Page 180 of Depraved Boys

Sebastian pushed past his friend. “You remember?”

“Come in, why don’t you?” Prakash muttered.

“Don’t mind if I do, old bean,” said Leopold.

Still securing the sheet around my chest, I crossed my legs and tapped the side of my head. “It’s all there, I think. But I just remember the most significant parts of the day.”

Leopold and Sebastian settled onto the sofa. Prakash glowered at the pair and muttered something about them being late for breakfast.

“Who needs food when there’s a veritable feast in front of us?” Leopold licked his lips. “Sit between us and give us a good morning kiss.”

I huffed a laugh.

Sebastian leaned forward. “How did you end up in that car?”

My head throbbed, and I closed my eyes to concentrate. “It’s a little bit jumbled. I remember stopping Mum’s Renault on the side of the road—”

“You were driving?” asked Leopold. “I thought someone knocked you out and carried you into the driver’s seat.

I rubbed my temples, trying to ease out the memories. Nothing made sense. I’d been injured, and Cormac was trying to staunch the bleeding with paper towels. But that had taken place inside the academy. Miss Claymore was there, but she wasn’t wearing her thick dressing gown. And…

I shook my head. “The last things I remember are driving down Hard Knott pass and being blinded by a car with its headlamps on full blast.”

“Inconsiderate fucker,” muttered Leopold.

My eyes snapped open, and I turned to the two kings sitting on the sofa. “That was the murderer.”

Prakash, who sat on the edge of the bed and now wore a T-shirt and boxers, leaned across and stroked my bare arm. “There’s no hurry. Don’t try to force it.”

Leopold leaned forward. “Maybe I should take you for another session with Master Chang—”

“I stopped the car.” Words tumbled out of my mouth as the memory replayed itself. “The mirrors reflected that light and nearly blinded me.”

“That was the sensible thing to do,” said Sebastian.

“But they reversed their car and rammed into the side.”

Leopold shot out of his seat. “Fucking hell!”

I turned from Prakash, whose dark features had become pale and drawn and panicked, to Leopold, who stood over me, breathing hard, to Sebastian, who remained seated on the sofa, clutching his middle and looking like he wanted to throw up.

Harsh breaths eased in and out of my lungs. I’d always pictured myself being pinned down by the attacker, rendered unconscious, and had alcohol poured down my throat. Just as Bianca had ordered during Ashley’s initiation. But I’d been driving Mom’s car.

“Why would I get into a car after drinking all day at a private members club?” I whispered.

Prakash knelt at my feet and took my hand. “You had about two gin and tonics, two amaretto and cokes, vino santo, and amaretto coffee.”

I clapped my free hand over my mouth and gasped. “That’s so much.”

“It was spread out through the entire day, and we ate.”

“You threw up later on the roadside,” said Sebastian.

Tears filled my eyes. How could I have been so reckless? “Was I sober when I found you with Miss Claymore?”

“You’re all forgetting one thing,” said Leopold.

I stared up at the blond boy, whose face hardened with irritation. “What?”