Hollow Hearts (The Harkwright Trilogy)

“As for you Fifteen, it’s time to meet your fate for not doing your homework and nearly killing one of us. Unlucky for you, I’m the last person you want seeing you out,” his voice is calm yet it fills me with a terrifying dread and as I’m led past him I look up and come face to face with Tucker.

I don’t know anything about him, like Emmet he’s a Harkwright mystery and I don’t know if my fear is unfounded or not, but I think it’s justified.

I’m waiting outside the office, the strange thing is, so is Aeron. I expected him to disappear once we got here, but he hasn’t left my side. I doubt he’s here for me though, he must have his own business to deal with. If he didn’t help me in the mess hall, why would he stand in now?

My foot is bouncing up and down and my bottom lip fills my mouth with a metallic taste as I bite and worry it between my teeth, I have one hand in my hair roughly pulling at the French twist to free the tendrils and I don’t even care about the pain that my tugging is causing in my scalp.

“Will you stop that,” Aeron grabs hold of my arm and pulls it away from my hair, taking a few strands with it, before gripping my shoulders and turning me so my back is to him.

“Anxious girls are infuriating,” he mumbles and my cheeks are aflame and then… he works his fingers through my hair, freeing it from its up do and working out the knots my pulling has put it in.

“What are you doing?” I mutter, but in all honesty, it feels so damn good. People playing with my hair has always been a weakness of mine. Poppy used to stroke my hair to soothe me anytime I had nightmares and then she’d scare my demons away and make everything feel better. For that night at least.

“Distracting you, don’t read too much into this Little Zero. I don’t want you to start thinking I’m a nice guy suddenly,” I can hear the laugh in his tone.

“Don’t worry, I won’t,” I reply easily and I feel his lips brush across my head before his fingers pull away and he relaxes back into his seat. He kissed my head, why would he do that?

The office door is pulled open and I won’t be surprised if my complexion turns even more pale - not sure that would even happen but who the fuck knows - as I take in the disapproving stare of Ms. Vanderbilt and my trembling only intensifies.

I climb to my feet and step shakily towards her, only to have Aeron follow my moves, only more relaxed and a lot more carefree than I could ever pull off.

“You aren’t needed Mr. Harkwright,” she says and all he does in return is laugh, bop her on the nose with his finger and stroll into the office. Leaving her spluttering and turning bright red in the face.

I take a seat, fuck waiting to be told. This is the only act of rebellion I can bring myself to do and I’m taking it. Aeron stands beside me and Vanderbilt folds herself into the chair behind the desk, her eyes staring into Aeron and he’s just smirking in return.

“Your presence really isn’t necessary, she struck a girl without permission and will be made to leave,” she says and he laughs, actually fucking laughs in response.

“Trust me Kate, she had permission. That Fifteen nearly killed Maddox and Zero here was the only one willing to step in and do anything to help him. Will you pull in the girls who stood there gawking or the other Harkwrights who recorded the whole fucking thing while snickering?” She shakes her head limply at his words and his tuts before leaning back against the wall.

“Fifteen is gone, looks like a spot has opened up,” he glares at her and I watch as she chokes on air before righting herself.

“I have already filled it, the other Zero is now number Forty-Nine, there isn’t a free spot,” she splutters, and he slams his palms down on the desk and brings his head inches from hers.

“She saved his damn life, so make a spot and Tucker thinks she should at least make it into the thirties after this. Make it happen Vanderbilt, otherwise I’ll send Tucker or maybe even the Prince,” his tone is soft but deadly as all the color leaches from her face and her hand shakes as she picks up a phone and gives the orders.

He moves away to lean against the wall beside me, his ankles crossed and as I look at him he drops me a wink. And just like that, I’m number Thirty-Four.

10

A Kiss Stolen Too Late

It’s strange having a room to myself but even stranger to think that classes will soon start up. The Harkwright men left after the probationary month ended, we all stood outside the front this morning, as the cars arrived to escort them away. No one deemed it important to tell us why they were leaving or when they will be back but for the first time in weeks, I feel like I can finally breathe again. No more being pushed around or having my face forced into the table, no more confusing evenings with Aeron or accidental run-ins with Tom. I can just be me and I haven’t even begun to explore my new room, or should I say rooms.

I have my own sitting area, a small walk-in wardrobe and a separate bedroom, I even have all the fixings in case I don’t want to go down to the mess hall in the mornings. It’s only cereal but I’m not going to turn up my nose at that. Just another way of finding a semblance of independence in this place. The walls are decorated with chocolate and cream embossed wallpaper that has patterns of fleur-de-lis across it. There’s a small crystal chandelier above the cherry oak coffee table and a loveseat alongside a comfy recliner which I will definitely be curling up in with a good book.

The bathroom has a claw-foot tub with a separate walk-in shower and a vanity section, yeah not a table, an entire damn section with shelves, three mirrors with lights bo

rdering them and storage areas for brushes and items that I do not have.

I go over to my queen bed and throw myself onto the comforter, sinking into the mattress and I’m engulfed by the pillows. I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up in me as a knock sounds on the door.

“Come in,” I say and I don’t lose my smile as Liam appears over me with a grin almost matching mine.

“What’s got you so happy?” He asks with so much warmth that I don’t refuse the hand he offers to pull me up.

“Just a sense of freedom that is going around at the moment,” I reply with a wink and then feel ridiculous for doing it. I never wink and it felt wrong.

“Enjoy it while it lasts, they’ll be back before you know it,” he says almost ominously, but I won’t let it ruin my good mood.