A Legacy of Sorrow (A Violent Agenda)

Dino is on his phone again, Jude is listening to music with his headphones, but not drinking which is new. And Lorcan’s studying. He’s the only one who seems to take his grades seriously. After a few minutes of blissful silence, except for the scratching of pens and tapping of keys, Saskia strolls over.

“The fucking plebs in this school drive me nuts,” she hisses, scowl etched on her face. She dumps her school bag in the middle of the table and takes the chair next to her brother. She side eyes me in my corner seat. I always choose the one furthest away and facing the door, it also just happens to be beside her brother too.

“Viola, I need your help in the ladies again,” she announces.

Exhaling hard, I drop what I’m doing and get to my feet. The boys don’t ask questions so it’s easy to slip off to the bathroom together, I don’t get it. From what I understand it’s a girl thing, going to the bathroom in droves. But guys never question it. Useful for sharing information, but if I want to pee I think I’d prefer to be alone.

After Saskia’s checked the stalls, she turns to me. “I’ve told Lorcan to bring you as his date tomorrow. To my engagement party,” she says when I look at her blankly.

Fuck that’s tomorrow? I’m not keeping track of days very well.

“Does Lorcan suspect anything?”

“No. My brother ’s completely clueless.” Her frosty gaze bores into me. “And I’d rather it stay that way.”

I nod as I lean against the sinks. “Doesn’t bother me.”

“Will you do it tomorrow?”

“Mostly likely not.” The perfect kill takes time to prepare. Tomorrow is too soon. When she looks worried, I add, “It’ll be done before your wedding.”

She releases a breath, bouncing her head in agreement. “Oh, Ihave the information you wanted.” She starts opening her designer cross-body bag.

“No, no paper trail. Give it to me by word of mouth. But not now. Somewhere where no one knows us.” I’m too wired from seeing Dante at school that I won’t retain anything she tells me.

I get to my seat a few seconds before Saskia does. As she gracefully positions herself in hers, she opens her purse and pushes a card over to me across the desk. It’s an advertisement for a yoga class.

“Since you like yoga, there’s an Ashtanga class tomorrow morning. I’ll see you there at 9 a.m.,” she says, smoothly.

“I’ll be there,” I say, pocketing the card, not missing a beat.

I’m expecting Lorcan to question it, but it’s Jude who leans in and whispers. “Since when do you like fucking yoga?”

I shoot him a look, fully prepared to stab him under the table if need be.

Dino saves me the trouble. He lifts his gaze from his phone. “We have a problem. Razor’s backed out of the fucking deal.”

“I knew that pussy would,” Jude snaps.

I flick my eyes upward out of habit. As I lower them, I catch Dino’s eyes in mine. His jaw is clenched and his dimple is back. The urge to bite him makes me gnaw my own lip until he blushes. I do like making him blush.

Fucking him Jude’s car was what I needed. He knew just how to allow me in, to let off steam. He’s not like Lorcan who takes. Dino’s a giver. Maybe I need that more?

“Can’t you just visit your cousin? Pass the message that way?” Saskia says, bringing me back to the conversation at hand.

Jude frowns at her. “No I can’t. I’m banned from seeing him. And even if I could. He’s in a segregation unit. He’s not allowed visitors.”

“I could ask Quinn to find information we need. Blackmail one of the staff,” I shrug.

Lorcan glances at me, considering. “Quinn would do that for us?”

“She’ll do it for me.”

Dino holds up a hand. “Wait. Who’s Quinn? How do we know we can trust her?”

“You can trust her because I’m vouching for her,” I say, letting out a breath. Jude is staring at me like he knows a secret. I guess he does. He was there when I met with Quinn, when Dante accosted me outside. I have no idea if Jude even mentioned Quinn to the others. I assumed he had. Now I’m beginning to think he hasn’t.

“That doesn’t tell me who she is.” Dino carries on. I shoot him a look. As much as I enjoyed last night, Dino can be fucking annoying at times.