Page 142 of The Darkest Note

Finn leans over to me. “When did Harris become such a butt kisser?”

I shrug. Something doesn’t feel right to me either.

“… Everyone, let’s hear a round of applause for…” Harris tosses a hand at the gym doors.

They break open.

Light blasts from behind a tall figure in a black T-shirt, ripped jeans and sunglasses.

My body coils and I nearly pounce out of my seat.

Dad?

“Jarod Cross!”

The gym erupts with screams and cries ofoh my gosh.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Zane demands.

Finn is looking on with wide eyes.

Dad lifts his hands like he’s at one of his sold out concerts. He strides confidently to the microphone. The voice that stole a million hearts and sold four hundred times that in records booms around the room.

“Hello, Redwood!”

The smile on dad’s face makes a scowl grow on mine.

Uneasiness digs under my skin.

Something’s up.

“Did dad tell you he was coming to Redwood?” Zane hisses.

“I thought he was still on tour,” Finn answers.

I keep quiet. Something tells me this isn’t the worst part and I brace myself for the other shoe to drop.

“Redwood Prep has a long, vibrant history of producing excellence in every field but,” he gestures to himself, “especially in music.”

Finn snorts.

Zane rolls his eyes. “Way to toot your own horn.”

Sol laughs softly.

None of us join him.

“That’s why I made it my mission to build the music program and fill it with talents. Like my sons.” Dad’s eyes swerve to us and he raises a hand in our direction.

The entire student body swings around, staring at us too.

I grit my teeth. What the hell is this show about? Why is he really here?

Dad never pulls stunts like this unless he has to cover up something. And since the last horrible secret I had to keep for him, I’m not eager to earn any more.

“And not just my sons,” dad chuckles, “but one very special young lady who happened to get on my radar.”

The door opens again and all of a sudden, the air gets sucked out of the room.