Текст книги "Vicious secrets"

Автор книги: Morgan Bridges

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Chapter 13DELILAH

It’s time to fuck the carpe out of this diem.

At least I think that’s how the saying goes.

I grab my cell phone and put it on silent, but not before checking it for new notifications. My excitement for my first day of college dwindles at Ben’s lack of communication. I texted him yesterday several times about my new friends, the beauty of the campus, and how much I was looking forward to seeing him.

And… nothing.

We haven’t talked on the phone since I told him the details of my pending arrival on orientation day. At this point, either my foster brother is erasing me from his life, or something’s wrong.

The former is too painful to even consider. That leaves me with a sense of foreboding.

I need to find him. Someone in this university has to know Ben, and hopefully, they’ll tell me where he’s been hanging out. It’s his senior year. There’s no way he’d not attend his classes and graduate.

Unless he’s no longer the boy I grew up with.

A tide of memories floods my brain, making my heart squeeze in on itself. I slap a hand to my chest and pull in lungfuls of air to help me breathe. My mind fills with inside jokes and whispered secret dreams, the things that kept me from giving up in hopes of something better.

Ben, the one person who made me feel loved and valued, isn’t here on the first day of a major achievement in my life.

Pushing the debilitating thoughts of him aside, I open my refurbished laptop on my desk in the lecture hall, praying the piece of shit doesn’t die on me like it did the last time I tried to use it. After opening up a blank document, I sit there and wait for Professor Ames to show. The blinking cursor on my screen reflects my anticipation and my racing pulse.

I’m going to get an A in this class or die trying. I’ve come too far to let someone derail my goals because of a god complex.

Raven’s warning drifts through my mind as the imposing figure of Professor Ames walks through the door. He snatches the attention of everyone present, instantly killing all sounds of conversation. If a mouse farted, we’d all hear it.

His three-piece suit speaks of money, and it’s made from materials that I can’t name, let alone afford. Faint pinstripes are brightened by the lights, the shine overhead gleaming off his polished, leather dress shoes. But his gaze is where his true superiority lies.

In its depths is an understanding of how the world works. Might makes right. And in this day and age, money is everything. Power cannot be obtained and held without it.

I position my fingers on the keyboard and wait. My pulse ratchets up as he opens his mouth to speak.

“This is the Fundamentals of Chemistry. I am Professor Archibald Ames the Third. You will address me as Professor Ames, and nothing else.”

He clasps his hands behind his back and starts to walk, my eyes glued to his every move.

“Let’s establish some expectations before diving into the intricacies of chemical bonding. If your cell phone disrupts my lecture, escort yourself from the premises and straight to your academic advisor, who will drop you from my class. I don’t tolerate irresponsibility. You are all legal adults, so act like it, or get out.”

I grab my cell phone again, and check that it’s on silent. Again. This man does not fuck around.

“Secondly,” he continues, “I don’t care what your reason is for taking my class. However, you will respect the subject matter, as well as my dedication to it. If you think you can turn in a paper that’s been drafted within twenty-four hours, your grade will reflect your effort. You’ve been warned, so let’s proceed.”

Holy shit. Maybe getting a “B” isn’t the worst thing after all.

I gather my things at the end of the lecture, my brain throbbing after all trying to comprehend everything Professor Ames went over. The other students don’t try to hide their relieved expressions as they exit the room and continue on with their day. I predict a long line at the coffee shop in the next five minutes.

Not wanting to fight the crowd, I wait to leave until only a few people are left. Professor Ames gathers papers and places them into his leather briefcase. I drop my head to avoid his gaze as I shuffle past.

He shuts his briefcase, the movement drawing my attention to his hands. A hint of gold winks at me under the bright lights. I halt mid-step, and my gaze darts to the ring on his middle finger.

It’s exactly the same as Ben’s, except with the letter “A” right above the anchor.

My heart thunders in my chest. Not only at the prospect of what this could mean, but also given the fact that my professor is staring at me like I’m a puppy who just shit on the floor.

He raises a sardonic brow. “Yes, Miss…?”

“Scott, sir. I mean, Professor Ames.”

“What can I do for you?”

I take a deep breath and take the plunge, hoping it doesn’t tank the grade I haven’t even gotten yet. “I have a question about your ring. It’s really nice. Is it from a fraternity or maybe a family heirloom?”

When he doesn’t respond—or blink—my pulse kicks up a notch. “It’s just that I’ve seen one like it, and I thought it was interesting. You know?”

The man locks his briefcase with a definitive click, his gaze narrowing. The look he gives me makes my insides shrivel and die. If I make it out of here intact, I’m going to yell at Raven for her understatement concerning his arctic personality.

“No, I don’t know, Miss Scott. To answer your question, the ring is both a family heirloom and representative of the Obsidian Order, a fraternity that’s been a part of this university since the first brick was laid centuries ago. Does that satisfy your curiosity, or would you like some more interesting facts that have nothing to do with chemistry?”

I shake my head so hard my hair slaps my cheeks. “No, thank you. But thank you, Professor Ames. Have a good day!”

I cringe at the high-pitched squeak that masquerades as my voice and spin around to practically run out the door. With his piercing gaze stabbing my back.

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Chapter 14DELILAH

It takes me the entire walk back to the dorms to shake off the icy temperament of my professor. He acts like he’s had an icicle shoved up his ass.

When I open the door, I find Raven lounging on her bed, punk music blasting as she scribbles furiously in a notebook. She looks up with surprise when I step inside the room, but her expression quickly morphs into a frown.

“Damn it, Delilah.” She turns off her music and crosses her arms over her ample chest. “It’s the first day of class. Don’t tell me you’ve already fucked up in some way.”

“I haven’t, unless you count talking to Professor Ames about his signet ring after class.”

She slowly shakes her head, staring at me like I’m a terminal cancer patient. “What did I say about him? You know nothing, Jon Snow.”

I plop onto my bed with a sigh and toss my arm over my face. “This is all Ben’s fault.”

“Explain.”

“So, I grew up in the foster system. I’m not trying to get out my violin and play my sad song, but it was rough until my last three years. My foster mother Gloria is an angel. Before her, it was just me and Ben, my foster brother. There are also two little girls that came to live with us that are like my little sisters.”

I pause when my eyes prick with tears. After clearing the emotion in my throat, I continue. “They were my family and the only good things in my life. Ben got a scholarship to South Harbor, and he’s been here for the last three years. The long distance was hard on us, but I thought that would change once I started school here. Except he hasn’t responded to any of my texts or calls. It’s been days now.”

Raven nods solemnly. Then she gets to her feet and walks over to my bed, sitting next to me. “You’ll hear from him soon. It sounds like you were in the trenches together, and that kind of bond doesn’t disappear overnight.”

“Maybe it did over the last three years.”

She scoots closer on the comforter. “A ride-or-die doesn’t just continue on riding without you. So that leaves dying, which I would’ve heard about by now. Gossip travels through this place faster than a viral video on social media. So that means it’s either a possessive girlfriend, or he’s in an over-involved alumni group.”

I smile at her. “You’re brilliant. You know that?”

“Duh. Now tell me why.”

“Ben has been wearing a gold signet ring for a while now. It’s identical to the one Professor Ames wears, except there’s a different letter engraved on it.”

She taps her chin in thought. “And that’s why you talked to him and risked failing his class. The things we do for love.”

“Oh, no. It’s not like that between us. I only see Ben as my brother.”

“That’s cool, but love comes in many different forms. Whatever label you want to give it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that it’s strong enough to get you to take action, and with that comes risk.”

When I scrunch my forehead and give her a side-eye, she waves a hand in dismissal. “Anyway, what did Professor Ames say?”

“That it’s a family heirloom and part of the fraternity, the Obsidian Order.”

She tilts her head. “And you’re sure Ben’s not part of the founding families?”

“The what?” I frown. “Ben and I were orphans, so that just leaves the social club.”

“Hmm. What was the letter on his ring?”

“‘M.’”

Raven jumps to her feet and crosses the floor to grab her laptop. Unlike mine, it’s brand new and top of the line. She types rapidly, the clicking sound the only one in the room.

“Boom shakalaka!” she screeches. “Who’s your mommy?”

“Erm…”

I slide from my bed to walk over and peer down at her screen. “The founding families in South Harbor, Massachusetts are as follows,” I read quietly. “Gage, Kent, Shipley, Felton, Emerson, Paine, Barnum, Ames, Donovan, and McKenzie.”

My knees give out, and I sink onto the mattress beside my friend. “You don’t think that’s his real family?”

Raven shrugs. “It’s possible and an avenue of inquiry we shouldn’t ignore.”

“Avenue of inquiry?”

She grins at me. “You can call me Sherlock Fucking Holmes, baby.”

“If Ben found his biological parents, he would’ve told me.” I press my finger to my temples, applying pressure to ease the ache beginning to pulse there. “It’s too important for him not to.”

Like a group of scorpions gathered in the pit of my stomach, betrayal infuses its venom into my being. I hang my head in defeat. How could he keep this from me?

“We don’t know anything for sure,” Raven says. She places a hand on my shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Let’s assume it was given to him for the sake of the fraternity, okay?”

I nod, unable to form words just yet.

“The Obsidian Order,” she mumbles. “Let’s see what this one is all about. I swear, everyone is in a fraternity or sorority now. For the students here, it’s a social status thing. Very elementary, my dear Watson.”

After a few keystrokes, Raven takes a deep breath. “The Obsidian Order, nestled in the shadowed fringes of a historical campus, this fraternity lies behind the imposing wrought-iron gates that lead to a castle. After years of restoration, the place that was once a battleground during the famous British invasion during the American Revolution is now home to a number of South Harbor University students. The Order is the source of many legends. Its members claim lineage from the ten founding families of the South Harbor colony, who still hold power and influence today. The Gothic stone mansion is rumored to be haunted by British redcoat ghosts, as well as those of American revolutionaries, but only those initiated know the truth.”

Raven looks at me, her gaze scrutinizing. “Okay, so I might’ve been wrong about the family lineage and all that, but I’m confident that Ben can explain everything.”

“Yeah.”

“You guys didn’t have a fight or anything, right?” she asks. When I shake my head, she purses her ruby-painted lips. “Then there’s only one thing left to do. We need to find him.”

Even if Ben’s feelings toward me have changed, there’s no way he would abandon the littles. They have nothing to do with our relationship, and he’s shut them out as much as he’s done with me. Maybe he found his real family and felt too guilty to tell us because we haven’t. And probably never will.

“I’m going to reach out to my contacts⁠—”

“You mean friends?” I ask.

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, that. Especially June. She dated one of them recently. The only guy she was faithful to. If anyone knows anything about the fraternity, it’ll be her. Besides, no one loves men more. And a whole castle full of them? Might as well put her on a spinning table with her legs spread so she can get⁠—”

“Oh, my God!” I shake my head. “It’s too early in the morning for this.”

“Honey, it’s never too early or too late to talk about sex.”

“This explains why June was so excited to see Xavier Donovan,” I say, attempting to change the subject. “He’s from one of the founding families. Does she just want to sleep with him, or is it like a revenge fuck against her ex?”

Raven glances at me. “Bingo. Tell her the prize she’s won, folks.”

“Makes sense.”

“Well, that and the fact that he’s gorgeous and forbidden fruit. Like a fly to a banana. And by banana, I mean⁠—”

I throw up my hands. “Yup. It’s too early in the morning for this.”

“It’s never too early to talk about dick.”

“I knew you were going to say that.”

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Chapter 15DELILAH

“What did I tell you?” Raven holds her hands to her chest and sighs. “Brewed Awakenings is the absolute best.”

I nod. “I believe you now. If the coffee is anything like the decorations, I’ll be blown away.”

Vintage lamp lights hang from the ceiling like floating lanterns, casting a glow over the black velvet chairs and crimson settees strategically placed in the room. A huge marble fireplace boasts a roaring fire, its crackling threaded into the soft alternative music playing in the background.

Raven grins at my astonishment. “Told you. This place is a mix between punk rock and aristocratic aesthetic, drowning in goth.”

I breathe in the familiar notes of coffee, chocolate, and sugar as I follow my friend to the counter. An employee with aquamarine hair smiles at us.

“Raven! Good to see you,” she says. “Do you want your usual ‘death in a cup?’”

“You know it, Misty.” Raven winks at the girl. “And for my friend, a rainbow rose latte.”

I browse the elaborate menu with wide eyes, impressed by the options. “Edgar Allen Mocha” and “Nightingale Nitro Cold Brew” are among my favorite names. The time and creativity that went into every detail of this place isn’t lost on me.

When I open my purse and reach for my wallet, Raven places her hand over mine. “I’ve got you, boo.”

“Are you sure?” I ask.

“Absolutely.”

My cheeks burn at her generosity. It might be just a coffee to her, but to me it’s a frivolous spend that I can’t indulge in too often. “Thanks.”

We make our way over to an empty corner, drinks in hand. I take a sip of mine and groan loudly. It’s like cotton candy coffee. Or some other sugar-infested concoction that takes like happiness. Either that or I’m about to get into a diabetic coma.

June arrives a few minutes later, manicured nails drumming against her cup. “You baited me, and I’m here.” She gives Raven a pointed look. “You can’t just text me ‘Dick detectives’ without any explanation. So spill.”

Raven laughs. “Don’t be mad because it worked. Anyway, long story short: Delilah hasn’t heard from her friend Ben, who joined the Obsidian Order. We’re not sure if the social club is the reason he’s been MIA or if it’s a girl who got his balls in a vise. I figured we’d start with the fraternity because that’s where he lives.”

The math genius tucks a curl behind her ear. “I don’t know how much help I’m going to be. Those guys stay locked up tighter than a chastity belt.” A sly smile works its way onto her pink lips. “Not that they don’t get around, but you know what I mean.”

“You dated one of them for a while,” Raven says. “Faithfully, I might add. You have to know something useful that’ll help Delilah get in touch with Ben.”

June drops her gaze to her coffee cup, her bottom lip trembling slightly. “Yeah, Declan and I were together for a long time. Then at the beginning of summer he dumped me. No warning, no indicators, nothing. One day I’m happy and in love and the next he tells me he’s done.”

“I’m so sorry.” I reach across the table to cover her hand with mine. After giving her a squeeze to show my support, I withdraw my arm. “I can’t imagine how hurtful and confusing that was.”

She snaps her head up and her eyes flash. “Yeah, well, fuck him.”

“Just for the sake of research,” Raven says slowly, as though carefully choosing her words, “Declan did wear a gold signet ring with the first letter of his last name on it, right?”

“Yeah. He said every male in his family gets one made the day they’re born, but they can only wear it when they join the fraternity. Something about tradition that goes back to the fucking pilgrims or whatever.”

“Am I right to assume you’ve never been inside the castle?” When June nods, Raven taps her chin in thought. “I wonder what’s in there? Besides a bunch of entitled douchebags.”

“Every other fraternity holds parties in their buildings, but not them.” June takes a drink of her coffee and sets it down. A little more forcefully than usual. “They don’t allow anyone in their inner sanctum. Dicks.”

My shoulders slump with disappointment. I thought the mysterious fraternity would lead me to Ben, but after this conversation, it could actually be preventing me from finding him. The idea of waiting for my foster brother to contact me for an indeterminate period of time is unbearable.

“So now what?” I ask. “I feel like I’ve wasted your time with this. Other than storming the gates and demanding an answer from Ben, it seems like there’s nothing I can do except wait for him to reach out.”

Raven’s eyes light up with a mischievous glint that has me squirming in my seat. “I say we do exactly that, my dear Watson,” she says, adopting a British accent.

I raise a brow at her dramatics. “Seriously?”

“But of course!” She grins, steepling her fingers. “A little bit of sleuthing never hurt anyone.”

“First of all, Sherlock almost died during his adventures. Several times. Second, lurking around at night sounds a lot like stalking.”

Raven waves a dismissive hand. “Pish posh! All I’m suggesting is we take an evening stroll and enjoy the night air. If we happen to spot something through the window or find anything suspicious, that’s a bonus. But not illegal.” Her voice drops conspiratorially low. “But if you want to break in, I’m game.”

“Trespassing is illegal,” I say.

“Semantics. The fraternity is on university property, and we attend said university.”

“Your logic is sound,” June says dryly.

I bite my lip. My need for answers battles with the risks and potential ramifications if I take this operation further than the school’s administration allows. I may not have read the student code of conduct, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t allow good old fashion B and Es.

As if to soothe my reservations, Raven lightly touches my wrist. “We can turn around and go back to the dorm room whenever you want,” she says without an accent, her tone serious. “No man is worth losing your mind over.”

I exhale, letting my good sense flow from me. “Let’s do it, but just a little recon from the outside. And if I say it’s time to leave, we go.”

Raven gives me a grin that could rival the Cheshire Cat’s. “Deal. The game is afoot, Watson!”

“What about me?”

My roommate and I turn to look at June, who stares at us with raised brows. Raven is the first to recover.

“Do you fancy a little midnight stroll?”

June rolls her eyes. “Nothing like a little trespassing to get the school year going.”

“Is that a ‘yes?’” I ask.

“It’s a definite yes. If possible, I want to find out what Declan’s up to nowadays.”

“Hell hath no fury…” I mumble against my coffee cup.

“Right you are, my dear Watson.” Raven gets to her feet. “Would you look at the time? I must leave for my next class. Be at the dorm tonight a little after eight. Cheerio, darlings.”

I stand. “I have a class starting here shortly. I’ll walk with you.” I turn to June. “You coming?”

She shakes her head. “We’re going to do a lot of walking tonight, so I’ll just wait until then. Oh, and don’t forget to dress completely in black.” When I frown at the idea of my limited wardrobe, she says. “Just borrow from Raven. She has more black clothes than a grieving widow.”

My roommate scoffs. “What I grieve is your lack of appreciation for gothic attire, my fair lady.”

June’s tinkling laugh follows Raven and I from the coffee shop and into the brisk autumn afternoon. Other pedestrians walk by on their way to classes or jobs, each of them lost in their own agenda.

Raven links her arm through mine. “Don’t worry so much. This is going to be fun. I didn’t take you for a goody-two-shoes.”

“I’m not,” I say, thinking of how I stabbed two men in one night back when I was fifteen. “I just have a lot to lose now, and it makes me more cautious.”

My friend nods. “I wish I could say that I understand, but I don’t really. If I fuck up, my parents will bail me out, make a generous donation to the dean, and I’ll be back in class the next day.”

“That’s so far removed from my circumstances that I can’t even imagine having that much security.”

“I promise I won’t even let things escalate that high. Okay?”

“Sure, but what about June?” I giggle at the expression on her face when she spoke about her ex. “She sounds like she’s one espresso away from blowing up the whole place.”

Raven smirks. “All I know is this is going to be more fun than some stupid frat party.”

I make a noncommittal noise. “We’ll see. But first, Human Growth and Development starts in twenty minutes.”

“I know you’re a psych major, but when they say ‘human growth,’ could they be talking about the male anatomy by chance?”

I playfully shove Raven. “It’s too early for that subject.”

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