The Sinners - Ruby Vincent Page 0,62
“Shh.”
My laugh tickled his lips. “Kissing me is a good way to shut me up. Do it again.”
He complied. “I had another reason for ditching you. I tried the key in the locker room. Too big. Don’t bother checking the women’s.”
“Ugh. Great. We can’t go to the post office tomorrow either. My aunt wants me back at the academy and she’ll call Hart to check I’m there.”
“Wow. The way you described her, I didn’t think she cared.”
“She doesn’t. I have no clue what her problem is. It’s no doubt punishment for getting up to what eighteen-year-old girls do.”
Royal and I killed time on the terrace talking and texting. I texted Cassius and Clay, and Royal didn’t share who was on his other end.
“Something up?” I asked.
“It’s Rio,” he replied, glued to his phone. “He says he’s close to finding the dealer.”
“What?”
“Not at the academy,” he corrected. “I mean the boss. Whoever our dealer is working for. Someone came up to one of our guys on Rainer Street and asked if he was Maurice and how much. They took him out for a talk and he gave up that a friend told him ‘Maurice’ would hook him up with coke. Someone who lives or hangs around Rainer with a name like Maurice? He won’t be hard to find.”
I looked away. “I’m all for getting a dealer who sells to kids off the street. I just hate that Rio is the one doing it. He’s got cops in his pocket. He should turn the dealers over to them.”
“He might.”
I didn’t ask if Royal believed that. I’m sure he didn’t.
“It’s getting loud in there,” Royal said. “Let’s check out the parking lot.”
“All right,” I replied. Nerves trickled into my resolve. “Are we doing it now?”
“Just looking. We’ll do another lap around the party, do what we have to do, and then be back before the cranberry brie runs out.”
Ever the cautious one, Royal’s description was vague.
Together we skirted outside the building. Royal held me close, walking slowly for the cameras. If anyone went over the security feed, they’d see two lovers looking for alone time.
“—can’t anymore. It’s not worth it.”
We ground to a stop. Tucked away in a pocket of darkness were two figures. I recognized the voice instantly.
“You know what will happen if we’re caught,” hissed Pomona.
“You don’t have to be afraid.”
My eyes went round. “Gabriel?”
Royal quickly pulled me back, ducking behind the wall and out of sight of the two. They didn’t break their conversation, so they must not have heard me.
“It wasn’t a big deal when we started this but now people are asking questions,” Pomona said.
Inching closer, I peered around the corner. I could just make out their outlines.
“Just take it.” Gabriel handed her something I couldn’t see. “If you want out after this, fine. I have to go. I can’t be seen here.”
I had a moment of panic thinking they were going to walk in our direction.
Good fortune smiled on us and they headed off to the front.
We gave it a few minutes and then we followed in their path. Royal tucked me under his chin, gazing over me at the car thief’s buffet.
“There,” he whispered. Royal’s throat bobbed against my forehead. “Mercedes-Benz toward the back. You already know what to do. It won’t be hard for you to get in.”
“Okay.” My heart was ricocheting around my rib cage and Royal’s nearness was only partially responsible. “Can we find the owner? I want to pay them back.”
“If you had the money to pay people back, we wouldn’t be doing this,” Royal said gently.
“One day, I will. Like when I get access to my trust fund. I’m paying them back, Royal.”
“Their name and address will be on the registration,” he said.
“Good.”
“Let’s go inside.”
Royal steered me past the doormen, holding me close though the cameras weren’t a concern. I buried my nose in his jacket, allowing his sweet, tangy scent to calm my jangled nerves.
“Royal? Royal, is that you?”
He stopped dead.
“It is you. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“Royal?” I poked his rigid chest. “What’s wrong?”
I knew that voice. We both did. I turned a stiff Royal around and waved to Headmistress Hart. “Hi, Headmistress.”
She flapped a hand. “Oh, Ember, we’re off school grounds. Call me Gail.”
Gail Hart was a knockout. She glided over the Persian carpet in a dress more stunning than mine. A light blue beaded chiffon gown with a ruffled bodice clung to her frame. Her hair fell in a shining wave around her shoulders,