Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“All of this I know, de Souza.”
“Then, why won’t you do anything?”
“Else,” he hissed. “I won’t do anything else. Even though I’d like to drive this truck through the gates, and mow down every Crow that comes running, they haven’t done it yet.”
“Done what?”
“Committed the act that turns all of Bedlam against Foundry for good. No chance of winning back favor. No forgiveness to be bought with overpriced dinners.”
His death grip on the wheel eased. Jacques leaned back in the seat, calm smoothing out his features. He was stone in name and personality once again.
“We almost had him after he hurt you and Paris, but the slippery bastard got away courtesy of the Letter Man, as you call him.”
“I still don’t understand that. He said he can’t allow the Crows to leave Bedlam yet. Why if he was so pissed at them for beating me?”
“We can’t understand his motives. All we know is the result gave the Crows a chance to get away and spread the lie we arranged the beating and then Riot Royale to get rid of them. They were innocent the entire time. Me punching him in the middle of helping my mother added to the victim image.”
“That wasn’t your fault. Anyone would’ve punched that smirk in.”
Jacques didn’t seem to hear me.
“They haven’t done it yet, Rainey, but I will. I’ll push them the final leg, cutting the Crows out of Bedlam for good. We’re not waiting anymore.”
I laid my hand over his. “Just tell me what you need me to do.”
“MOM AND I VISITED EILEEN yesterday,” Paris said.
It had become routine for us to walk with each other to and from classes. Neither one of us wanted to be caught out alone with Legend and Roan still on the Crows’ hit list, and them showing no signs of stopping.
“How is she doing?”
“Rattled. She knows someone must’ve slipped her something, but she can’t think how or when.”
“Not someone.”
We shared a look.
“Judge Stone is used to people threatening her life. She’s not used to them nearly succeeding, or smiling at her as she goes down.”
“This whole thing has gotten way out of control. None of this makes sense anymore.” I snorted. “What am I saying? It didn’t make sense at any point. No one asked Foundry or the Crows to come in and fuck with our town. They’re playing our saviors while they escalate the violence.”
“It’s not going to work, Rainey. Deep down, people see who they really are.”
We kissed cheeks outside Lecture Hall Three.
“Good luck,” I said. “Kick that Modern Ideologies midterm’s ass.”
“It’s going to be kissing my ass. I’m not walking out of here with less than an A.” She waved, heading in with the other students. “Good luck with bankruptcy.”
“Thanks.”
I left the poli-sci building and passed the quad heading for mine.
Nelson was in his usual seat one down from mine when I rolled in with the other sleep-deprived, coffee-hungover law students trying to survive the next hurdle into law school.
“Hey, Rainey.”
“Sup, Nelson. Ready?”
He blew out a breath. “Ready as I’ll ever be. You?”
“It’s been a rough semester. I heard this morning that Colton’s still touch and go. Hard to cram facts about bankruptcy laws in your head when it’s already stuffed.”
“Sucks for sure. I knew Colton, he’s a nice guy. But a bad one still doesn’t deserve that.”
No one deserves the Letter Man, and despite what I may or may not have done to the person buried in Black Widow Hill, I don’t deserve it either.
No drug would’ve made me hurt an innocent person. The only time in my life I harmed someone human or animal, was when they killed my grandmother.
I wasn’t saying I shouldn’t be punished if the truth came out that it was me who killed that person. But it was me who should be punished. Bella and Colton didn’t hurt a soul, and whatever vengeance the Letter Man was enacting, I’d see to it that the one who faced the punishment, was him.
“Morning, students.” Professor Stein strolled inside, carrying his briefcase. He held it up as he faced us. “Before we begin, I have a simple and straightforward message to anyone who bought a copy of this midterm—”
Nelson’s head shot up.
“How dare you,” Stein snapped. “How dare you betray this institution, your integrity, and yourself. The investigation into who bought these tests is ongoing, and when you’re found, you can expect your expulsion to follow. As for this morning, I have in this case a new test that hasn’t been seen by anyone—including my teaching assistant.
“You have an hour and a half to complete it. Turn it in and leave when you’re done.”
He opened the briefcase, handed half the tests to the TA, and began giving them out—giving each person a disappointed glare as he passed.
It had never been so quiet during an exam.