Page 149 of The Forbidden Note

Maybe I deserve to be destroyed.

His lips curl up and there’s a flash of understanding, as if he sees my thoughts.

I reach down to pick up the lace, but Zane snaps it from me.

My mouth opens. “What are you doing?”

“Keeping this.”

I frown.

My phone rings.

This time, it’s Cadence.

“We need to get out of here,” I mumble, feeling out-of-sorts. Reaching out a hand, I order, “Give them back.”

Zane grips my chin. His fingers are sticky and carry the scent of my musk. “Come and collect them after class.”

That isnotgoing to happen.

But there’s no time to argue.

Neither of us say a word as we slip out of the dark classroom.

I separate from Zane and head toward the bathroom on the third floor. Cadence is already there. She’s wearing elaborate makeup and a bright red wig, fully in Redhead mode.

She gives me a tight nod.

I return it and slip into a stall. Using toilet paper to clean up the mess between my thighs, I slip on a clean pair of underwear and change into the waiting staff outfit.

When I get outside, Cadence hands me a mask.

I slip it over my head.

In the mirror, I see a woman with frizzy, straight hair that took hours to flat-iron, brown skin, and scared eyes hidden behind a creepy theatre mask.

“Finn already blocked the security cameras,” Cadence says, her voice low and urgent. “Dutch told me about Hall. With him roaming around…”

“He must be looking for trouble. We need to be faster.”

She nods. “At the most, we have twenty minutes.”

I cringe.

Her hand settles on my arm. A soft, reassuring touch. “I love plans. And this is a good plan. But you know what’s even better than a good plan?”

“What?’

“The Kings.”

My chest tightens.

“The boys are in this now. They’re crazy and cruel and sometimes frightening, but they’re relentless. And they’re on your side. No matter what, we’re getting what we came for.”

I nod, taking comfort in her words.

We scramble out of the bathroom and I stop abruptly because The Kings are there, still and at attention. The shadows creep around them as if even the darkness knows they’re too dangerous to touch.