Page 9 of The Darkest Note

When Finn smirks, his eyes turn into half-moons. That expression right there has charmed the panties off more chicks than our quiet brother would ever admit.

Unlike Zane, who posts his naked butt for likes, Finn is the silent killer. By the time you blink, he’ll have your girl and her sister under his arm. No words spoken. No apologies given.

Zane leans back in the couch. “You think dad’s gone quiet because he’s planning the punishment?”

I lift one shoulder calmly. Our father isn’t the type to get involved unless he’s truly pissed off. Which he was when he found out we’d agreed to open for his arch nemesis Bex Dane. For a whole month. At the beginning of our senior year.

“Nothing he can do to stop us anyway. It’ll ruin his pretty reputation.” Zane wiggles his eyebrows. “Jarod Cross will eat his own puke to protect his family man image.”

A corner of Finn’s lips hitches up. He’s a big part of that scrubbed-down image. Nothing more humanitarian than adopting a kid from a foreign country for the virtue points.

At least dad thought so after his fourth DUI charge almost turned into an aggravated assault charge. If he hadn’t swerved at the right moment, two kids would be without their parents.

Normally, nothing good comes out of dad’s meaningless vies for attention, but gaining Finn as a brother was about the best thing he’s ever done on one of his repentance tours.

“Damn.” Finn’s soft voice brings both our heads whipping around.

Zane caps his bottle of water. “What?”

“I hit up Jinx to find out if there’s anything at school we should be aware of,” Finn begins.

Zane cuts him off. “Why do you support that blackmailer? Do you know how many times I’ve had to pay Jinx to stay quiet about me?” He groans. “Don’t give that creep any more of our money.”

“Not my fault you can’t keep your pants on in front of security cameras,” Finn snaps back.

I lift a hand before the two can get into it. Setting my eyes on Finn, I ask, “What secret did Jinx give you?”

“It’s about Sol.”

“Sol?” Zane rolls his eyes. “You got fleeced, Finn. There’s nothing Sol could have done that we wouldn’t know about.”

He’s not wrong. Solomon Pierce and his family were the only slice of normal in our crazy, rock-and-roll world. We’re tighter than tight. What happened earlier this summer proves that.

“Sol got expelled,” Finn says abruptly.

My guitar slides out of my lap.

The glaze in Zane’s eyes is temporarily overpowered by shock.

“What the hell do you mean?” I bark.

Finn shows me his phone.

Jinx: Four hotties walked into Mulliez’s locker and tampered with evidence. Only three came out. Solomon Pierce’s suspension turned into an expulsion the day New Girl got her scholarship to Redwood.

“New Girl?” Zane scrunches his nose.

The limo slows to a stop in front of Redwood Prep. I slap my guitar in Zane’s lap and scramble for the door.

“Where are you going?” my twin calls.

Finn looks on with a concerned face.

“Take care of my guitar.” I point to the instrument and storm inside the building.

The hallway’s empty. School started an hour ago, but I wasn’t in a rush to get here.

I blow past the principal’s receptionist and slam through the office door. Principal Harris is on his phone when he sees me. His bald head turns red and his cheeks puff out in a sigh.