Page 65 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

And more Hell Princes equals more guns. I’m shit at math, but even I can work that problem out.

For the first time all night, I’m grateful my mom has been sneaking drinks. They’ve put her into a restful sleep, so she doesn’t stir even as I drive over the rumble strips along the shoulder of the road.

When I shift into park, the Hell Princes turn their engines off.

What the fuck is happening?

What do the Hell Princes want with me?

Why did they follow me to a drive-in movie with my mom?

I’ll only get answers once I step out of the car, so I do.

I keep the engine running, but I open the driver door, slide out of the seat onto the sandy shoulder, and take in the motorcycle gang surrounding me.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask, trying to sound casual.

“Beautiful night.” One of the bikers pulls down a black bandana around his mouth and neck, revealing neck tattoos that look like they blend into chest and shoulder tattoos, too.

His head is shaved, but he has a thick beard.

“Is that what you ran me off the road to tell me?”

The large man sucks on his bottom row of teeth and spits on the ground. A few of the other Hell Princes follow suit, like this isWest Side Storyand their movements have to be coordinated.

“No, I ran you off the road to send a message.”

“Ever heard of a phone? They’re great for sending messages. Much less work, too.”

He smiles, but there is no humor in it. “You Golden Boys think you’re so fucking smart.”

A retort about the graduation rates of Ravenlake Prep students versus the kids from Public comes to mind, but I decide it isn’t in my best interest to repeat it.

I don’t feel like getting killed tonight.

“I’m here to tell you that the little truce we had going there for a minute—”

“Which the Hell Princes broke when they attacked my friend,” I say, interrupting him.

“No, which you Golden Boys broke when you pulled out a gun and stopped us from taking what is ours.”

And there it was.

Why they were following me.

Because I was the one who pulled the gun.

The Hell Princes showed up to our campsite to take Haley with them, and I pulled a gun on them.

They left, and I thought that was the end of it

Or, at least, when Caleb knocked Bumper unconscious, I thought that was the end of it.

Apparently not.

“You were coming to kidnap someone,” I remind him. “Someone who was with a Golden Boy. You broke the truce first.”

The man growls. “I’m not going to playhe said, she saidwith you. I’m here to tell you the truce is over. Watch your back.”

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