By the time I get back to the Pyramid, my blood is absolutely boiling and I’m ready to throw down. Knowing the only way to end this stupid plan the brothers have concocted is to convince the leader, I go straight for Neil’s room. I’m fired up, hands in fists, strategizing every argument in my brai
The words hurt. But if I push that initial hurt aside and remember what Angela said, about the brothers planning to hurt me to protect me, then maybe even this is part of their plan to cast me aside. Archer wouldn’t be kind to me if he wanted me gone tomorrow anyway. “You don’t have to do this
I retreat to the only safe space I have left in this place: Mia’s room. She is down for a nap, so I sit in a chair beside her crib and watch her sleep. Whatever happens from here on out, whatever hurtful things the brothers utter, whatever heartache I’m made to endure, I will find comfort in knowi
I crawl into my bed and stare at the ceiling. Sleep doesn’t find me that night. I wonder if I’ll ever really sleep again. The next morning, I collect my duffle bag and my book bag that has my laptop and school supplies inside. The rest, I’m sure the brothers will have delivered to me. I can’t
I force myself to keep taking long strides forward. I won’t break down here, in front of everyone. Some of the crowd has even taken to following me. I know the spectacle I must make. I don’t stop walking until I’m entering the building of my new dorm room. The crowd stops at the door, not follow
The next day, I wake up at 6 am to the sound of my alarm. My first instinct is to trudge down the hallway and check on Mia. But when I sit up in an unfamiliar room on an unfamiliar bed, the reality of the past day comes flooding back to me. I don’t live at the Pyramid anymore. Today is the first
Beau, being the marathon lover that he is, stays until the middle of the night before he rolls out of bed and begins collecting his clothes off the floor. He trails the whole way back to the front door, then brings them all back to the bedroom and drops the clothes pile on the foot of the bed. As
My first thought is to defend myself, so I straighten my stance, take a strong step forward, and open my mouth. Yet before any sound can leave my throat, Steven places his hand on Archer’s shoulder and says, “It was my idea.” Archer’s angry gaze immediately snaps toward his brother instead. St