Page 11 of Payback

My hand closed around hers. “Don’t leave yourself empty-handed. If we work things out, you might get that sizable chunk.”

After bidding Mom a tearful goodbye, Henry insisted that we cross the road and walk through Hyde Park to clear our heads. We stepped out of the Dorchester, crossed the busy street, and entered an expanse of green that reminded me of Central Park. Long paths meandered around a lawn dotted with huge oak trees, and the scent of roses filled my nostrils. People sat on blankets, jackets, directly on the grass, either having picnics or enjoying the sunshine.

The boys took off their blazers, and I strolled between Henry and Edward toward a body of water in the distance.

“At least this is one place we know isn’t bugged,” muttered Henry. “Rudolph seems to have tentacles everywhere.”

I shook my head. “He must have planned to turn against me from the start if he’d gotten his assistant to seduce Charlotte.”

“He’s always steps ahead of us. How do we get back at him?”

“We can start by sweeping the academy for surveillance devices,” said Blake.

“I have Carbuncle’s map of cameras,” added Edward.

“How?” asked Henry.

“It was in his filing cabinet.” Edward slipped his hands in his pockets and offered me his elbow. “I placed magnets on as many of the cameras as I could find to block the signals.”

“You didn’t tell us that,” said Blake.

“I wasn’t really thinking straight during the Easter break,” he said.

The sadness in Edward’s voice squeezed at my heart. That had been at the height of my betrayal, and I still cringed every time I thought of my actions. “Edward, I’m—”

“Don’t. We’ve had this conversation countless times. You’ve forgiven us, and we’ve forgiven you. Let’s not rehash it.”

Without meaning to, my gaze traveled to Henry, and I met his verdant, green eyes. Unease settled in my stomach like a flock of butterflies flailing in a flood of guilt. I’d had the chance to speak with Edward and Blake about our first two terms, but every time Henry and I were alone, either lust or resentment took the forefront, and we never got the chance to open our hearts. He gave me the saddest of smiles, and my heart sank into the abyss of drowning butterflies.

At some point, I would need to get him alone to resolve our differences.

Up ahead, a group of boys around our age played five-a-side football. I smiled at the laughter and boisterous cheers of the scoring team. So close to the end of term, we should be having fun in the sun, not scheming ways to protect and avenge ourselves from my psychotic stepfather.

“Who thinks Charlotte knows Philippe works for Rudolph?” Blake raised his hand.

“She told me her boyfriend had the power to make my life miserable.” I stared into a group of swans swimming close to the edge of the water. “The way she said it implied that this man had some kind of power over me.”

“Like access to a stepfather,” said Edward.

“I think she’s sleeping with them both,” said Blake.

Henry chuckled. “You’d go to any length to disparage that girl.”

He shrugged. “It doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”

A shudder of disgust rippled through my gut. It was bad enough thinking of Mom kissing that old reptile. But I couldn’t see someone my age, not even Charlotte, going anywhere near Rudolph turtle-face Trommel.

“I’d rather not think about that girl’s nocturnal activities,” said Edward, his voice clipped.

I dipped my head to hide my smile. Whatever fumble he had shared with Charlotte when he was thirteen must have been disastrous. A group of cyclists sped past on the nearest path, blowing whistles. One of the riders had the same mousy ponytail Charlotte used to sport before she changed her hair color.

“We already know how to get back at Charlotte,” said Henry. “The girls will destroy her when they return from the hospital.”

“But Rudolph and Philippe will be a challenge.”

“A sex scandal,” I said. “If we can tie Charlotte and Rudolph together—”

“What’s the age of consent in New York?” asked Blake.