Crush (The Thorne of Winthorpe Academy Book 2) by Ketley Allison

Author:Ketley Allison [Allison, Ketley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mitchell Tobias Publishing LLC
Published: 2021-10-20T16:00:00+00:00

22

Thorne

True to my father’s bullshit appearances, he demands I sit with him and my stepmother for Saturday brunch before they depart on their jet to … who the fuck cares.

Stepmother dearest is almost comatose in her oatmeal while my father studies me over his egg whites. It’s obvious and uncomfortable, but he knows that.

I tilt my head, popping my neck on both sides before scooping up more oatmeal. The sooner I finish eating, the quicker I can be relieved of these two.

Father doesn’t take his eyes off me.

“Something bothering you, Father?” I keep my gaze on my breakfast.

He peels his napkin from his lap, dabbing at both corners of his mouth. “Yes, since you bring it up. You haven’t brought me news on Ember Weatherby for quite some time.”

The mention of Ember’s last name lifts my stepmother’s chin.

“I’m working on her.” I lay my spoon in my half-empty bowl.

“Not quick enough, it seems.”

“I figured subtlety would be appreciated,” I toss my napkin beside my bowl. Get the hint, Father. “Don’t you want to win against the Weatherbys?”

I’ve said the wrong thing. Cutlery smashes against porcelain as Father slams his hands down and pushes to his feet. Julie cries out and recoils from the table, her chair scraping when she pushes back. I’ve been at the receiving end of his temper enough times to school my expression and remain still and silent.

“I have given you a true test of loyalty,” Father spits out through his clenched jaw. “A task meant to set you up for kingship of our Society, and instead of aiming to succeed at it like a true Noble gentleman, you consider it a joke. Malcolm’s bastard is a problem for this family, Thorne. An issue you are meant to eradicate. She’s a girl, impressionable, vulnerable, and perfect for the likes of you. You don’t come by your looks honestly, nor your brain—but I thought I ensured that you employ them properly.” Father pushes off the table, lengthening his shadow over us. “I’m told she’s looking into Savannah Merricourt. Were you aware of that?”

I force my continued stillness. “You said it yourself. Ember is an empty-headed girl who’s been forced into a world she has no experience in. Why would that be any kind of threat?”

I shrug, but my mind works overtime. Save for when she first got here, Ember never gave a hint of interest in Savannah. Yes, she buddied up to Aiko Nakamura, a relationship I discounted with confidence—Aiko emits a ton of bravado, but she’s small in stature and in rebellion. Sav’s stepsister doesn’t make waves. She wouldn’t recruit Ember to help her with Sav’s disappearance. Sure, Ember knows computers, but so does half of Winthorpe’s graduating class.

Except I haven’t given up that Sav’s still alive. Why the hell did I think Aiko would?

I deliberately stare down at the table so Father doesn’t sense my mistake.

“She’s a Virtue, now,” my father says. “Anything that Weatherby girl unearths she could tie to our Societies, and we simply cannot have that happen.

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