Page 107 of River of Deceit

None of what I want to do to her is pleasant or nice.

No matter how badly I want to find Rachel’s killer, I haven’t forgotten what will come after that. Once we find out who murderedour friend, I will find a way to make Pandora pay for everything I went through after a fucked-up first time.

The humiliation.

The lost finger.

The subsequent beating when I got home.

The way all of my opportunities within the Pavone organization had gone up in smoke.

All of it.

She’ll pay for it, one way or another, and none of that involves her being mygirlfriend.

“She can’t be his girlfriend,” somebody else says. Peyton, I think. The awful faux-hawk is very distinctive. “I saw her sucking off Blaze the other day.”

Another one of the pledges steps closer to us. “You sure? I heard her with Asch. She was fuckingloud. Wish I could find a girl that enthusiastic.”

Jealousy and irritation run through me, and I clench my teeth. I shouldn’t care. She’s free to fuck who she wants, whenever she wants. It’s none of my business. Besides, it’s not like I didn’t know she was sleeping around.

“Yeah, well, she’s a slut,” I say. “Too bad you won’t get to find out how much of one she can be, though.” I let out a dark laugh. “I wouldn’t suggest getting too close to her.”

Most of the guys laugh, but Franklin gives me a worried look. “Maybe she doesn’t know how you feel about her, River. If you talk to her… Um, with Sandra, she was saying that communication is really important. So we discuss things, and we work things out.” He pulls out his phone. “She sent me an article about healthy communication. Here, I’ll forward it to you.”

Like Pandora is even capable of healthyanything.

Like I really feel anything toward her other than hatred.

“You don’t need to do that,” I tell him gruffly. “Even if I wanted anything to happen between us, Zayden’s made it pretty clearthat she’s off limits.”

Not that it would matter if I really wanted her.

I don’t.

Peyton chuckles and claps Franklin on the back. “Yeah, what the fuck. Cut that shit out. You want totalk about feelings? How fucking gay is that?”

His buddy starts laughing, and Franklin turns beet red.

“I just mean… Sandra says…” Franklin stammers awkwardly.

Peyton flaps his hands around. “Oh, ifSandra says….”

“Lay off him,” I snap. “He’s allowed to have something more than a cheap fuck in a bathroom stall.”

Because I’m pretty sure that’s about all Peyton could manage, and that’s assuming he isn’t tossing roofies into the drinks he’s serving up. I’m suddenly suspicious of all of them, wondering how many were willing to use whatever drugs Declan had on him.

I wonder, too, if they drugged Rachel.

The flash of anger I feel is blinding, and it’s all I can do to calm down enough to stop myself from throwing a punch. I don’t even know that Peyton or his friend here have ever stooped that low, but even the thought is enough to make me rage.

“To reiterate! Anyone who brings this bitch into the frat house or fucks around with her will not just get kicked out,” Zayden shouts. “There’s going to be a punishment that’ll make you wish you were in hell.”

I notice Asch and Blaze sharing a look. Blaze shakes his head, and Asch scowls.

What the fuck was that about?

“And now the meeting is over. Get back to whatever you were doing before!” Zayden waves everybody off, and the commotion gets louder again.