyes is no more comfortable.
Making a conscious effort, I smooth my features and offer him another smile.
Before I can say a word, he chuckles. “Hey, honey, I think you may be in the wrong place.” His lips twitch before he brings his hand up to rub it over his clean-shaven, sharp jaw. “Sorority rush starts tomorrow on Greek Row.”
I draw myself up and exhale carefully. “My presence was requested tonight.”
His eyes bug out, and I don’t know what goes into his decision, but he then shrugs, backing into the house, and allows me entrance with a flourish. He snickers before he says, “Well, don’t let me stop you, then.”
“Thank you.” I step inside and am immediately bowled over by the grandeur of the foyer. It’s lavish in a way one wouldn’t expect of a place housing university students—even the wealthy sort who attend Kingston University. And if the entryway is like this, I can only imagine what the remainder of the house looks like. I suppose I should have expected as much, but I’m a little in awe.
“Alec, what’s the fuckin’ hold up?” The owner of the growling voice comes around the corner and stops. He’s… hot. No other word for it. Panty-melting hot. My eyes roam over his styled dirty-blond hair, the blue button down, rolled at the elbows, and the dark denim that encases some seriously muscular thighs. His green eyes pierce right into mine, questioning every cell of my existence. He huffs out a laugh, his lips pulling into a bemused smile. His voice is like grit and gravel when he demands, “Who the hell are you?”
