Total pages in book: 169
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 838(@200wpm)___ 671(@250wpm)___ 559(@300wpm)
Heath releases me from his grip and steps back, looking me up and down like he’s judging the state I’m in. He sucks in the oxygen through his nostrils and then smiles, patting me on the shoulder. “That’s my boy.”
Then he undoes the belt around my wrists, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
He tilts his head. “Now, go clean yourself up.”
CHAPTER 14
Ivy
The next day
Anonymous: Remember what I said. Eight sharp. Don’t be late, twig.
My grip on my phone tightens.
Silas.
I change his name in my phone to Psycho and tuck it into my pocket, so I can focus on my studies, but his warning still looms over my head. I check the library clock, feeling my heart sink into my shoes the closer the arrow gets to twelve—the time for my supposed punishment by the Skull and Serpent Society boys.
“You okay?” Aspen asks, closing her book. “You’ve been off all day. What’s going on with you?”
I sigh. “I have an appointment with someone at eight.”
She raises her brows. “Ooooh! Something important? Or is it a secret? Is it a date?”
I suck in a breath. I don’t want to alarm her, but if I don’t tell her, she’ll find out anyway. “Silas wants my … help.”
“Silas?” She frowns like she can’t believe her ears. “Silas Rivera? As in the guy with the black-and-white hair and the heart tattoo?”
“Yup,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Unfortunately.”
“Why are you hanging out with him of all people? He’s shady as hell,” she says.
“I don’t want to, believe me, but I … owe him,” I respond.
“Ew.” She rolls her eyes.
“Exactly my thoughts.”
“Silas is such a fucking freak. I can’t believe we’re even related at all.”
“What?” My jaw drops because this information came out of the blue.
“Yeah. Didn’t you know?” She makes a face. “He’s my half brother.”
My eyes become even wider. “No, I didn’t. But how? Aren’t your parents still together?”
She nods. “Yep. My mom, Penelope … she has this poly thing going on since forever with my dad Dylan, as well as Felix and Alistair. To me they’re like extra dads, but it feels odd, for sure. Especially for me and my siblings and half siblings.”
“Wow.” I close my book. I’m too invested now.
She rubs her lips together. “Yup. It’s normal for us. We’re not alone, though. Silas and Max are cousins too.”
My jaw drops. “What?!”
“It’s true. I thought you knew that already since you’ve been hanging with Max.” She takes a sip of her water like she’s just given me the greatest tea ever, but it feels fishy.
“Wait, how do you know about that?”
“I saw him approaching you in the grass but then turning around, all sweaty. Why did you think I pulled Xav and River with me to go hang somewhere else?” She nudges me with her shoulder. “I got you, girl.”
“Thanks.” I blush, not knowing how to respond.
If only she knew what I knew.
But I can’t risk my friends being pulled into my troubles.
“Oh shit, hide me,” she suddenly says, ducking for cover under the books.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
“Levi Torres,” she whispers. She hastily points at a guy with dark hair entering the library, who’s wearing a button-up white shirt to hide the scorpion tattoo peeking out near his neck, his middle-parted fringe falling over his face as he looks around.
“Wait … Levi Torres? Max said something about him being his half brother.”
“He’s been egging me on to go on this camping trip with a bunch of friends.”
“And why is that a bad thing?” I ask.
“Because he’s Levi fucking Torres,” she hisses. “Do you see those damn abs?”
I take another look at his toned body. He’s definitely defined in all the right places. “I get it.”
“See? Why would I go on a camping trip with that trap walking around in my vicinity?”
I laugh. “I don’t see how that’s a bad thing, to be honest.”
She frowns from under her book cover. “No, no, no. I’m out of here. Talk later, okay? Good luck with Silas.”
She rushes off, passing a few bookshelves to curve around the route Levi is taking. I didn’t even get to say goodbye. She just ran off like she wanted to avoid being in the same room as him.
I check the clock again and swallow back the nerves. Ten more minutes. If I’m late … they’ll come for me. I have no choice. I have to go.
I push myself off the chair, close my books, and tuck them into my bag, then head out the door. I make my way to the Skull and Serpent Society, feeling like every goddamn person on this campus watches me enter that building. Or maybe I just feel hyperaware of every scrutinizing gaze as I walk up to the door and push the bell.
After a while, a guy bearing a striking resemblance to Max opens the door, and it makes me do a double take.