Page 152 of The Ruthless Note

But what power do I have?

At Redwood Prep, I’m a nobody.

I wrap my arms around my waist. Bouncing on the tips of my toes, I yell, “Serena!”

She glances over her shoulder at me.

“It's going to be alright. I promise.”

Her smile trembles and then falls flat. She doesn’t believe me.

I don’t blame her.

When I turn around again, my expression falls into one of dark fury.Dutch, if you really did this…

My heart launches to my throat. I remember the moment when Dutch came crashing through the smoke, yelling my name like his life depended on it. A part of me refuses to believe that he would be involved in this. The saner part of me warns that I shouldn’t be so naive.

I need more information before I make any moves.

Miss Jamieson and I have made a sort of alliance. I know I can at least trust her desire to do right by all the scholarship kids.

I head straight to the teachers’ lounge and stop in front of Miss Jamieson's desk. She glances up alertly. With her curly hair in a ponytail and a crisp white shirt contrasting her dark skin, she looks beautiful as usual.

But there’s something else. Her eyes look tired.

“Can I talk to you?” I demand.

She takes one look at my dirty face and my singed uniform under Dutch’s jacket and her eyebrows cinch together.

I must look nuts. I haven’t cleaned up since I spent the morning staking out Harris’ office.

Miss Jamieson clears her throat and takes note of all the teachers who are eyeing us. Lips tight, she nods. “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Rather than take me to a stairwell or an empty classroom, she takes me to the roof instead.

We step through a tall metal door and sunlight slams into my face. It’s hard to believe the sun still exists and the world is still turning. In my head, I’m still trapped in a burning building, fighting through a thick fog of smoke and searching for Serena.

Miss Jamieson walks to the edge of the roof where a small wall keeps students from falling over and splattering to the ground.

The sprawling lawn stretches out as far as the eye can see. Acres and acres of private land belonging to this one monstrous institution.

Redwood Prep.

The school that chews on the hearts of the innocent and spits out the bones of those who get in their way.

“I heard about what happened to Serena,” Miss Jamieson says quietly. “And I want you to know that this is not your fight, Cadence.”

“Why isn’t it my fight? Serena is my friend.”

“She’s also being accused of trying to burn Redwood to the ground.” Miss Jamieson’s brown eyes flash on me. She chews on her maroon-toned bottom lip. “There was talk of her having an accomplice and since you two work together…”

The breath leaves my lungs so quickly, it’s like someone hit me in the chest. “They think I was involved too?”

“No. We checked the video. You didn’t arrive in time to set the fire.” She places a hand on my shoulder. “But Cadence, this is why you shouldn’t get too close. Sometimes, getting crucified in the public court of opinion is the worst option.”

“So you expect me to justwhat?Not do anything?”

“Of course not.” She exhales deeply. “Mulliez asked me to protect you. It was the reason he left Redwood Prep in the first place. I can’t let anything happen to you.”