The Sinners - Ruby Vincent Page 0,25

crossed one arm behind his head, resting on the door handle. “Did your parents have gym memberships?”

“We had a home gym.”

“That could be it, Em. Who is going to think someone with a home gym had a membership somewhere else?” He tapped my arm as a thought came to him. “What about the Estate Country Club? They have numbered lockers.”

“It’s been months. Wouldn’t an unused locker have been cleaned out by now?”

“We won’t know until we check it out. If that’s what you want.”

“I... I honestly don’t know what I want.” I buried my face in his neck, allowing his soap, sweat, and a scent that was exclusively Royal to calm me. “This town tortured me because they believed my parents left me a message. Now it turns out to be true. This morning I was innocent. Blameless. I was the true victim whether anyone believed it or not.

“Everything has changed. If I announce this and hand it over to the police, I may be sending my own parents to federal prison. If I ignore it, Eli and I live the rest of our lives without closure. Wondering where they are. Why they left us. If we’ll ever see them again. And if I follow where this key leads— Well, that’s the hardest option of all, because it might take me to them.”

“I won’t tell you what to do, princess. It’s selfish as fuck, but Gran has her money. It’s over for me, so if you toss the key in the forest right now, I won’t say a word about it.”

I shook my head. “I have to think. Let’s go back to school, okay? I need some time.”

We dressed in the tight space and then got back on the road. Raven River Academy was on the opposite end of town from the cemetery. We had a long drive back. Royal didn’t push me to speak, allowing me the time to think that I asked for.

Driving over the bridge to the academy felt surreal. So much had happened since the last time I crossed this bridge. Hiro was shot. The triplets were in deeper with the gang. Royal made a deal for my soul with an unknown person and for an unknown cost. And I found that key.

My life turned on its head, but Raven River Academy was the same. The towers swept the sky, imposing in design, weathered in age. My feelings were in a tangle over being back. I had too many enemies to name within these gates. Eli’s attackers were on the loose. The Raveners were out for my blood.

All that said, I was a lot safer in here than I was out there with Rio Cruz.

Royal pulled into the parking lot. “So, princess.”

“Yes.”

“Want to fill that thinking time with sex? I’ve got a free Sunday and an empty room.”

My body responded before I did, legs clenching thinking of Royal between them. “I’ll take you up on that. Just give me twenty minutes. I’m going to check on Eli.”

Royal went on ahead of me. I trailed him at a slower pace.

Do I tell Eli about the key?

I was as open and honest with my brother as I could be, but of course, I did not tell him everything. There were some things you did not put on a fourteen-year-old’s shoulders.

This was different. They were his parents too.

Tatum answered the door. “Hey, Ember. Eli just went in the bathroom.”

I stepped inside to wait for him. Eli and Tatum’s room was on the right side of messy. Hamper overflowing. Backpacks tossed anywhere. Beds unmade. But I could see the floor and the room smelled of forest from the windows they left open.

Eli came out of the bathroom and favored me with a hug. A sign he missed me even if he didn’t admit it.

“What happened to your head?”

I almost forgot my latest blow to the skull.

“I tripped. It’s no big deal. Can we talk outside?” I signed. “It’s important.”

He nodded. Shoving his shoes on, Eli walked with me outside and on through the grounds. My destination was the tennis courts. The court was out in the open, but people couldn’t sneak up on us.

“What’s up?” he asked. “Something happen?”

“Yes.”

I swung my leg over, straddling the bleacher. Eli did the same.

“I went to the cemetery today.”

Worry swept under a blanket of grief. For two sisters, not one.

“Are you okay?” he signed and then took my hands.

Eli was a baby when Rory died. He didn’t remember his oldest sister. Her death was