In the Arms of the Elite (Rich Boys of Burberry Prep #4) - C.M. Stunich Page 0,95
slits. “The deal is, nobody can touch you unless they’ve attended the academy with you. Period. No hired hitmen or special police forces—”
“Are you fucking kidding?! Hired hitmen?” Zayd turns his head slightly to the side to look at me, like he can’t figure out why I’m so surprised by that.
“Uh, yeah. Does that really surprise you? Most people have a price, and for the right amount, sure, they could get some crazy ex-Black Ops guy to shoot you. It’s not even that far-fetched.”
“Even I have a price, Marnye. The only person I know who doesn't seem to … is you.”
I hear Tristan’s words echoing in my head like a warning and close my eyes.
“The Club takes real world shit, like economies or wars or political races, and turns it into something bite-sized and manageable. It’s like, aristocrats in a royal court playing at politics. The whole world runs on careful, behind-the-scenes maneuvering.” Zayd turns toward me and folds his legs on the edge of the fountain wall, putting his hands on his knees. “You’re the working class pawn, Marnye, risen up and fighting through the ranks. You’re taking out students whose families have been going to Burberry for generations.” Zayd gestures with his chin in the direction of the chapel building. “If their kids can’t take out one, lone scholarship kid, then what hope do they have for haggling with billionaires from China, or arranging trade deals with India.”
“So they’re going to kill me?” I ask, because it’s just too freaking surreal to believe.
“They haven’t made a move yet which scares me,” Zayd says, looking back out at the road. “But they will. Sometime before the end of the year, I know they will.” He turns to me again. “The deal is that they have until midnight of graduation day to kill you. That’s it. After that, we take the crown. If we win, the Infinity Club can never interfere with your life again, or the lives of those around you.”
“So you’d all be safe, too?” I ask, and Zayd smiles, almost sadly, his lip rings catching the glint of the sun.
“Whoever you pick, anyway. The lucky guy.” He spins one of his lip rings around with his tongue. “I don’t mean to sound like a total ass, but … please pick me.”
“What?” My cheeks flush as Zayd looks me in the eyes, his green ones swimming with so much color, like jade stones flecked with lime and emerald. There’s so much variation in that single color, if I were a painter, I’d want to recreate his irises on a canvas. Yep, I’m doing it. Waxing poetic again.
“Or have you already decided?” he sneers slightly, and I can see that mean boy bully coming through in him. “It’s Tristan, isn’t it? Fuck, I knew as soon as I heard you guys banged in the library. Jesus.” Zayd curls his fingers in his hair, and I reach out to grab his hand, pulling it away.
“I haven’t decided. I … I know you guys are probably desperate for me to make up my mind, but give me until graduation day. If I’m not dead by midnight, then I’ll … make a choice.” It’s meant to be dark humor, but like Charlie’s attempt, it just sort of falls flat.
“You picked me once,” Zayd whispers, and the yearning in his voice makes my heart ache. “Do it for me one more time.” He points at the Never Again tattoo on the side of his neck. “I’ll never hurt you again. You’ll be my little rock princess.” He pauses, nibbles at his lower lip. “No, you’ll be my rock goddess. We’ll travel the world together, and we’ll fuck in every country at least once.” My mouth curves into a smile, and I feel tears prick at the edges of my eyes. I’m not sure why. They’re just there, and I can’t stop them. “We have chemistry like nobody’s business. Stay friends with the other guys, I don’t care, but nobody can fuck like me and you.”
“You have a point,” I whisper as Zayd sighs and exhales, like he’s pushing aside his emotions for the time being. We both go quiet, listening to the wind whistle between the towers. “What bet did Lizzie break?”
“She wasn’t supposed to tell you about the deal. None of us were. But it’s … as long as we’re the only ones who know she broke it, and that I’m breaking it again now, it’ll be okay.”