Page 70 of Tell Me Why
“Flirting,” she says, likeduh.“I’ve got RussellandDorian primed. I was hoping to get some duel action.”
I blink at her. How does she not know how pretty she is? We were roomies for several months, so I know she owns a mirror.
“Okay, I hate to break it to you, but you could blink in their direction and they’d both come running. No work or flirting required.”
She makes a face like she doesn’t believe me. “So, what’s up?”
“Let’s go to the study,” I say, flicking my chin in that direction.
“Suspicious, but okay,” she laughs, following me.
In the study, the large window overlooking the front lawn is boarded up, but there’s no one in here. People don’t generally hang out in this room, unless a Sacred Son is with them. I get the sense that it’s some kind of unspoken rule. But me? I don’t care about their rules. The Sacred Sons can fuck themselves.
“Have you heard from my brother?” I ask. “Does he know I ended up in the hospital?”
Sin has a way of knowing everything. I wouldn’t be surprised if he has someone watching Rush House, noting all the comings and goings. And if that’s the case, they would have seen the ambulance arrive yesterday.
“He texts me about once a day, asking about you,” she says with a shrug. “You told me to tell him you’re fine, so that’s what I do.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. Sin clearly believes her, otherwise, he would have stormed this place by now. If he had even an inkling that I was in trouble, a brick through the window and a fire on the front lawn would feel like child’s play. “Okay, good. Thanks.”
“Are you really okay, though? How are you feeling?”
Swallowing back the memory of what happened, I nod stiffly. “Yeah, it was pretty scary, but I’m okay.” Actually, my throat spontaneously closing up was downrightterrifying, but I’m hardwired to downplay my discomfort. That particular trait is a gift from my aunt. She hated it when I complained about literally anything, accusing me of being dramatic. “It was definitely intentional, though. Is there any talk about who could have done it? Any rumors?”
“Not really,” Skye says. “But there is somehot as fuckguy wandering around, asking questions. I’ve never seen him before, so I don’t think he’s a member.”
That’s weird. The Burning Crown thrives on secrecy, so it’s strange that they’d invite some random person in to ask questions. “Do you know his name?”
“Um, yeah, it’s something weird…” She pauses, thinking. “Cash, that’s it.”
Cash, my mind repeats, latching on to the familiar name.
“Last name?” I ask.
She shrugs and leans against the flat backrest of the leather sofa. “They didn’t tell us his last name. Jackson just said he’d be around for a few days, and for us to give him our full cooperation.”
Nodding slowly, I push out a breath and try to figure out what this means. All I can come up with is that the secret society world is much,muchsmaller than I thought it was. “Okay, thanks.” I pause. “Hey, um, can you do me a favor?”
“Yeah, of course. What is it?”
“You can’t tell anyone,” I warn.
She laughs at the implication that she would. “Why would I tell anyone? We’re in this together, remember? I’ve got you.”
Glancing over my shoulder to make sure no one is in the doorway, I pull the keys out of my pocket and dangle them in front of Skye.
“What are those for?” she asks.
“Not sure. I found them hidden in Christian’s room,” I say, palming them before anyone walks in. “I hear someone say the Sacred Sons keep all their records in some office on campus. Pretty sure these keys open it.”
“What building?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping you could swing by the Key Office and find out for me?” I ask with apretty-please-with-a-cherry-on-topsmile.
Skye’s eyebrows pinch together. “They won’t tell me.”
“Yes, they will. Use your feminine appeal,” I say, throwing her own advice right back at her.
