Page 89 of River of Deceit

River’s expression turns wary. “You’d have to ask her why she’s here.” He smirks at me. “But good luck getting an answer. Pandora does what she wants, when she wants it.”

Isn’t that the truth.

My eyes travel down to River’s hand, the one that’s missing the pinky. It’s unnoticeable most of the time. He has a habit of keeping that hand close to himself, probably in a subconscious attempt to hide it.

He’d gotten in trouble with the mob, he’d said.

My brow creases as I start to put two and two together.

“The mob you got in trouble with… was it the Pavones?” I ask.

I’m not sure whether he’s going to answer at first. The song changes in the background before he finally replies, “Yeah. About a year ago.”

“When you were seventeen?” I know my family does have junior members too—hell, Asch technically joined when he was sixteen. Still, normally punishments are beatings, not removing an entirefinger. Something that extreme would require an equally dire transgression.

“Couple months after my eighteenth birthday,” he says.

I wait for him to elaborate, but he doesn’t continue.

“So, what? You failed to deliver a shipment?” I ask. “You came up short in payments? Youstolefrom them?”

River laughs humorlessly. “Be careful with Pandora,” he says. “You really don’t know who you’re fucking around with.” He lifts his cup in a mock toast to me. “Enjoy the rest of your night, Bouchard.”

He walks off, not waiting for a response.

“Same person you’re fucking around with,” I point out to his retreating back.

Like I haven’t already realized that she’s trouble. But no matter what Asch or River say, I can’t stay away from her.

My father wants me to keep an eye on her.

Pandora’s always chasing me.

And I want to see her on her knees again, this time begging for forgiveness, choking on me and asking for more.

I’ll use her up and destroy her once I’ve gotten what I need out of her.

I don’t care who her father is.

She doesn’t get to toy with me, with Asch, and get away with it.

18

PANDORA

It’s a beautiful sunny day, and Carly and I had decided to study together out on the quad. She had brought a large beach towel to protect our butts. After an hour of studying, though, I’d gotten distracted. No matter how exciting organic chemistry is, I have other things on my mind.

“You forgot Blaze Bouchard,” Carly says, looking over my shoulder.

I tilt my head at my notepad, re-reading my list. It’s got all the Kappa Omega losers I know I’d seen that first night.

“I don’t think he was handing out bad drinks,” I say. I frown.

Why don’t I think he could have done it? Just because he pretended not to know Carly was there… hell, he could have roofied her and passed her on to one of his frat brothers before I arrived.

“I know I talked to him, though,” Carly says quietly. “He was really charming.”

Yeah, he would have been. I add Blaze’s name. Out of all the guys on the list, maybe he’s themostlikely suspect. After all, he’d have easy access to drugs, and he’s all smiles and good cheer until you give his precious Asch a booboo.