Bully King - J.A. Huss Page 0,100
asking, Dante? Specifically?”
“I want you to tell Cooper about my plan.”
“You want me to tell him? Why?”
“Because he’s part of it.”
“Why don’t you tell him?”
Dante laughs. “Cooper’s had it out for me since day one. I knew he was going to cut me. And the only reason I’m still here, in the game, is because I played hardball all summer and he pretty much checked out three years ago after his rush was over. Cooper Valcourt doesn’t give a fuck about me. What do you think he would say if I walked up to him and told him I had a plan to get him and all his friends out, but in order to do that I get to take over his spot as King?”
I scoff.
“Exactly. But if you tell him”—Dante eyes me—“he’d listen to you. Cooper has to be on board. Because this threat I’m planning? To get us all what we want? It has to come from him. Everyone has to play their part for it to work, Cadee. Even you. So I’m gonna lay it out one more time. You can take your money and go. Just walk away from this fucked-up world and never look back. And hey, I’ll throw in a bonus. If you ever run out of money—if that million isn’t enough? You look me up and let me know. I’ll shoot you another one.”
I laugh. “Right.”
“I’m dead serious. Money? Who gives a fuck about money? Real money, Cadee? That’s a byproduct of power. Power is what matters. So take your money and walk away. Leave the deep dark secrets for us lowlife lake-house people. It’s a smart move. But if you want more than money—if you want to be a player in the game of life? Then stick around and help me out. This is a win-win for all of us. Me. You. Cooper, Lars, Ax, Sophie. This plan will get her out too. Isabella. All of them. If they want out, they’re out. If they want to stay, they’ll stay under my rule. But we’ll have to remain teammates. That’s the catch. You get one chance to walk away from me, but if you choose to stay, we play ball forever.”
I think about this for a few moments. “So… we’re basically making up our own secret society.”
He points at me and clicks his tongue. “Bingo, babe.”
“OK.”
“OK?” He laughs.
“But I want to know one thing.”
“Truth was part of the deal.”
“Right. That. OK, I’m in. Tell me the big secret.”
“Are you sure?”
“I just said I was. Tell me.” I need to know what he knows. Especially if it’s about me and Cooper.
“Cooper’s engaged to Isabella.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Lars is engaged to Selina. And Ax is engaged to Valentina.”
“But… they’re not even really dating, are they?”
“Of course not. Arranged marriage. Why do you think Isabella is so sad? Come on. She doesn’t want to marry Cooper Valcourt.”
“You act like he’s a disease. He’s not. And you don’t know anything about us. He’s not a bad guy.”
“Hey, he’s fine. I get the attraction. But Isabella is a lesbian.”
I laugh. “Shut up.”
“I swear to God. Her family is having none of it. They’re gonna make her marry him and have babies. Be a good little wife.” Dante frowns. “They’re gonna tear her down and make her surrender to Chairman Valcourt. The real King of High Court Castle. They made that dark place inside Isabella. They are the reason she tried to kill herself during rush. Not Cooper. They’re bad, Cadee. And I get it. I’m bad too. But I will cut her free. She doesn’t have to live like this. My plan will cut everyone free.”
“Free from them but not from you.”
He shrugs. “You gotta trust someone. Do you want Cooper and Isabella to get stuck playing their game as a legacy? Or do you want to invent a new game and be a founding stakeholder?”
He’s got a point. “OK. But is that it? Is that the only secret you have?”
He smiles. And the old Dante is suddenly back. I get a little nervous, but he reaches across the table and grabs my hand. “Relax, Cadee. We’re on the same side now. I’m gonna protect you. Forever. As long as you protect me. Same deal goes for everyone else.”
I pull my hand away. “Look.” I sigh. “I’m tired. My head is spinning. I feel like I was just dropped into a Dan Brown novel mid-plot, and I don’t want to beat around the bush anymore. What do you know?”
He