e mansion felt stifli

ows of the breakfast nook, showing the dust mote

g in my hands, staring into a cup of coffe

merald silk dress, and my ears felt oddly ligh

m to him in the dr

ic moment that kept me awake until the

the sharp, rhythmic tap

ream-colored silk robe worth more

ompletely unaware that her daughter

ssing the top of my head. "Richard told me you and

ed like you finally understood what

s pleased that his son used me

don't be so dramatic. It's

oned taking us all to the Hamptons this weekend

used to share a single order of fries with me

shed version of herself who seemed

ever explain why h

overing over the silver t

night. About Richard's priva

ll of burning bread filled the r

. When she finally turned around, the

bitter about his mother and wants to h

wedge between us and

did he buy us?" I as

tone sharper than usual. "You are

hing for reasons to be miserable

ith the cooling coffee and the realization that my mother wasn't just

d to ge

the front door, but a movement

nd the scent of old paper and

then pushed t

ssive oak desk, a stack o

tly shifting to that warm, paternal

son I wanted to see

door, my hand on the brass h

bout your father's situation." He leaned back, cro

a nasty group. He's a hero, in a way. I've ensured he's

less like a favor and more li

t the prison before the fi

ecame rigid. Richard's eyes, usually

have expected that. He has a vivid

a photo,

ather is now one of my interests. I wanted to make sure he wasn't being targeted by peopl

, stopping just outside my personal sp

a life that girls would kill for. All I ask in return is loyalty. Is that

led, but it was there. Ke

te," I said, my voi

ell Edmund I'd like to see him for dinner tonight. We h

ally ran

he whispers were no longer about my cloth

ker when Riley intercep

ed me into an empty classroo

she hissed, shoving

st from an account cal

d Edmund leavin

he looked at me-and the way I l

ity Case and the Crown Pri

ir minds. They're saying you seduced him to secure your spot in the

ng dizzy. "I didn't do anythin

xcitement. "You've officially declared war on the social hierarchy. Jessica isn't just going to b

. Someone was tr

ow you're in t

a's voice, fi

d glances. I felt a

the intimidation from Richard trans

the door and

, flanked by two o

rfect makeup ruined by what

r mother's position to get close to him. You're disgusting. He doesn't love

ingly calm. "But if I'm just a t

ready to strike. I didn't flinch. I

d never

doorway, catching Jes

e looked bored, which w

," he said, his voice smooth an

ing, Edmund! Look at w

ing her wrist as if it were trash. "And neither should you.

deliberate sweep of his gaze

red, her voice breaking. "

hat's none of your business. Now, leave. Before I decide to

d fled the room, her friends fo

that followe

me a look that said we would talk l

d, finally catching my breath. "You j

e walked into that party together, the fu

he light highlighted the sharp angles of his face, maki

to see you for

t's not a dinner; it's an interrogation. He's realize

sked. "On the

turned

e stood so close I could fe

ng the line of my jaw, mimicking

ime, he di

of hair behind my ear

some kind of pain. "I only have survival. But for the first

It wasn't a kiss, but it felt more intimate tha

against my skin. "He's going to use your father, an

ow

ook at me with a cold, brilliant smile. "A perfect, happy family. We'

the mask, we're going to f

longer the girl from Lincoln High. I w

e glass that broke last night. My mom said it was a

nd on the doorframe.

. "It was the portrait of my mother

against the floor because I asked

ithout an

room, the sound of his foo

dinner was onl

cker, my moveme

door, a small, white e

ked i

ide was a single Polaroid photo. It

ir in the prison infirmary, talking to a

ritten in a hand I didn't r

tal

p h

gh me had nothing to do w

d toward my next class, the weight of th

just going to be

. And I didn't know which one o