Page 4 of The Silent Note

“A burner phone showed up in my apartment one night. Still have no freaking clue how it got there. I got a text with an address and a picture. After the deed was done, I got another text. This time with a different address. The cash was in a bag. I got no names, no faces. That’s all I know. I swear.”

I smile at him. It’s a patronizing smile, I admit. He must think I’m an idiot.

“If that’s all you knew, you wouldn’t be so scared to share your information.” I nod at Marvba who nods back. Facing Slavno again, I pat his shoulder in a friendly way. “I hope by the time I return, you’ll remember the details you missed.”

Satisfied that my part is done, I walk to the door. Slavno’s shouts of terror echo to my ears and then stop abruptly when the door swings shut.

The warden is there, staring at me with a gleam of respect. “How do you know Marvba?”

“The Kings played a set for his daughter’s birthday party.”

“Huh.” He looks thoughtful. Everyone knows Marvba worships the ground his daughter walks on.

“Appreciate your time.” I slide a thick envelope to the warden who slips it into his jacket pocket.

Bribery isn’t my forte but, after dad banished Dutch to prison just to keep him away from Cadey, I learned that money isn’t only effective for stopping Jinx from posting yetanotherpicture of me bare-backing a cheerleader.

Money makes things easier in every corner of the world—from the dark underbellies of society to the flashy, fake galas and charities mom used to drag us to when we spent summers with her.

The warden pats the envelope through his jacket as if to reassure himself that it’s really there. “This way.”

After personally escorting me to my bike outside, he goes in for a handshake.

“Did you get what you came for?” he asks.

“It’s a start.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“Me?” I set my helmet over my head and grin as I snap the visor down. “I’m going to a wedding.”

Jinx: Redwood is on its knees and the kingdom is in chaos.

Our kings are shaken, our bald-headed governor was banished, and Sexy Teach declared war on a mysterious group of elites. Redwood has seen its share of scandals, but with this many skeletons falling out of the closet, there’s only one thing to do.

Find a priest and some holy water, because all the ghosts you thought you buried are coming back to haunt you.

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

- Jinx

Chapter Two

GREY

“I saw those boys slinking around the hallway earlier,” mom murmurs as she rakes a damp cloth down my arms.

“Ow. Mom!”

She glances down, notices her rag is shredding my skin and slows her pace.

“And what boys?” I ask, closing my eyes now that her touch is gentler.

“Thoseboys.”

My eyes shoot open and I freeze, taking account of her unsmiling face. Mom looks like a child who caught a whiff of the most unpleasant scent.

“Last I checked, Finn, Dutch and Za…” Mom levels me a stink eye to end all stink eyes and I meekly finish, “Jarod’s sonsagreed not to come to the hospital. So maybe they’re here for Cadey’s sake.”