Page 29 of Cruel Hearts

“Don’t you care that the police dragged you half-naked from your room in full view of half the school?” asked Kendrick.

“The half-naked part was your brother’s doing,” I snapped.

“Gentlemen, and I use the term loosely,” said Gideon, rising to his feet. “You have outstayed your welcome and have sixty seconds to vacate this property before I report you to the headmaster for trespassing.”

I suppressed a smile. Seriously, if I ever went into organized crime, I’d do it Godfather-style with Gideon as my consigliere.

Kendrick stood with a huff, muttering something about this being a waste of time. Without a word or a backward glance, he strode out of the door with his back as straight as the broom handle up his ass. Orlando let out a huge sigh, heaved himself off his seat, and trudged behind his best friend.

Maxwell was the only one left sitting.

“What are you waiting for?” I made shooing motions with both hands. “Leave.”

Maxwell stood, walked across the room and paused at the doorway. “Lilah.”

“What?” I folded my arms across my chest.

“I really am sorry for what I did.”

“Which part? Pretending to be your brother? Having sex with me under a false identity? Making sure I was in place for the raid?”

“All of—”

“You didn’t seem apologetic when you gloated at me being mauled by dogs, dragged naked out of bed and arrested.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “I was a different person back then. Now, I’m sorry for it all.”

“You’re only sorry because it backfired.”

He didn’t reply, because it was true. Instead, he rose his shoulders. “I thought about you every day—”

“It’s only Monday,” I snarled. “Less than two days since the arrest.”

“Why does everything have to be so difficult with you?”

“Self-preservation.” I walked around the table and gave him a hard shove on the side, making him step back into the hallway.

His distorted features formed a frown. “What?”

“You always have an ulterior motive.” My hand wrapped around his school tie, and I yanked him through the hallway. Once again, he was surprisingly compliant considering his size and strength.

Up ahead, Gideon stood at the front door with his hand on the latch, ready to pull it open once I’d ejected Maxwell.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“If you’re not flirting with me to gather information for Elizabeth, you’re trying to position me in front of a camera to get me expelled or keep me in place for a police raid. What kind of moron would trust a person like you?”

“I’ll prove my loyalty.”

“To Elizabeth?” I yanked harder on his tie, bringing him to eye level. The sight of his bruises up close and in the dim light made my stomach drop.

“To you,” he said from between clenched teeth.

My gaze dropped down to his neck. “With a track record like yours, I won’t hold my breath.”

Gideon opened the door, and cold air curled around us.

I released Maxwell’s tie, letting him step out through the threshold. Out by the gates, Orlando stood under the lights, shouting at him to hurry, but he shooed his friend and brother away and turned back to me.