Page 97 of Terror Tuesday

Creeping around the corner, I pause as a shadow moves slowly through my room. I should be carrying. Why don’t I ever have my gun?

“It’s me, freak. Get in here,” Apollo yells, and I heave a sigh of relief.

As soon as the door is shut and the bolts drawn, I rip off my mask and take a deep breath. “What are you?—”

He holds up a green envelope with a golden seal embossed with a ‘2,’ and my chest tightens. Am I having a heart attack?

“Yeah… Your new assignment. The one you promised to make up.”

“Did you open it?”

“No. It’s addressed to you. Again.”

Apollo tosses his black hair out of his eyes and stands up, his regular suits and button-downs replaced with black joggers and silk slippers with some embroidered logo on them that probably cost him a fortune.

It’s strange, being best friends with someone who would be consideredmiddle class. I hadn’t experienced people like him until I came to Northview, having been homeschooled for most of my life. My family has all the money.

But I’d never buy those ugly-ass slippers.

“Want me to stay here while you look it over, or want to tell me later?”

“I don’t want you involved at all.”

“Ultimately, it’s my?—”

“Responsibility, I know.” Presidents of the houses have to oversee things. But they don’t get to do the actual dirty work. That’s left for members and initiates. “I’ll just let you know when it’s taken care of.”

He slides the envelope into my hand, then heads to the door. It’s difficult to hear him leave because of the blood gushing through my ears.

I sit at my desk and rip it open, taking in each word carefully. Before the world stops spinning.

I’ve been tasked with an assassination mission. A quick clean and kill.

My target?

Olivia’s father.

Xavier Cardell.

twenty-six

Stuckin a room on Wednesday with NickandElliot’s hurt puppy-dog eyes? I can’t take it. Especially after the night I had. The white of the walls is too much. And when Nick stretches back and places his arm around my shoulders again, and the look of fire blazes across Elliot’s face, I’ve had enough.

“I think they have a reference book in the stacks. I’ll go check. Be right back.” My voice is steady, though I’m shaky inside.

“I’ll go with!” Nick jolts to a stand, and my mouth goes dry. Better than having to be near Elliot. I’m not sure what I’ll do if I have to be alone with him.

In a daze, I flow out the door and into the stacks, pretending I know exactly where I’m going.

As soon as I wander down a deserted aisle, the tomes on either side smelling of dust and disuse, he grabs my waist and shoves me against the bookcase.

“You felt it, too, right?” His belt shoves into my stomach, and I almost cringe visibly.

“Felt what?”

“This thing between us. Had to ditch the nerd to get with me, huh?”

I’m stunned. So much so, my jaw unhinges, but I quickly shut it as my face screws up with disgust. “Um… No. No, I didn’t.”