Mercy (Somerset University #3) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,60

to pledge our house. I honestly didn’t know who I’d pick at the end of this.

Maybe this is why they came up with weeding challenges like the test.

I looked around at the wide-eyed, hair-tugging fidgeters who had only one minute until starting the test. I understood why we used this to narrow down the final pledges, but this test was still cruel and unusual punishment.

I tugged Aiden out of the dining room. “We’re not seriously dropping pledges based on their score, right? It’s impossible to pass that thing. Leighton Lewis excluded for the wunderkind she was.”

“It’s up to you to decide the cut-off score,” he said. “Remember the point is to see how they think and, most importantly, if they push through or give up when it gets tough.”

“Fine.”

I made to return to the dining room. Thinking better of it, I twisted around and buried my fist in his gut. He stumbled but didn’t drop.

“Dammit, Val,” he grunted. “Got it out of your system yet?”

“I’ll let you know when.”

I made it clear to Aiden a month ago that I’d punch his face in for as long as I was mad about Maverick. He laughed at the time, thinking I was kidding.

I wasn’t.

My burning loathing notwithstanding, Aiden and I had been working well together in planning joint activities for the potential brothers and sisters. Now that Maverick and I were in the club for real, the keeping him at arm’s length had to stop. Every other Friday when we got into the car to attend another party, I wished we refused to join.

I wished we ended it and moved on like I wanted to after the initiation.

I wished Ezra never heard that whispered conversation in the basement.

I wished I dropped the snacks, took Sofia’s hand, and marched us out of that welcoming reception three years ago.

We wanted to uncover the secrets of Nu Alpha Theta and Zeta Rho Sigma and this is what we got. The old adage was true—be careful what you wish for.

“We’ll see you at the party this weekend, yeah? Hayes’s place this time.”

“Can’t wait.”

“Hmm. Do I taste a tang of sarcasm?”

“Did you have to say it like that?”

He laughed. “No one is forcing you to come, Val. Stay home with the kid, cat, and puppy. Know what, now that I’m saying it, I think it’s exactly what you should do.” The laugh lines vanished. “We’re getting pretty tired of you guys standing in a corner. The club isn’t for spectators. Don’t bother showing up.”

I felt another punch coming. “You didn’t beat my boyfriend just to turn around and kick us out. We will be there, and you want to know why?” I swallowed the scant distance between us. “Because I’m going to be everywhere you are until the day you finally leave this campus. In and out of Greek Row. I’ll be at your parties. You’ll see my specter in your fogged-up bathroom mirror. I’ll even pop into your dreams. I’m not easing up until you tell me everything, Aiden.”

Aiden bared his teeth. “What else is there to know?”

“I understand what it is you, Nasir, Rowen, and your buddies are really about. I know what you’re all determined to hide, and after seeing the things you get up to, it’s not a stretch to believe you’d be into darker stuff. I want to know where the file fits into your plan,” I said, “and why they had to take Teagan and Sawyer.”

“We agreed the cost of getting in the club was staying out of my business.”

“You and Maverick agreed,” I corrected. “You and I don’t have that deal.”

His sharp breath skated over my nose. “I’ve told you over and over again that it’s not what you think”

“If you’re innocent—”

“No, let me ask a question. Why haven’t you considered that the secrets I’m keeping aren’t mine to tell? You want to know what’s going on in Sawyer and Teagan’s life, ask them.” He sidestepped me. “See you in the bathroom mirror.”

That night, I kicked back on the couch with two blue heelers and a stack of test papers. “No one tells you how many late nights you’re taking on when you sign up for this president gig, girls. Want my advice, stay out of the life.”

Bitsy and Pepper cocked their heads in tandem. The puppies were growing fast and becoming more alike as time went on. Pepper was lucky her sister hung around after her brothers found their homes. Just like I was lucky my mom wasn’t in