Page 21 of The Darkest Note

There was a hardness to Dutch’s look, a hatred that didn’t feel earned. I was sure that intimidating gaze had been meant for someone else.

But later on in class, I noticed Dutch talking to his brothers. Zane and Finn had their heads leaning in toward him. All of a sudden, they turned as one. They were watching me.Staringme down.

Whatever they were talking about clearly involved me.

I tried to duck behind my textbook, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that they recognized me.

Since yesterday, my stomach has been in knots.

The Kings know who I am.

What does that mean for me now that I’m on their radar? And why did Dutch seem so aggravated by the sight of me? Are they upset because I lied about who I really am at the showcase? But why? Why would they care about someone like me?

I dig my sweaty fingers into my uniform skirt, breathing harshly in an effort to calm down.

‘They’re coming.’

‘It’s them.’

I feel a stir in the air and excited whispers erupt from the students around me. When I glance up, I see a trio of boys at the end of the hallway.

Dutch is at the front, strolling with a look of quiet intensity on his face. His blonde hair is disheveled and it only adds to his devil-may-care appeal. I curl my fingers tighter, resisting the strange and sudden desire to run my fingers through the wheat-colored locks.

He’s wearing a uniform today, conforming to the status quo in name only because the way the sweater vest and white shirt stretches over his broad muscles is downright sinful and definitely against the dress code.

The sleeves of his shirt are rolled up to reveal his leather bracelet and the beginning of tattoos peeking up from his wrist. His khakis go on forever, covering legs that are ridiculously long.

I bite down on my bottom lip as the riff I heard The Kings playing the night of the showcase swells in my head.

C# G# A

It’s high-pitched, shrieking, and complicated.

Zane slings an arm around Finn’s shoulders. They say something to Dutch.

He smiles and my heart stops beating.

With his overpoweringly beautiful features and haughty expressions, I thought Dutch had reached the pinnacle of male perfection. But seeing his perfect white teeth flashing in the sunlight, I know that he’s not just beautiful. He’s outrightdangerous. A heartbreaker in motion. A destroyer of souls. And I should be nowhere near them.

They’re getting closer now and if they look up at any minute, they’re going to see me. I stumble backward and duck into the bathroom.

I peer through the window pane to check that my escape went unnoticed. The boys don’t break their stride even when the cheerleaders follow them eagerly.

From the safety of the bathroom, I watch their profiles. The Cross brothers. The Kings. Fitting. Like royalty, they could have anyone in the land if they wanted to and it’s clear that they don’t give a damn about the privilege.

“Thank God, they’re gone,” I whisper, wilting against the door.

“Smart girl.” A voice echoes in the bathroom.

I whirl around.

A girl around my age wearing dark eyeliner and a black jacket over her preppy school uniform flicks a lighter and stares at the flame.

“Excuse me?” My voice trembles.

She tilts her head, still eyeing the fire. “Just because something’s beautiful doesn’t mean it can’t burn your world down.”

I blink unsteadily. “Uh…”