Page 92 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

I sigh. “Can I not have a sick day? Does that put me in danger of voiding our contract?”

“We don’t have a contract, angel. We have a promise. A promise from me that you’ll regret not keeping me happy.”

Delanie’s face appears in my mind, her chubby cheek resting on her arm as she sleeps in her bed.

“I’m just calling to make sure you’re keeping your mouth shut,” Tank says. “You’re getting close to this asshole, and I’m calling to remind you of what’s at stake. Delanie’s counting on you.”

“Keep my little sister’s name out of your mouth, you motherfucking—”

“Ah ah ah,” he tsks. “Keep me happy, Penny. Or else.”

I bite my tongue so hard I’m sure I’ve drawn blood. “I remember what’s at stake.”

“Great. So long as we’re clear.”

He hangs up, and I stare at my phone, wondering if Tank has hacked it. I doubt the Hell Princes are capable of that kind of sabotage, but you never can tell.

I pull back my blinds again, and put a hand to the window, trying to see out.

Going back to watching the movie feels weird now when I know Tank is out there monitoring me somewhere. It feels like trying to pee when someone is listening under the crack of the door.A little privacy, please!

And then I see something else.

A sickeningly familiar car.

Noah is out front, waiting for me.

My door flies open behind me, and I jump so hard I smack my forehead on the window pane. I spin around and see my mom standing in my doorway.

“What are you doing in here?” she asks.

I rub my forehead, wincing. “Getting a concussion. You scared me.”

She hitches a thumb over her shoulder. “Noah Boone is sitting outside of our house.”

I shrug innocently, as if my heart isn’t pounding in my chest. “So?”

“So,” she retorts. “Why are you still in your room?”

“How do you know he’s here to see me?”

She raises a brow, giving me an exasperated look. “Get real, Penny. Who else would he be here to see? What does he want?”

“There’s a party tonight, but—”

Before I can even finish the sentence, she grabs my remote and turns off the tv. “You’re going.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Who are you in this town if you sit at home in your room, watching movies and avoiding nice guys who want to take you out?”

“You mean rich guys? Because he isn’t nice.”

“Neither are you,” she says with a humorless smile. “Which means you can’t afford to pass up opportunities like this.”

She throws me a sheer black top with a bralette attached to the inside and a pair of black jeans. Then, with one final warning glare, she leaves me to get dressed.

Guess I’m doing what Noah wants after all.

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