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I shrug. “He took off with the chit Rat set him up with. I guess probably sleeping it off in the backseat of a car or something.”

Royer responds by taking another long drink of his black coffee, never taking his eyes off me.

I swallow the last bite of cereal and carry the bowl over to the trash and toss it. “Is there a problem?”

He lifts a shoulder. “Seems convenient that your boy keeps getting out of complicated jams. Beating the Cum Cup time, winning the liquor store challenge, all while doing your homework and following you around like a puppy.”

“I don’t back losers,” I say casually, leaning against the counter. “You know that.”

“You just seem a little overly invested in this kid.”

“You play your games, I play mine. I didn’t get involved when you pulled that prank on your little Reagan. I’m not sure why you’re so worried about me.”

“He’s right,” Knox says, chiming in. “Neither of us interfered with you and Andrea’s game. That was all you.”

“Seriously?” he asks. “Don’t pretend like you weren’t involved with taking down Reagan. You fucked with her as much as me and Andrea.”

“But it was your plan,” I point out. I’m not sure where this is going, or what’s got Royer in a snit, but I’m not in the mood. “I just did what you asked me to do.”

“Right, and right now I’m asking you to tell me how you plan on dealing with forty-seven not coming back after the party last night. It’s a violation.”

“I don’t see why this is such a big deal?” I ask. “And since when do you stay up all night waiting, taking roll?” I glance at Knox. “Sounds like I’m not the one obsessed with forty-seven.”

Knox snorts and nods in agreement. “He’s got you there, dude.”

“Not that I need to explain myself,” Royer says, “but Andrea made me come over last night. I got in late and did a bed check. Forty-seven is the only one that didn’t make it back before dawn.”

“I’ll deal with it.”

“No,” he says, swallowing the rest of his coffee. “Let Rat deal with it. He’s the Warden. The three of us need to get ready for the final initiation.”

I open my mouth to argue—I don’t want Rat anywhere near Reagan, especially alone, but if I push this too hard, Royer will just keep asking questions.

“Sure. Whatever. Rat can deal with it,” I reply, grabbing my backpack and heading out the door.

Reagan has proven she can handle herself around the Zeta Sigs. I have to trust she can get through the final two days without my help. And then, I’ll use her to overthrow Royer and claim my position as president.

I don’t findReagan on campus, but I do run into Grayson Pierce. I know the guy from the year I pledged. He was a senior—the president—the biggest partier of them all.

Now he’s a council narc.

I keep appearances when I talk to him, brushing off any details about the current rush. It’s crazy he’s turned into ‘The Man.’ He’s the real reason Royer is so obsessed. He wants to surpass the legacy of Grayson Pierce. We bump fists and talk in “bro-speak” and off he goes.

I park myself outside her class, but she never shows. Her old roommate does—the Chit from last night. She walks into the hallway looking like hell. Honestly, I’m shocked she’s out of bed. Rat doses the drinks liberally.

“Hey,” I say, stepping in front of her. Her dark lined eyes narrow. “Have you seen Theo?”

“Theo.” Her voice is like daggers.

“Buzzed head. Skinny. Zeta Sig goat, er, recruit.”

“He wasn’t here today.”

I frown. Shit.

“You should leave him alone,” she says, clutching her laptop to her chest. “He’s a good kid.”

“Yeah, okay.” I roll my eyes at this freshman chit, telling me what to do. “Not that you have any idea what you’re talking about.”