SEVENTEEN

IMOGEN

My head is spinning. We leave the gas station and head north on the interstate to a small town nearby. We end up at The Road Shack diner and as we settle in a booth near the back, there’s an awkward atmosphere between us.

We study the menu and after making our selections, the waitress heads off and Drake stares at me with concern.

“Now is your chance to ask any questions. When we return to Rockwell, we must communicate via text only and then delete the thread when it finishes.”

“I get the idea.” I rest my elbows on the table and stare at him with interest.

“So, what must I do first?”

“Carry on as before, but now you are aware of what’s at stake. Second guess everything Jesse tells you and don’t be alone with him without others within shouting distance.”

He says firmly. “Definitely don’t agree to go anywhere out of the academy with him unless Cassie and Jack are with you and watch your drinks in case he spikes them.”

“Seriously?” I can’t comprehend what I’m hearing, and yet Drake’s expression is grim.

“It’s how they control their victims. Jesse was drugged by Jenna and still is, to a degree.”

I cast my mind back on the glazed expression in Jesse’s eyes when he heads back from wherever he’s been, and it all makes perfect sense.

“You think he will drug me and–” I can’t even say the rest of the words and Drake nods.

“It’s a possibility, but if it’s not you, it will be someone else.”

“But how can you be so sure? Jesse is a good guy, I can tell.”

“Because of where he comes from.”

“The small town that sounds like shit.”

I think back on what Jesse told me and Drake nods, stopping as the server brings us soda and as she leaves, he leans forward and whispers, “It’s text book.

They find a guy like Jesse who has been controlled his entire life.

He hates his future and they are offering him a way out.

Membership of the society is a good replacement because he’ll be free to pursue whatever career he wants and will be assured of wealth and his freedom to a degree.

It’s a powerful carrot to dangle before him. ”

“So, Jesse gets a new life and his freedom and more money than he would have at the town, but what does the society get out of him?”

“A willing soldier. You see–” Drake glances around and motions for me to move closer and as our lips hover against one another’s, he whispers, “They are a sick society who get off on depravity. To assure their anonymity, they control their members and make it in their best interests not to divulge any information to anyone outside it. They are trained to enjoy things most of us would be sickened by, but they get off on it. They protect their members and once a month meet in a huge mansion and carry out their mantra of kidnap, rape, murder. Each member brings a sacrifice and the other members enjoy the show.”

I falter because this is wild and for the first time I realize the danger I could be in and Drake obviously reads my expression and to my surprise, cups my face in his hand and whispers against my lips, “I will protect you, baby. Follow my lead and you’ll be safe.”

“But you can’t be everywhere, Drake.”

I blink away my tears. “How do we save Jesse?”

He smiles softly and runs his thumb under my eyes and capturing my tears, whispers, “By breaking the hold they have on him. Keep him close, Imogen, but not so you are in danger. Dig for information and discover where he goes. Make demands on his time and play the petulant girlfriend if you must, but keep him away from Jenna Sloane and that should be enough to break the hold she has over him.”

I nod, determined to play my part, but being here with Drake is a bitter pill to swallow. I don’t want Jesse. I never did, but knowing Drake is off limits has crushed my heart because I thought we had something.

He stares into my eyes and whispers, “I wish it was different. I wish I met you in a bar in town and we could explore this like a normal couple. I wish you weren’t part of this and I wish you had stayed at your previous college.

But it’s our reality now and we must deal with it, but if I do nothing else, I will keep you safe. You have my word on that.”

I can’t help myself and move closer and steal a kiss.

This can’t be the end of us before we even begin.

Fate is a cruel bitch who delivers and takes without warning.

He may not be allowed to kiss me, but I have no such order and as I run my hand behind his head, I deepen the kiss, tangling my tongue in his, taking what I want and to hell with the consequences.

A discreet cough makes us spring apart, and the amused server places two plates of food before us.

“Get it while it’s hot guys.” She winks and as she tosses us an amused grin, she heads off, leaving my face flaming as I pretend to be extremely interested in the food.

We eat in a companionable silence and when Drake settles the check, I head to the restroom and stare at my flushed face in the mirror.

Drake brings me alive. I have never been surer of that than anything and fuck my father and Ryder.

If I want Drake and he wants me, nobody will tell us otherwise.

I just have to save Jesse first before I demand my reward, and if they thought Cassie would lose her shit if she didn’t get what she wanted, they have underestimated me.

We head back to Rockwell and as he drops me by the gate, I say nothing.

He waits for me to enter the grounds and it’s a solitary, lonely walk back to a life that has changed in a few hours.

I even feel different because I’m a Reaper now.

This is what Drake does. He goes undercover and I’m kind of discovering what that is like.

The first person I meet when I head inside is the man of the hour, Jesse.

“Imogen, baby. Where have you been?”

“Prom duty.”

I brush his curiosity aside and he groans. “Bad luck. A few of us are heading to the dungeons. The Claiming ceremony is tomorrow and Santi wants to check everything is set. Are you up for being a centurion rather than a challenger?”

“Me?” I grin. “Really. What must I do?”

He slings his arm around my shoulder as he guides me to the kitchen.

“Cassie and Siri act as centurion guards in the tunnel chamber. Frankie has allocated you and Summer my old position by the riverbank.”

The riverbank is the finish line for anyone who escapes The Claiming and I’m guessing not a lot happens there.

“Sure.”

To be honest, I don’t mind because it means I get to spend some time with Summer and we won’t have to do anything.

He grins. “Great. That leaves me as head cell keeper and I get to release the centurions into the wild.”

“I thought that was Frankie’s job?”

“He swapped with me because he wants to be in the chamber where it all begins with Luca. I’m not complaining, though. It will be fun watching those centurions squirm.”

“You’re an asshole, Jesse.” I toss my eyes and he grins, leaning on the counter, gazing at me with puppy dog eyes as he winks.

“I’m your asshole, Imogen, and I’m rather happy about that.”

He tosses me a cold beer and, as I catch it, I can see why all the girls fall for Jesse.

He is a great guy most of the time, but the lure of that sick society is too great for a guy who faces a prison sentence when he graduates.

I can’t comprehend what his life will be if he falls in line and does what’s expected of him, and yet this is no way out.

He’s merely swapping one master for a sicker one, which fuels my desire to help him. Whatever it takes.