Page 82 of The Ruthless Note

“I’m not going to take it, Cadey,” Dutch promises. His voice curls like smoke, enveloping me. Teasing me. “You’re going to give it to me.”

* * *

Jinx: Cinderella Against her Pompom Step-sister

It’s no surprise that the new head of the Pompoms is out for New Girl’s blood. After all, the vacuum left by her predecessor needs to be filled. And quickly.

But I wonder… what if all that animosity is about more than just claiming her throne? Sources say that our little Ms. Pompoms was left high and dry in the middle of a lake after Prince Charming had his way with her. Yet he just can’t seem to get enough of thrusting Cinderella into dark corners.

The path to true love really is riddled with broken hearts. And fancy yachts that stink of latex.

Something tells me that, in this story, Ms. Pompoms is nothing but the ugly step-sister.

Until the next post, keep your enemies close and your secrets even closer.

- Jinx

CHAPTERNINETEEN

CADENCE

Serena is already at the table when I head outside the cafeteria. She’s wearing her usual dark makeup, her black hair long and glossy.

I set my tray down in front of her and she doesn’t even ask anymore. She goes straight for the fruit cup that I never eat and that the cafeteria lady insists on giving me.

“Did you hear? Christa’s back.”

“Is she?” I answer dimly.

“I almost feel sorry for her. She’s not on the cheer team anymore. And no one’s eating with her at lunch. After that stunt she pulled at Paris’s party, she’s become a total pariah.” Serena licks the juices that spilled from the fruit cup. “She should have known better than to come at you.”

Those words shock me back to life. “At me?”

“You’ve got SolandDutch protecting you.”

I scrunch my nose in confusion.

She nudges me with her shoulder, wielding the plastic spoon that she, also, took from my tray. “You’re the girl that not one buttwomembers of The Kings are fighting for. You’re the very definition ofoff-limits.”

I blink rapidly. “Did you just say that Dutch and Sol are fighting over me?”

“Aren’t they?”

My heart beats fast. “Did you hear that on Jinx’s app or did it actually happen?”

She nods. “Jinx’s app.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. I really need to get that app on my phone so I can monitor the crap Jinx is spewing. At the very least, I should have the app just in case she ever outs my secret to the masses—and I’m not talking about my secret identity.

“That’s so far from the truth that it’s laughable. Sol is just a friend. And Dutch…”

I swallow hard, recalling the feeling of his hot tongue flicking against my neck.You’re going to give it to me.Heat sweeps over my face and along my chest.

I should have kneed him in the groin. But I just stood there like an idiot, panting and shaking while heat curled low in my belly and my insides throbbed for more.

Dutch rips all my defenses to pieces without even trying. It’s infuriating.

“Dutch is what?” She arches a brow.