AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her face looks thin and drawn, her shoulders slumped.
Probably something to do with Dean.
Too bad—I was almost starting to root for him.
He became my unwitting ally this year, without ever knowing it.
“How are you doing?” I ask her.
“I’m fi—” she starts, and then abruptly changes her mind. “Not good,” she admits.
“Anything I can do to help?”
“No,” she sighs. “Thank you, though.”
“Are you sure? I could strangle Dean in his sleep.”
Her lower lip trembles. “I’m afraid I’m a long way past when that would help me.”
“How’s Zoe doing, then?” I say, knowing that will cheer her up.
Sure enough, she gives me a wobbly smile.
“She’s so happy,” Cat says. “She sold another script—can you believe it?”
Nothing pleases Cat more than something good happening for her sister.
“I was talking to Perry Saunders at the library,” I say, casually. “She’s a friend of yours, isn’t she?”
“Mm-hm,” Cat nods, glancing across the open lawn as if distracted. Maybe looking for Dean.
“Have you ever visited her in Kyiv?”
“Oh, she doesn’t live in Kyiv. Her mother doesn’t like it there, so they live in Naples and her father flies back every couple of weeks. Her mother breeds horses . . .”
“I’m surprised he’s willing to live on his own,” I chuckle. “Mafia men aren’t exactly known for their housekeeping skills.”
“He stays at the Four Seasons,” Cat says, now scanning the students exiting the dining hall. Probably looking for Dean.
“Well, I won’t keep you,” I say, ready to part ways. “Have fun in class.”
“You too,” Cat says, vaguely.
It’s to my benefit that she wasn’t entirely paying attention—Cat Romero can be a little too curious for her own good. Miss Robin already warned me about that.
She guessed almost immediately that Cat was the one who killed Rocco Prince. That was an unwelcome complication—Dr. Cross’ lung infection was another.
With all the near-misses we’ve had, I’ve almost become numb to the danger of our position.
There’s only so many times you can face down death without wanting to open your arms to him out of sheer exhaustion.
25
CAT
Dean corners me again outside the dining hall. I tried to come to dinner late to avoid him, but apparently he’s been waiting out here for over an hour.
“Leave me alone,” I say, trying to push past him.
