But I don’t have full control over my mind.
It was a tradeoff I was happy to make. One we’ve all made at some point in our journey.
That’s why we stuck together. That’s why we formed our brotherhood of revenge.
Alone, we were nothing but prey.
Together, we’ve become the ultimate predator.
Sister Stella gives me a warm smile when I step through the door to the administration office that afternoon. While Saint Amos only has two female teachers, all of the administration staff are women. Students’ grades, school supplies, and everything else the school needs to run are handled from the cluster of offices on the east wing of the school’s main building.
Framed by her black-and-white habit, only the center of Sister Stella’s face is visible.
“Good afternoon, brother. Something I can help with?” she asks, rising from her desk.
Saint Amos has telephone lines and electricity, but everything looks like it’s from the 1960s. No computers. No internet. And since the telephone lines are down more often than they work, everyone relies on their cellphones to maintain contact with the outside world.
When there’s service, of course.
Certain places on campus don’t get any service, like the libraries nestled deep in the disused catacombs.
Originally a church, all of the original buildings remain intact. When this place became an orphanage, the catacombs were used as an infirmary. These days, it houses the library. Unconventional, since the classrooms are a good fifteen-minute walk away, but more cost-effective than building a new structure. In fact, the low, squat building housing the classes is the newest structure on the property.
“I’d like to take a look at Trinity Malone’s transcripts, if she has any. May I see her file?”
Sister Stella widens her eyes at me, and gives her head a tiny shake. “I’m sorry, brother, I only requested it this morning. We didn’t even know she was coming until the provost mentioned it after prayers.”
“That’s strange,” I say, resting my elbows on the reception desk and leaning in a little. “Why was no one notified?”
Stella shrugs. “Perhaps it slipped the provost’s mind. He’s under a lot of stress at the moment, what with—”
“Yes, I understand.” I shouldn’t have interrupted her—I’m supposed to be the kind of person who cares deeply about Father Gabriel’s state of mind.
In a way, that’s all I care about these days.
I was hoping her file had arrived already. Why did her arrival at Saint Amos take so many people by surprise? I doubt it slipped Gabriel’s mind. He’s the most intelligent and cunning man I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting.
Her file would have told me all I needed to know. Where she came from, what her connection to Gabriel and the school is. No one just enrolls at Saint Amos—students have to be referred by the bishop of their diocese.
If I know who her emergency contact is, I could contact them and find out even more.
But not without her file.
And maybe that’s exactly what Gabriel wanted. Maybe he didn’t want anyone knowing who she is, or how she’s connected with him.
Why?
“When is he leaving?” I ask, keeping my voice casual.
“Let me confirm.” She lifts a finger, giving me another honey-sweet smile. Then she turns her head a little and calls out, “Sister? When does Father Gabriel leave?”
“Thursday afternoon,” a voice replies from one of the rooms branching off this reception area.
“And her file?” I ask. “When are you expecting it?”
Stella turns back to me. Her shrug is nearly invisible beneath her habit. “I’ll let you know as soon as it comes in. But I doubt there’ll be a transcript. Probably a few report cards and her family history. She was homeschooled, you know?”
“I’m aware,” I murmur. “Thank you, Sister.”
How long will I have to keep Cassius in check? I refuse to make a move until I know how she fits into all of this. From the sounds of things, she was brought here by the provost himself.
I’m not okay with an innocent being caught up in the fray. We planned this so there would be no collateral damage.
Our window of opportunity is closing. Fast.
And there will never be another chance like this.
Chapter Six
Trinity
“Hey, wake up!”
I scramble to a sit, blinking hard as I try to focus.
Jasper’s leaning over my cot. He’s dressed in his school clothes. The last time I saw him he’d been wearing athletic shorts and a vest.
That had been yesterday afternoon.
“What time is it?”
“Didn’t you hear the bell? It’s breakfast,” he snaps. “We all say prayers before. They won’t let you lie in unless you’re sick. Are you sick?”
I wish I could have convinced him I was. But the only thing wrong with me is the sudden conviction I’ve lost my freaking mind. I slept right through dinner? No wonder my stomach feels like a black hole.
I’d been planning to take a quick nap. After all, no one had told me what I was supposed to do after I finished Calculus, my last class of the day. Jasper must have come to bed at some stage, but I don’t remember that at all.
What I do remember is how tongue-tied I’d been at meeting my Psychology teacher. I guess he’s not too young to be a teacher, but he’s definitely too good looking. How is anyone supposed to concentrate?
Maybe that’s why he chose to teach at an all-boys school.
Jasper scans my rumpled cardigan and jeans. “You can’t wear that.”
“Yeah, God, I know.”
“You can’t say that.”
“You know what?” I hop off the cot, so close to him I could knee him in the groin if I wanted. And dear Lord, how I want to.
“You can’t tell me what to do.” I poke his chest.
“If you don’t obey the rules, I get punished,” Jasper says, tilting his head. “Think I like getting lashes? No one likes getting lashes.” He spins around, yanks open his closet, and tears a set of clothes from one of his hangers.
I don’t have time—or space—to move out of the way. He shoves the bundle of fabric against my chest so hard I stumble back and end up sitting on my bed.
It creaks.
I scowl up at Jasper.
He glares back.
“Put that on and haul butt to the chapel outside.” He points at me. “And don’t you dare try to sit next to me.”
With that, he’s gone.
I throw on Jasper’s clothes and hurry into the hall but he’s nowhere in sight. This hallway only has two exits, both with staircases. I pick the east side, and sprint down the hall before thumping down the stairs two at a time.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I spot Jasper turning the corner.
Jogging after him, I try and neaten my clothes on the way.
His shirt is too tight around my breasts, but not if I keep the top three buttons open and use his tie to cover my cleavage. His pants are tight around my ass. I’m hoping I can sit down without splitting them.