Page 20 of Tempting Little Thief

There is no waiting list for those who decline, which is a rarity in itself.

You’re in, or you’re not, and once you are, you better be ready to work.

There are dozens of positions to fill and new ones to be created when promise shows itself.

That’s the beauty of the Greyson Empire. We aren’t stuck in a time loop where our elders know best and we don’t fix what isn’t broken. Buildings crash and crumble with no sign of a crack.

Tsunamis arise and destroy with little, if any, warning.

Here, we don’t hold on to what was but look toward what can and will be.

If you’re worthy, the possibilities are endless.

If there’s no place for you, you can create one.

It can be that simple … or it can be the hardest thing you’ll ever do.

No one can ever say Greyson Elite Academy is easy, and that’s exactly the way we want it. It’s as I said … only the supreme is selected, and only the strongest survive.

Heiress or not, no one can claim my girls and I haven’t earned our birthright.

And no one will know about the secret society we’ve created within the Greyson world unless we decide we want them to.

“Game faces, bitches.” Bronx straightens her shoulders, preparing to be seen once the door is pulled open, and the two of us follow suit. “It’s time to play plastic.”

She is first from the door, and I follow.

As per usual, at the top of the steps, leaning against the wall closest to the entrance, stands Delta’s boyfriends, Alto and Ander. Beside them, Damiano is propped with one foot against the wall, and his arms crossed over his chest with his wards at his side, the slightly psychotic, potentially problematicGreco brothers. The five of them stand back, watching as we step out, patiently waiting to fall in line behind us. They’re careful not to make eye contact with me but smile slyly at my flirty friend.

Delta is the last to get to her feet, and then Sai closes the door, folding his hands loosely in front of him and giving a curt nod to the boys. And then he waits, as he always does. I’m not exactly sure how long he stays at the edge of the curb, but he’s always there when I look back.

Together, we girls hit the brick steps, our strides the same width, paces mirrored, and pastel pleaded uniforms pressed to perfection.

We’re the picture of poise: calm and collected, intriguing and intuitive.

Outright unattainable yet utterly approachable.

A brilliant example for all to aspire to.

Just before we pass the threshold into the exquisite, Roman-inspired building with its high arches and hand-carvedwoodwork, we pause beside the gold-infused beams, a dozen more stretching along the walls ahead. I meet my girls’ eyes, and a flicker of humor grins back from each. With hidden smirks and stimulated minds, we glide into the school, prepared to assume our roles for the day, secretly desperate toownthe night.

And we will.

We always do.

Chapter 4

Bass

The heavy beating in the background has my body jolting upright, palms slick with sweat as I clench the bat in my hand, ready to swing at a moment’s notice, but then the pounding sounds again and I recognize it for what it is, heavy knuckles coming down on the cheap wooden door.

“Up, Bishop. Now.” Keffer’s voice comes through right as the room shifts into focus, and I spot the morning light streaming past the cracks of the broken blinds.

My shoulders ease and I pop my neck, tossing the wooden weapon—the only fucking “weapon” I’m allowed to keep in this house—on the bed.

“Yeah,” I call back, running my hands down my face.

I’ve lived in this group home for almost four years now. Came here after I put a bullet in my old man … two seconds before he pulled a trigger himself, the barrel of his gun pointed at my baby sister.

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