Ember

  Absolute Hell.

  Out of all the people in my life, my sister included, Bee was the only person who actually saw past the bad and tried to reach for the good.

  To everyone else I was a lost cause.

  To her? I was someone worth fighting for.

  But somewhere along the way, I’d stopped fighting for the most important thing in my life.

  Myself.

  “Hungry?” Bee said from behind me.

  I damn near collided with the fridge as I jumped back and closed it. “I didn’t hear anyone drop you off.”

  She smiled sadly. “Yeah well, I didn’t exactly stomp through the house like you’re known to do.”

  I returned her smile. “I don’t stomp.”

  “You do.” She nodded. “Daily. And if you aren’t stomping, you’re grunting.”

  “Well, I sound like a complete joy to be around. Thanks for that.”

  Bee lifted her hand and touched my shoulder. “How’s it feel?”

  “Like I got shot.”

  “Put ice on it?” She scrunched up her nose. “Sorry, I didn’t exactly enroll in any gunshot wound classes at Elite.”

  “Ice.” I nodded. “I’ll… uh, see if that helps.”

  “Okay, well… I’m going to go to bed.” Bee’s mouth opened and closed like she wanted to say something else but decided not to. She turned and walked out of the kitchen then stopped. She wrung her hands together in front of her and turned on her heel, making a beeline for me again. “One more thing.”

  “What?” I leaned against the fridge.

  “This may not make sense, and you may laugh at me for saying it… and I know I’m just a girl, and—”

  “Bee.”

  “—I believe in you,” she blurted, tears in her eyes. “I just… I want you to know that despite everything… I believe in you. That’s all.”

  She nodded her head and stumbled backward, nearly colliding with the kitchen counter, then practically ran out of the room.

  I stared at the space she’d just escaped for a good five minutes, my head pounding.

  The last person who had said that to me was Luca Nicolasi.

  Chills erupted across my skin. I gripped the handle to the fridge and jerked it open.

  Without a second thought, I pulled out the blueberry yogurt.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Change was coming — and I wasn’t ready, not by a long shot.

  Sergio

  I WOKE UP EARLY so I could be home by the time Bee and Phoenix got up for breakfast. I threw on my running gear and took off.

  The sun wasn’t up yet. The road was quiet, eerie almost. I hated being alone with my thoughts, hated exercise in general, but running, for some reason, helped me cope.

  Right, the killer needs help coping. Hilarious.

  My feet hit the pavement in a steady rhythm. When I reached the field, I pretended that I needed to stretch just as another runner stopped.

  “You got what I need?” I asked, not bothering to look at her.

  She reached into her hoodie and pulled out an envelope. “It’s all here.”

  “You know they could kill you for this.” I took the envelope and shoved it into my pocket, still refusing to look her directly in the eyes.

  “I’m already dead,” she said in a confident tone. “My cover was blown ages ago. They only keep me around to toy with me.”

  I finally looked at her; she was young, probably my age, dark brown hair in a ponytail, face makeup-free, not gorgeous but pretty, youthful. A pity that she wasn’t going to live long enough to enjoy life.

  “If I don’t see you later…” I gave a curt nod.

  “I knew the terms when I signed up, Sergio, so did you.”

  I licked my lips in irritation. “We had completely different reasons, I’m sure.”

  She smiled sadly. “Yeah well, dead girl walking.” Her smile was sad, her eyes unfocused.

  I knew what I had to do. “What’s your name?”

  She squinted and tilted her head. “Um, why?”

  I offered a comforting smile “Just tell me.”

  “Sarah.”

  “I like it. It’s pretty.” And probably fake.

  She snorted. “Well, when you see the name Sarah in the obits this coming week, don’t feel sorry for me. Then again, they’d have to recognize the body.”

  “For what it’s worth, thank you for getting this information for me.”

  “Like I said… dead girl walking.” She offered a wave.

  Brave. She was facing her own death in a way that was braver than me; so in that moment, I decided to extend mercy, a mercy I knew would never be extended in my direction — ever.

  “Hey, Sarah?” I called.

  She turned around.

  I pulled out my gun and fired two shots directly into her chest. Her expression went from surprised to peaceful in seconds.

  She slumped to the cold hard ground. “Th-thank you.”

  “May God have mercy on your soul,” I whispered, firing a third shot and kissing her across the forehead as her head hit the gravel road. I pulled her lifeless body to the side, covered her up with some brush, and continued on my run.

  When I reached the next mile marker, I cleaned my gun and forced thoughts of the girl’s death behind me. She’d been brave.

  And I wanted to honor that bravery. After all, I knew firsthand what they would do to her once they needed to tie up a loose end.

  What I’d done ? Was a kindness.

  I patted the heavy envelope in my pocket and ran like hell the rest of the way home. When I rounded the corner into the kitchen, Bee and Phoenix were already sitting at the table eating.

  “Have a good run?” Phoenix asked, not looking up from the newspaper.

  “It was…” I shrugged and poured myself a glass of orange juice. “…interesting.”

  Bee smiled at me.

  I returned it.

  And shoved my free hand into my pocket so she wouldn’t see the shake… the shake that always happened when I took a life, the adrenaline that surged, and the absolute loss I felt as another piece of my soul was taken away.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Sometimes I missed her arguing… sometimes.

  Phoenix

  BEE DIDN’T ARGUE WITH me when I told her we were going to be late for her classes. Nor did she roll her eyes when I handed her a granola bar, just in case she got hungry.

  When I turned on Mozart, she sighed and looked out the window as if she was content with the world. Meanwhile, a freaking storm was stirring inside my chest at the sight of her short skirt and tight blouse.

  I cleared my throat, forcing my eyes away as I pulled the car up to the Elite campus and parked in our usual spot.

  “Don’t forget about your—”

  “Pop quiz,” she finished, opening her door, not waiting for me to run around and get it for her. “I’m all over it.”

  “Great.” I grabbed her book bag and handed it to her.

  “Bee!” Andi charged toward us. “I was worried you weren’t going to come today. Do you always run this late?”

  “Usually.” Bee shrugged and offered me a pathetic smile, one that still had my entire body as tight as a drum and ready to attack her without a second thought. “But he’s trying to keep me in check.”

  Andi’s eyebrows rose. “Yeah about that…”

  “What?” Bee looked from me back to Andi.

  “Pike’s been saying some stuff…” Andi fumbled with her backpack. “Look, it’s probably nothing, but he’s saying that you’re screwing your bodyguard.”

  Shit.

  My fault.

  I hadn’t gotten that far in our plan, far enough to threaten Pike within an inch of his life that he needed to shut the hell up and keep Bee out of the school gossip, which meant I was going to have to go talk to him and try not to shoot him when my finger was feeling trigger happy.

  “Oh,” Bee said in a calm tone. “Well, I guess that’s not so b
ad. It’s just a rumor right? It will die down.”

  Andi exhaled a whistle. “If you say so. Ready for class?”

  “Yup!” They linked arms and trotted off.

  I followed at a safe distance, and when I saw them enter the building and the right classroom, I excused myself and went in search of Pike.

  He was easy to find, mainly because I had his schedule memorized. Lucky for me, he was in Sergio’s class.

  Toying with him would be the highlight of my day.

  I knocked on the door twice then let myself in.

  “Phoenix…” Sergio stood, his eyes questioning. “Did you need something? We just started class.”

  “I need someone,” I said loudly. “Pike? He in this class right now?” I knew he was, but I wanted the kid to squirm.

  “Absolutely.” Sergio’s face was expressionless, but I was pretty confident that he was doing a little cheer on the inside on my behalf; none of us liked the little shit, and I was getting to do the honors for the first time. Lucky me. “Pike, a moment please.”

  Slowly, Pike stood to his full height, his shit-eating grin making me want to take his life more than my next breath. “Problem?”

  “No.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “At least not yet. I need to talk with you.”

  “No offense.” Pike shrugged away from me. “But you’re a private bodyguard to another student. You can’t take me anywhere.”

  Sergio grinned. “Pike… of course he can. Don’t you know who this is?”

  “Do you?” Pike sputtered. “Because I have it on good authority that he’s bad news and can’t make me do shit.”

  “Well…” Sergio clasped his hands together. “…I should get back to teaching. Have fun, boys.”

  “But—”

  “I’m going to enjoy this.” I grabbed Pike and shoved him toward the door then shut it behind us. The hall was completely empty.

  Pike didn’t move, simply snorted. “You can’t make me do anything. You’re a has-been. You’re not even a real student! A paid bitch, that’s what you are.”

  “Keep talking.” I popped my fingers. “Really, it just gives me more time to plan what I’m going to do with you in excruciating detail.”

  Pike paled. “You can’t touch me.”

  “Oh, I can…” I nodded. “…I will...” I kicked him in the shin then grabbed him by the neck and whispered. “…because I’m not just some girl’s private security detail. I’m the head of security at Eagle Elite. I’m also the boss of the Nicolasi family.” I paused long enough to eye him up and down. “Then again, you already knew that, didn’t you? I’m the judge, jury, executioner… and for the next five minutes, I’m your only hope of walking on two legs for the rest of your life, so I’d cooperate, before I get tired of hearing your pathetic voice and rip your throat out.” I tightened my grip. “Capiche?”

  Pike tried to jerk away from me. I found an empty classroom and tossed him into it, slamming the door behind us.

  “Y-you can’t hurt me!” Pike yelled. “Do you know who I am?”

  I chuckled. “Why? Are you having an identity crisis, little guy?”

  Roaring like a caged lion, he lunged for me. I moved out of the way and kicked him in the ass then slammed his body against the brick wall.

  “Try that one more time. I dare you.”

  “If I die, they’ll know you did it. You’ll start another war — do you really want that?”

  “I live for war.” I slammed him again, blood spewed from his mouth. “Or weren’t you listening. I’m Nicolasi. I cut my teeth on violence. Now, stop fighting like a bitch and have a seat, before I get really pissed off.”

  He stopped fighting against me, so I pushed him into an empty chair and stood in front of him. “Stay away from Bee.”

  “Is that what this is about?” He laughed. “Some girl? What, you can’t keep her interest?” Realization crossed his features. “Oh I get it. She’s disgusted because she knows what you did… classic. Tell me, do her screams get you off?”

  A litany of graphic curses spewed from my mouth as I punched him in the jaw. When I gripped him by the shirt, blood trickled from my knuckles onto his white buttons. “Listen, you little prick. Whatever business goes down between all of us is our business — you leave Bee out of it. She deserves normal at this school, and I’m trying to give her that. Spread one more rumor, and I’ll cut off your dick and mail it to Russia with love.”

  Pike gulped. “You’re bluffing.”

  “Think long and hard, Pike.” I grinned menacingly. “You know my last name. You know what I’m capable of. I don’t have feelings — hell, I don’t even have a conscience. Your choice. The rumors stop… or you lose an appendage.” With a snarl of disgust, I released him and waited.

  His eyes blazed with fury. “Fine. No more rumors. But I can’t — I’m not going to stay away from her, not if she wants to hang out. Some of us need friends to survive. We aren’t all cold-blooded killers.”

  “I’ll be sure to tell that to your pops next time I visit federal prison.”

  Pike pushed away from the chair and muttered, “Whatever,” under his breath. “We done here.”

  “For now.” I nodded. “Oh, and clean up. You look like hell.”

  He gave me the finger and left the room.

  And I felt better than I had in months, which was probably a bad sign, considering what had made me feel better was torturing someone under the age of twenty and toying with the idea of cutting up his body nice and pretty for school pictures.

  I straightened my shirt, wiped my knuckles with some tissue from the professor’s desk, and sauntered out into the hall.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Violence isn’t always the answer, but it does make you feel better… sometimes.

  Bee

  “WHOA!” I STOPPED DEAD in my tracks as Pike’s swollen face came into view. “What happened to you?”

  “Ran into a wall?” he offered with a smirk. “Don’t worry about me. I’m more concerned about you right now.”

  Andi elbowed me. “Sorry, kids, gotta go. I don’t want to be late for my ride!” She ran off, leaving me alone with Pike.

  “Me?” I shrugged. “Why would you be worried about me?”

  Pike smiled. It was nice, his smile. I knew that, according to Phoenix, he was bad news, but he was a good-looking guy, and he was giving me attention. Talking to him wouldn’t kill me, and if it did, we had way bigger problems.

  “Walk with me?” He stepped aside.

  I glanced around for Phoenix, but he was nowhere I could see, so I followed.

  “If you’re looking for the bodyguard, you can always send him a text so he doesn’t freak.”

  I laughed. “He’ll be fine.”

  “You’re safe with me.” Pike elbowed me in the side. “Promise.”

  “So, you’re worried?”

  Pike nodded, his sandy brown hair falling across his forehead. “Yeah, I mean, I know everyone thinks I started those rumors, but the truth is I’ve been trying to stop them. Kids here can be really cruel and… well, your bodyguard is a De Lange. Not only that, but he used to take advantage of girls, you know that, right?”

  My stomach dropped. “Yes.”

  “He raped them. Everyone knows it… and, well, some of the kids are saying that you like it rough.”

  My stomach heaved. “But he would never, I mean, we never…” I shook my head back and forth.

  Pike pulled me into his arms. “Hey, hey, don’t cry. Let’s go grab a coffee, okay? That’ll make you feel better.”

  Numb, I nodded.

  Never had the idea crossed my mind that others would know about Phoenix’s past or associate me with it. I felt dirty, even though I had done nothing wrong, and then I felt guilty for feeling that way, knowing Phoenix was probably horrified at the prospect.

  But I had kissed him.

  And he had warned me.

  “You know he pays prostitutes, right?” Pike said in a soft voice. ??
?That’s the only way he can keep the edge off. Pays them… killed a few back in the day too.”

  “How do you even know this?” I stopped walking. “It’s not like it’s public information.”

  “I have my ways.” Pike shrugged. “Look, the campus coffee shop is just up ahead.”

  I glanced at the building. Orange cones lined the grass and sidewalk, and a large yellow and black sign warned UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

  “The sidewalk’s closed off.”

  “We’ll go around.” He shrugged and led me back around the building by the trees. When he released my hand, I looked up just in time to see a large burly man approaching with a black sack. I stumbled back.

  Searing pain hit my neck.

  Everything went black.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Paranoia… it was my life now.

  Sergio

  CLASSES FINALLY ENDED, AND I was free to look through the packet that Sarah had given me that morning.

  I locked my door and dumped the contents on the desk.

  A flash drive fell out as well as a few pictures. The pictures I was familiar with; they were of the Petrov family, greedy drug-pushing bastards. Most were rotting in prison — all except our friend, Pike.

  It could be nothing.

  Except, why would the agency implant Pike in the school?

  To keep an eye on us?

  To keep an eye on me?

  To tie up loose ends?

  Nothing was making sense, and I figured it was probably because I was daydreaming about one of my students with bright blond hair and an easy smile.

  She haunted me.

  And I hated her for it. Freaking took it out on her in class today, nearly yelling at her for not having her pencil.

  Great, asshole of the year award goes to… yours truly.

  With a curse, I shoved the flash drive into my laptop and double-clicked on its icon.

  More pictures that bored me to tears.

  And then documents.

  Contracts, to be exact. Contracts with the Petrov name on them… which, honestly, wasn’t all that surprising, considering they used to own a large amount of shipping companies. Huge shock there; they shipped their drugs from other countries into ours.