always wanted to believe the best in people. I was the only person who saw through Mackenzie’s Ice Queen bitch witch facade. But now I’m the reason Claudia is getting away with stealing Mackenzie’s house. I’m done being the Golden Boy. I’m ready to fight dirty.
To do that, I need weapons. I’m not going into this fight wielding violence – that’s not a weapon I know how to use. But I can arm myself with the truth.
I searched for the truth for so long and never got anywhere. I know I need help from an outside source – someone who gets off on Sherlock Holmesing their way into dangerous situations.
It occurs to me that I know someone with the exact skills I need. I’ve already seen the devastating impact of their talents, and I know they can’t resist a mystery. I just have to—
My phone rings.
What the fuck? I stare at it as it vibrates across the bedside table. The piercing wail of the ringtone reverberates in my silent room. Gizmo pokes her head from beneath the blankets to glare at the offending device.
Brrrrriiiiing. Brrrrriiiiing.
Why the fuck is calling me at 3:47AM?
Noah’s name flashes on the screen. A dark feeling hits my gut. Is he okay? Has something happened?
I grab the phone and moan into the receiver. “This better be fucking important.”
“It is. Can you meet me at school in five minutes? I need to practice the hurdles.”
Noah fucking Marlowe.
We have our first winter indoor meet next month, and it’s an important one. College recruiters will be there, and as the team captain, it’s my job to make sure we shine. But I can barely muster a single fuck to give about track. It used to be that when I looked up from the starting blocks, I stared into my future – a future far away from my family and fucking Emerald Beach – where I got to live life based on my own values and beliefs. Track was how I would escape my family’s obsession with profiting from the grief of others. Now, when I stare down the field, all I see is Claudia August, the ghost of the girl I love.
The last thing I want to do is run through more drills with Noah, especially since he doesn’t know how dangerously close I am to kicking him off the team. But something in his voice catches me – a hint of emotion, of desperation. This is Noah Marlowe reaching out, and I’d be a shitty friend if I didn’t respond. Even if I do hate his guts right now.
I drag myself out of bed, stuff my uniform and calculus textbook into my gym bag, and pad through the house. I can hear Maria snoring from her room off the back of the kitchen. Mom isn’t awake, but even if she was I doubt she’d care where I was going.
My hand turns on the doorknob when a voice says, “Hold on a minute, son.”
The deep voice stabs the darkness. My heart hammers in my chest as I look over my shoulder. Nero steps out of the shadows.
What’s he doing skulking around the house at 4AM?
“Hi.” I nod at him, hoping that I’m not betraying the trembling in my arm. “I’m just on my way to track practice, so I can’t stop to chat.”
“This is early to be heading to school.” He looks faintly amused, as if we’ve both been caught sneaking snacks from the fridge. As he glides across the floor toward me, I see that he’s dressed in his three-piece pinstripe suit, his shoes perfectly shined. He can’t have got dressed just to come down and speak to me, so I wonder where he’s planning to go at this early hour.
“We have our first meet soon, and college recruiters will be there. Every minute of extra practice matters.” Especially now that Dad’s civil suits will run our coffers dry and I’ll have to pay my way through college.
“You’re a very bright boy, aren’t you, Elias?” It’s not really a question. Men like Nero don’t expect an answer. He thrusts his hands in the pockets of his impeccable suit, and I notice a gold watch around his wrist and a small coin hanging from a gold chain around his neck. “I wondered if you might be interested in a job with me after you graduate. I know you’re planning for college, but a year or two in the real world might help you decide on your next step.”
He sounds