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I’ll need more than I could access in the school parking lot. And unlike Jameson, I can’t snap my fingers and get a tow truck to take it to the school’s garage.

“We need to get into the Ashford house,” I tell Megan when I call her.

“Are you high? If we’re breaking into Daddy Ashford’s compound, you owe me answers, coffee for the next month, and a get-out-of-jail-free card, because your ass is going to be right there alongside me when they catch us.”

When I was wandering the property after Theo’s party, I found an area where the old stone fence is completely hidden by trees. Megan, Raj, Zane, and I are there with a ladder and tools within an hour of sunset.

“If we were a K-pop group, what would our roles be?” Raj asks as we trudge toward the fence on what we judged to be the quietest side.

Zane snorts. “We don’t meet the criteria.”

“But if we did,” Raj presses. He’s still annoyed we made him leave his scooter behind.

“I would be the visual and the face,” Zane says. “Megan’s the leader. Shay’s our main vocal. You’re the maknae. Everyone babies you already.”

“You’ve thought about this.” I’m relieved for the momentary distraction from our mission.

“Clearly not enough.” Megan shakes her head. “Can Shay even sing?”

“Only in the shower,” I confirm.

“So what exactly are we doing?” Megan asks me when we get onto the property and inside the garage. The guys hang back to keep watch.

I pop the hood on the Porsche.

“I’m remapping the engine.” I hook up the cord to my computer. I hit the Enter key with a flourish and watch as the custom mode starts to load.

“Ghost Mode,” Megan reads off the screen. “Which is?”

“You’ll see.” It’s better than anything factory, that’s for damn sure.

Jameson wanted to be silent and stealthy. He’s also completely fearless and brutal. I’m giving him a way to be both with the flick of a switch.

While the programming runs, I look around at the slick garage. Photos of the boys racing karts speckle the wall. Each of them holding up trophies. One of Theo pouting, Jameson’s arm around him. No matter how fucked up their family is, it’s clear the brothers love one another.

“What is going on with you and Jameson?” Megan pushes her shiny dark hair out of her face as she leans against the Turbo.

I shoot her a look. “Nothing.”

“What I said the first day of school stands. He won’t give you the time of day unless you’re sporting a V8…” She trails off, looking around us. “That’s what this is, isn’t it. Some game between you.” Her dark eyes are rimmed purple today, which doesn’t hide the worry. “If you’re going to mess around with an Ashford, it better be Theo.”

“Or what?”

She must sense I’m genuinely asking, because she sighs. “I don’t know. No one’s ever kept Jameson’s attention long enough to find out.”

When Megan and I finally finish and pack up, I text Zane and Raj, who’re outside keeping watch. There’s no answer. We head outside and start back across the property when a voice calls, “Where do you think you’re going?”

Megan’s already scrambling up the fence. Her eyes widen on me and I shoo her. “Run!” I whisper.

“Not without you.” She drops back next to me and her hand finds mine.

She’s willing to go down with me. There’s no reason for it, but she’s doing it anyway.

I’m touched by her loyalty. It’s almost enough to crowd out the panic as we turn slowly.

Luca Ashford stands behind us, imposing in a dark suit. This is the closest I’ve seen him. I’m struck by how much Jameson looks like him, but his expression is different. Harder.

His gaze flicks between us.