Ruthless Secrets (Elites of Macedon High 2)

“Nana, you’re scaring me.”

She fists her hand on the table and snarls, “You should be scared!”

The teacup shakes in my hand. I set it in the saucer, trying to keep my hands out of sight. I have no earthly clue what the fuck my grandmother is talking about, but she seems convinced that there’s something coming.

Before I can ask her to clarify, the door to the cottage opens behind me and I turn to see my mother walk into the living room. She nods to Nana and then plays with her hair, anxiety in every movement she makes.

“Son,” she says. “You need to leave. For the sake of us all.”

I glare at her as I stand up. “What?”

“You’re putting me at risk,” she says with a sorrowful tone, “just by being in this cottage. I need your father to survive financially. If you’re still here, he’ll take it out on me.”

“You fucking coward.”

Indignation invades her features but fades as I head for the door. An afterthought strikes me, so I pause and return to Nana to kiss her forehead. Then and only then do I decide to take my leave.

***

The vineyard hosts rows of perfectly planted grape-bearing vines, leading toward the Somerville home. I’m waiting for Parker to collect me, standing like a fucking loser in a barren field. The frigid winter wind bites my cheeks and causes me to huddle in my black peacoat while I regret not grabbing anything to cover my head. I’d kill for a beanie right now.

Just when I think I’m about to be ditched, I spot my friend wandering toward me. He beckons for me to follow him, eyes peeled in every direction as we head for the Somerville carriage house. I should be excited when I step into the upstairs apartment—after all, this is where we railed Alex to hell and back—but I feel nothing except disdain for my family.

“You have to stay out of sight,” Parker warns me while lingering in the doorway. “In a few days, I’ll talk to my father about letting you stay in the main house.”

My shoulders sag with relief. “Thanks, man.”

Pity emanates from his face. It’s the oddest fucking thing to see coming from Parker, especially when the bulk of his expressions involve a perpetual scowl. He never does pity. It’s just not his thing.

And I can’t stand the way it looks, coming from his eyes.

My next realization slams so hard into my chest that I forget to breathe. Must be pretty bad for Parker to show me concern. I avoid his gaze, pretending to inspect the apartment. I half expect to find the bloodstain from Alex’s virginity on the bed, but it’s not there. The maid would have scrubbed it clean by now.

“Let me know what you want to eat for the next few days,” Parker offers. “I can send the servants up with whatever.”

“Enough cherry vodka to give me heartburn,” I request. “And burgers.”

“Must be bad if you’re eating shitty food.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s not shitty food. And I’m not some kind of health nut either, so don’t go on that rant again.”

“What rant?”

“Don’t be such an idiot, man. It’s a bad look.”

He shoves his hands into his pockets and shrugs, trying to offer a smile. “Just wanted to make you laugh or something.”

“Well, it didn’t work.”

The shift in power hangs in the air between us. I’m in Parker’s hands now—and if his father doesn’t want me here, I’m totally fucked. With nothing to lose and nowhere to go, I’m at the mercy of Macedon.

And there’s nothing I can do about it.

***

When I don’t find Alex in her room, I search the Moretti grounds for signs of her presence. She’s a sneaky girl, Ms. Alex, and she has ways of hiding in plain sight. But she can’t ever hide from me for long. And with everything that’s happened today, I need something to yank me out of the pit in which my father wishes to bury me.

The pool house glows like a mystical beacon in the darkness of the Moretti estate. I wander up the sunlamp-decorated path and push through the open door, closing it quietly behind me. The trickle of water greets my ears, followed by the soft sounds of dark indie music. Someone sounds depressed.