Page 39 of The Ruthless Note

She shrugs. “Whatever bad thing it was, he could have a reason for doing it.”

Her words niggle something in my brain. I never got an answer about why Dutch was trying to kick me out of Redwood, but the timing of Sol’s return is suspicious.

Since the fourth member of The Kings turned up, Dutch’s threats have changed. He no longer seems obsessed with getting me to leave Redwood Prep. He doesn’t even mention it anymore.

Does Sol have anything to do with the reason Dutch wanted me out of Redwood so badly?

I snort and shake my head. It doesn’t matter. There’s no reason in the world that would make it okay to ruin so many lives.

“It’s not that simple.”

“Maybe it is,” Vi says, like someone wiser than her thirteen years. “Maybe you and Dutch are the ones who are making it complicated.”

* * *

DUTCH

“Holy Freaking Mother Of—” Zane rakes his fingers through his wet hair and sends sweat flying all over my guitar.

I shove him back and clean my baby with the edge of my shirt. Unfortunately, my T-shirt is wet all the way through to my Redwood Prep vest. We’ve been perfecting our set for hours in the Redwood Prep practice room and the A.C. isn’t doing a thing.

“Is this some kind of new self-harm crap?” Zane grabs my hand and lifts it to the light. My fingertips are a rough, raw mess of callouses and blood. “You keep going like that, you won’t be able to play a guitar without pain.”

Finn gives me a stern look. “Zane’s right. You’ve been shredding day and night since leaving the diner yesterday. You need to give your hands a break.”

“I’m fine,” I growl.

“Shut the hell up, man,” Zane bellows. “What part of this looks ‘fine’ to you?” He shakes his head. “All for a freaking girl…”

“This has nothing to do withthatgirl,” I bite out, unable to even say Cadence’s name without feeling a burning in my gut.

Every time I close my eyes, I see her winding her arms around that smug punk with the convertible. He called himself her boyfriend. Boyfriend? Who the hell gave her permission?

“Why don’t you try handling your demons in a healthy way? Like going for a jog? Knitting? Screwing a cheerleader’s brains out? At least then, it won’t mess up your playing hand.” Zane huffs.

Finn studies me. “I think we should call it a night.”

I want to argue, but I generally find that Finn’s advice is worth listening to.

With a heavy sigh, I set my guitar on the stand.

My phone buzzes.

It’s Paris.

I press ignore. I gave her one little task just to piss Brahms off and now the chick thinks it’s an invitation. Maybe, when I’m not so irritated, I’ll put her mouth to good use. Until then, I have no need for her except to be a tool I use to get under Brahms’ skin.

“Did you find out anything more about that guy from the diner?” I ask Finn, slipping a hand into my pocket as we walk down the dark, empty hallways of Redwood Prep.

Finn shakes his head. “Nothing worth finding out. He grew up in a group home. Has a little brother. Works at a mechanic shop. Normal guy. Cadence could do worse.”

I glare at him.

The little smirk on my brother’s angular face says he meant to tease me.

I glance away without giving him the reaction he’s looking for.

Redwood Prep looks like a horror movie after dark. The shadows flicker like ghosts. Our steps echo loudly and there’s an answering stillness as if we’re waking up an ancient beast.