Page 37 of The Ruthless Note

I’m no longer weak for the softer side of Dutch that I thought I saw. He’s nothing but a brute.

And he proves it when he brushes past me.

“I’ll deal with you tomorrow, Brahms,” he hisses.

The threat lingers in the air long after he storms through the doors of the diner and disappears from sight.

CHAPTERSEVEN

CADENCE

“I need more details.”

Breeze’s words are muffled from the popcorn she’s stuffing into her mouth. She’s sitting cross-legged in our sofa, looking at me with eager eyes.

Vi dips a nail polish brush into its bottle. “Nothing happened.”

“How do you know that? Were you there?”

“I saw her when she came home yesterday. She and Hunter aren’t going to be a thing.”

“Cadey, don’t listen to her. I demand to know what you did with Hunter on your date.”

I flinch when I hear Breeze’s excitement. She loves gossiping about relationships in general, but she seems extra invested this time.

Vi peers up at me, unable to hide her interest.

I lick my lips. “We bought Rick some boots. Hunter drove me to work and…”

“And?” Breeze presses, turning to face me.

Taking a handful of popcorn to stall, I throw it into my mouth and chew, “We ran into Dutch.”

Vi perks up. “You saw Dutch?”

Breeze looks horrified. “What was he doing at the diner? He lives, like, all the way across town.”

“Did Dutch steal you away from Hunter?” There are stars in Vi’s eyes. She’s still at that stage where she thinks all attractive people are good.

Only I know the truth. Dutch’s beautiful face and gorgeous body hides a monster that shows no mercy. Since I came back to Redwood riding Jarod Cross’s coattails, he’s graduated from being viciously terrorizing to persistently cruel.

At first, he seemed to want me out of Redwood Prep and would do anything to break me. This time, it’s like he wants tokeepme in Redwood Prep and prove that I’m nothing but a servant, only worthy of his punishment and disdain.

When he said he’d ‘deal with me tomorrow’, he meant it. My back still aches from all the trash he ordered me to pick up along the quad in the torturous sun.

My blood boils. Accepting Dutch’s bullying is not just embarrassing, but it goes against my grain. I promised myself I wouldn’t let him get the upper hand again, but I didn’t have a choice this time. He threatened to ruin Hunter’s life by accusing him of dating a minor.

After what he did to Mulliez, I knew he was good for the threat. It’s why I shut my mouth and did what I was told.

But Dutch crossed a line when he leftParisin charge of watching me. That girl is an absolute nightmare. She stuck on me like white on rice and it took me a while to shake her so I could deliver my payback.

Let’s just say… Dutch will have a really nice surprise waiting in his car this evening.

“People keep posting pictures of Dutch and Cadey on Jinx’s app.” Vi continues to paint her toes.

“Are you and Dutch together now?”

“It’s not like that.” The words pass weakly from my lips.