Page 166 of Dark Little Game

Wes will always aggravate me, yes.

But I feel closer to him than I ever have.

“Well, if anyone can get him into Crimson, it’s Wes,” Rayne says. “He’s friends with the college president, after all.”

“Friendsis a strong term, but they do know me. And especially considering the circumstances of my father’s death… I’m pretty sure I’ll have the pull to get Niko in here. If he’s had a rebellious youth, or whatever, he deserves a chance.”

“You’re far too kind,” I tell him.

Wes shrugs. “If he’s our blood, I’m going to welcome him to Onyx, too. His choice whether or not to take it, I guess.”

Ollie comes into the room soon after, coming back from one of his classes.

“What’s up, guys?” Ollie asks.

“Oh, nothing,” I tell him. “We just found out we have a secret half-brother who’s your age. No big deal, right?”

Oliver looks at us like we’re insane.

He comes over and glances at the document, then his eyes widen when he sees the photo.

“Fuck,” Oliver says.

“Looks like us but with darker hair, doesn’t he?” Wes asks.

Ollie sets his jaw. “I know this guy.”

“No shot.”

“He was my rival in high school.”

Oliver’s cheeks go pink as he stares at the email.

I’m going to need to ask him for awhole lotmore details about that later. Oliver is sweet, and I could never picture him having a rival.

I make a mental note to grill him on it tonight, but right now Wes is still in shock, even if he’s hiding it well.

Weston stands up, takes a deep breath, and gives Oliver a pat on the back. “Well, you’re going to have to get used to being around him. I’m getting him into Crimson as soon as I can.”

For a long,long time, when the world felt liketoo much, my first instinct was toward violence.

If there was no one who wanted to fight me, I’d make someone want it.

Provoke them.

Ruin somebody’s night, andmakemy own night.

But that afternoon, when everything starts to feel like it was going to swallow me whole, I find myself somewhere different.

Rayne’s at the gym with Weston, and it’s strangeknowing that for the first time all semester, I know he will be safe.

First, I find myself in my car, driving aimlessly.

Then I end up at the small art supplies store in town.

I feel kind of like I’m floating as I stand in front of blank canvases and paint, looking at them like they’re something forbidden.

Something from my past.