Page 65 of Play The Game

“Miss Anderson, I’m going to get straight to the point. There have been… farther accusations of unbecoming behavior against you put forward by an anonymous party. This time video evidence has been provided and the school board has made the decision to⁠—”

The door slams open and an enraged Avery Beaumont stalks through, graceful as she sits down, even at her most furious. Not that you’d be able to tell from looking at her that she’s pissed, it’s more the air around her that gives it away; even the dust particles in the air are floating away from her in terror.

My hands have a fine tremble in them, but I clench my fists and my jaw toward them away.

“Mr. Trevelen⁠—”

“Miss Beaumont,” he interrupts, and I freeze. “There is no reason for you to be here. This issue is about Miss Anderson and her status as a scholarship student. It is none of your concern, no matter how much you wish it were so.”

Fuck. Avery is going to destroy him.

Her eyes narrow and she leans forward in her chair, menacing and calm. I speak for her, just to make sure she has all the facts she needs to dig me out of this.

“Who was the anonymous source? I think I have the right to know who is trying to have me kicked out and defend myself.”

Trevelen’s eyes flash to mine and the regret that flashes there has nothing to do with me and everything to do with his own ass that is now firmly on the line.

He clears his throat again before saying, “She—the source has been granted anonymity by the school board to ensure there are no unjust repercussions. Your roommate has a… reputation for such things.”

Avery smirks at him and I settle back in the chair, content to watch her work. I bleed people out for her and she does this stupid political crap for me.

It works.

“I have far more important and pressing issues to deal with than some desperate slut because we both know this reeks of jealous little whores. I’ll have your job for this, Richard. We both know I own you. If you’re lucky, we won’t take your head with it.”

“You can’t just go around threatening people’s lives, Miss Beaumont,” he says, but his forehead is covered with a thin sheen of sweat that belies the truth in his words.

Avery laughs at him, and I shiver at the sound.

Fuck, I love her.

“Oh, you’re mistaking me! It’s not a threat, it’s a fact. If you fuck with my family, you bleed. Have you not met my father, Richard? The apple doesn't fall far from that tree, I assure you.”

Trevelen is now moping his sweat up with a handkerchief, his fingers shaking. “Miss Beaumont, there is nothing I can do about it! The video has now been watched by the entire school board and the ethics committee will have my ass if I don’t act upon it. Maybe Miss Anderson should have acted with⁠—”

“Was Miss Anderson the only student in the video? Was she acting indecently by herself? No. This is all an attempt by Ms. Turner to separate Harley and Lips because she’s a sexual predator. Are you aware she’s fucking a fifteen-year-old student, Richard? How does your ethics board feel about that? Oh, I’m sure they’re fine with it because she’s fucking them too. I don’t care what it takes, you will make this disappear. If you don’t, I’ll send my own anonymous letter out to the police and tell them exactly where you buried your first wife. Does Lucinda know the back porch she so dearly loves to sit on and enjoy is built on the unmarked grave you dug?”

Holy.

Fuck.

I did not see that coming.

NINETEEN

Viola Ayres is nothing like I was expecting the daughter of a Senator to be.

She’s a senior and has a private room a few doors down from ours so when we knock at her door, she frowns and ushers us in. Avery said she’s in the top math classes with us, but I honestly can’t say I’ve noticed her before. She’s taller than me, but that’s not hard. Her honey-brown hair is streaked with purple highlights, and there’s a stud in her nose so tiny you can barely see it flashing in the light. The teachers here would struggle to spot the dress code violation and I instantly like her more than any other girl I’ve come across. Well, other than Avery obviously.

The room only confirms she’s a different breed. Everything is painted black, and there are whiteboards everywhere with physics equations and coding on them. She’s a genius.

She’s also fucking perfect for the Coyote.

“What exactly have I done to deserve a visit from the reigning Queen Bees of Hannaford?” she drawls, flicking a wrist between us.

I scoff at her. “I’m not a queen bee, that’s more Avery’s kind of thing.”

Avery giggles at me, stroking my arm lovingly. “Lips doesn’t like admitting she’s alluring and powerful. She would rather enjoy lurking in the shadows and silently slitting throats.”