“You sure we’re not going to get shot?” Zane mumbles from outside my dressing room.
“It’s a high school homecoming,” Finn barks back, but his voice shakes as if the idea has crossed his mind too.
“You think freshmen aren’t packing? Or their older brothers aren’t? Have you heard the term ‘drive-by’?”
“He’s got a point,” Finn says with a hint of nerves.
“You’re both being ridiculous,” Dutch growls.
I stiffen at the grit in his voice. As usual, he sounds irritated and growly. I don’t think it’s because of his brothers though, since he tends to lighten up around them.
No, he’s been broody and dark ever since he laid eyes on me after school. Today’s the day of their performance—the one they still haven’t told me much about.
We spent a couple hours in the practice room before he and his brothers whisked me away from Redwood Prep to get ready.
I’m particularly exhausted today and don’t really want to be here. I’m missing out on Viola’s first homecoming and will have to satisfy myself with the pictures Breeze takes on my behalf.
Not that Dutch cares. My evil overlord’s been on my case ever since that staredown in the cafeteria.
Every day, without fail, he forces me to get coffee and makes me drink his first to test if it has bleach in it. Then he instructs me to carry his books to class. Then I have to appear at his beck and call for whatever stupid errand he needs done. Then, as if he wants to make my life after school a living hell too, Dutch has me practicing with them until sunset.
But not on the piano, no.
He has me playing the triangle.
I know this is revenge. He’s trying to make sure that the undercurrents between us never surface again.
If his goal was to make me resent him more well, then… mission accomplished.
I go home every night and slap the crap out of the punching bag, pretending that I’m rearranging Dutch’s chiseled jaw.
“Wait.” Their words register and I shove the dressing room door open. “Did you just say your band is playing for a freshman homecoming?”
No one answers me. Probably because they’re all busy staring.
Zane’s jaw clops open.
Finn arches both eyebrows.
And Dutch… Dutch looks angrier than usual.
Nervous, I slide a hand over my dress. “What?”
When we left school today, Dutch drove straight to a warehouse in the heart of the ‘money district’. It’s our town’s equivalent of Rodeo Drive where all the stores are overpriced and pretentious.
A well-kept woman met us at the door and escorted us all the way upstairs. There, the boys disappeared into their own changing rooms and a clerk presented me with a silky black dress and platform goth boots to wear.
I went along with it because the boots looked amazing with all its straps and dangling chains. Plus a dress this expensive has never touched my skin before.
Dutch is the first to look away. His jaw flexes and he curls his fingers into fists.
Zane hops out of the sofa. “Damn, Cadence. Way to show up.”
Finn nods his approval.
My lips curl up a little. “Thanks.”
Dutch swings around. His dark stare burns into me.
I can see the desire flaring to life in his eyes. He averts his gaze, but it’s still there in the tenseness of his jaw, the flare of his nostrils, and the agitated hand that he slides into the pockets of his dress pants.
All the boys look like gothic princes in dark trousers and button-downs, but there’s something about the way Dutch’s sleeves are folded back to reveal his ink that sets him apart as the most dangerous and most likely to wreck your soul.
His blonde hair has product in it so it’s not flopping around on his forehead. This put-together style makes him look even hotter.
Wicked thoughts spark to life in my head, starting with how his hands would feel slipping against the silk on my dress and ending with how muscular his body would be without that shirt on.
I lick my lips slowly, taking note of the way Dutch’s gaze latches onto my mouth as if he wants to trace the path himself.
The tension between us hasn’t eased up. Not since the almost-kiss in the coffee room.
It’s torture to be so close to him. To want him and hate him at the same time. Now that I’ve admitted to my dark craving, I can’t look Dutch in the eyes. Just in case he figures out that I’m more messed up than he is.
Because for him, it might be a simple matter of attraction.
But for me… I should know better.
Mom’s track record of bad decision-making has to skip a generation. Dutch Cross isn’t the kind of guy who’ll promise a future and actually deliver. He’s the kind of guy who’ll take a woman’s mouth and virginity and then vanish into the blackness that he came from.
I don’t want to see what a mess he can make of my heart. I won’t ever give him that opportunity.
“Why am I wearing this?” I ask.
“You’ll find out,” Dutch says cryptically.
I have a bad feeling about this.
First of all, Dutch’s band will be playing at my old high school. Which means he’ll be playing in front of my baby sister.
Viola already has a huge crush on Zane. Thanks to Breeze, she’s now a fan of The Kings. She’ll approach them for sure and if she sees me with them, she’s going to act as if we’re all friends.
I don’t want these worlds colliding.
“I’m not going,” I say.
The three handsome brothers stop midway to the door.
Bending over, I pretend to have a stomach cramp. “Suddenly, I’m not feeling well.” I fan my face. “I think I might have eaten something with peaches in it.”
“Did anyone feed her peaches before we came?” Dutch growls at his brothers.
They exchange looks.
“No,” Finn says.
Dutch frowns at me. “I didn’t see you eating anything since lunch.”
“You don’t know everything I’ve done since lunch,” I shoot back.
Zane looks amused. “Is there something we should know about?” He arches an eyebrow at Dutch. “Brother?”
“Stop screwing around,” Dutch warns me.
“Stop thinking you own me,” I answer back. “You don’t.”
“Get in the damn car, Cadence.”
“No.”
Finn glances at me in concern. “Did you really eat something with peaches? Dutch mentioned you were allergic.”
Shoot. I need to spin another lie to make this one more believable. I slam a hand on my hip. “I might have been making out with a football player this afternoon. I think he might have eaten peaches for lunch.”
Dutch moves like lightning across the room. When he stops, he’s closer to me than my next breath.
His eyes drill into me and his hand falls on my lower back. A little sound escapes from my throat, and it seems to bring out the beast in Dutch because his eyes darken instantly.
The sight of him bearing down on me has desire pounding through my veins.
I can’t kiss him right now.
His brothers are watching and I need to keep a clear head so I can keep him away from Vi.
I lift my hands to push him away.
Instead, his fingers latch onto one of my wrists. I don’t miss the way we both take a sharp intake of breath.
Dutch recovers quickly. Turning, he drags me out the door and down the steps.
My body buzzes with fury and I push at his fingers. “Let me go.”
“Keep fighting and I’m going to carry you into that homecoming dance. Over my shoulder.” His eyes are dark and I know he’s good for the threat because he’s done it twice before.
“Screw you,” I hiss.
His smirk is sinister and makes my body throb in the worst way.
“You keep begging for it and I just might, Brahms.”
I stop struggling immediately.
Dutch juts his chin at the car and I huff before climbing in. His brothers join me and we’re off.
The silence is broken only by my aggravated breaths. I glare a hole into Dutch’s head, ignoring the way Finn observes it all.
Zane clears his throat. “Cadence, I heard this was your old high school.”
“Don’t engage her,” Dutch scolds him.
What? Are they supposed to treat me like I’m not even here? I slant another dagger look his way and answer Zane haughtily. “Yes, I attended that high school.”
“Is that why you acted like you were sick? Because there’s something there you don’t want to see?” Finn asks.
“Or someone?” Zane turns around in the passenger seat and wiggles his eyebrows.
The car suddenly lurches to a stop.
Finn almost smacks his face into the headrest.
Zane grips his seatbelt tight.
I grab the door handle and am spared from whiplash.
“Dutch, what the hell? What kind of driving is that?” Zane yells.
“There’s a red light,” Dutch grumbles.
Finn gives his brother a narrow-eyed look. And then he turns to me so our knees are almost touching. “Is it an ex?”
“I—”
“What the hell is this? An interrogation?” Dutch growls.
“We’re just asking questions,” Zane says.
“Don’t ask a damn thing. She’s not going to be around long enough for the answers to matter anyway.”
I wish I was sitting behind Dutch so I could kick his chair.
“He’s right. I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” I say pertly.
Finn just grins.
Dutch turns the radio on. “No more talking!”
“Bossy,” Zane teases, but he kicks his legs up on the dashboard, beats out the rhythm of the song on his thigh and doesn’t ask me anymore questions.
I’m plotting on ways to avoid my sister when Dutch pulls his luxury car into the parking lot of my old high school.
I stare at the chain-link fences. They have to lock up everything or junkies will break in, use the bathrooms and ransack the place. The buildings are rundown with peeling paint.
I know from memory that inside is no better. We have to bang on our lockers to get them to open up. Our cafeteria serves mystery meatloaf instead of sushi and gourmet burgers. And most of our teachers look like they’ve given up on life already.
It feels like getting dunked a cold bucket of water to be back here after spending almost two months at the fancy and luxurious Redwood Prep with their in-house gym, fully heated indoor swimming pool, tennis court, sprawling gardens and elegant decor.
“So this is how the other side lives,” Zane mumbles, looking almost excited to be here.
Dutch tosses a bag at his brother. It’s round and large, so I assume it’s carrying the cymbals.
Zane opens his hands and catches it just in time.
“Carry that. They said we should set up through the back door.”
I start to take out a guitar.
Dutch snatches it from me.
“What are you doing?”
His gaze lazily snakes down my dress to my shoes. “You shouldn’t be carrying anything.” Before I can start to think that he’s grown a soul overnight, he adds, “You might trip and fall and then our equipment will be ruined.”
So much for being a gentleman. Dutch is pure evil. I’m sure of it.
“Let me take it inside.” I grab for the equipment.
He narrows his eyes and drags it out of reach. “Are you going to pay if anything gets broken, roadie?”
I scowl at him.
He glares back, refusing to break eye contact.
“Can you guys go eye-stab each other over there,” Zane says with a hint of mischief in his tone. “We need to unload the truck.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Shut up, Zane.”
Dutch and I speak at the same time. When we realize we’ve actually agreed on something, we both huff in disgust and move out of the way.
Despite my insistence and a few sneak attempts, the Cross brothers get the equipment unloaded without me. Dutch keeps a sharp eye whenever I get too close and faithfully chases me away.
I’m already ready for the night to end when I hear a voice sing-song, “You’re here!”
My best friend comes streaking down the school’s steps. She’s wearing a tight blue dress that falls over her stunning body. Her blonde hair’s piled up on top of her head.
She stops short when she sees me. “Cadence?”
“Breeze.” Panic locks on my head and clamps tight. “W-what are you doing here?”
“I told you I was on the planning committee this year. They asked me to help out with the freshman dance.”
She probably did tell me that, but I can’t remember. Though it does explain why our old high school would insist on booking The Kings instead of a regular DJ like they always do.
Breeze’s gaze volleys between me and the three gorgeous rockstars who are standing next to me. “What’s… this?”
This is a very long story that I have not yet shared with my best friend.
“We’re Cadence’s friends,” Dutch says.
I give him a look so full of poison it’s a surprise he hasn’t dropped dead yet.
Dutch ignores my glare of doom. Stepping forward, he offers his hand to Breeze. “And you are?”
“I’m whatever you want me to be,” she says, giggling and twirling her hair.
Dutch gives her a charming smile and I swear I didn’t think his face was capable of making that expression. His eyes are sparkling, his lips are relaxed and he seems like an actual human being instead of a cold god.
“I’m Dutch,” he says. “This is Finn and Zane.”
“Hey.” Zane waves.
Finn gives her a nod of acknowledgment.
Breeze almost faints. “Wow, it’s… it’s so great to officially meet you. I’m so psyched about tonight.”
“So are we.” Dutch arches a brow. “Where can we start setting up?”
“You can go through the side door there.” She points.
“Great.” Dutch gives her another heart-melting smile. I have no idea where this sweet guy act is coming from. He’s been an absolute hellion to me, yet he’s propping himself up as someone who’d never hurt a fly.
“Great,” Breeze says dreamily.
Dutch winks at her.
I almost throw up in my mouth.
The band members pick up as much instruments and equipment as they can carry and disappear into the school. The moment they’re out of air shot, Breeze attacks my arm.
“How. Could. You. Not. Tell. Me?” She punctuates each word with a smack. “When were you going to mention that, not only do you know The Kings personally, but they know your name and take you along on gigs.”
“That’s not what’s happening.”
Breeze steps back and her eyes widen. “And what is this dress? Is it designer? Oh my gosh! Did they buy it for you?”
“No. I mean, sort of.”
“Your voice just went up two octaves, hon. If you want to lie to me, try a little harder.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“What do I think?” She challenges.
“I’m not with them. We’re just… doing a project together.”
“Perfect!” She throws her hands up. “Because if you were with one of The Kings, I’d totally go back inside and tell Hunter not to hold his breath.”
“Hunter’s here?” My breath hitches.
Viola told me he would be, but I didn’t expect him to actually show up to a freshman homecoming. He didn’t strike me as the PTA big brother type.
Dutch jogs down the steps of the school, brawny arms free of his guitar and speakers. His brothers aren’t flanking him, which means they’re still inside setting up.
His gaze tangles with mine and even in the darkness, it’s hypnotic. I force my gaze back to Breeze.
“It’ll be awkward dancing with Hunter. Ever since he came by that day, we haven’t spoken. Plus, he never responded to my DMs.”
Dutch’s back muscles flex as he reaches for something in his truck. His movements are slow and measured, even though he’s in a rush. So I know he’s listening intently.
Breeze watches his lean, athletic body and drool slips down the side of her lips.
“Breeze,” I say.
“Huh? Oh right. You. Hunter. This dress.” Her eyes snap to attention and she grabs my hand. “Cadey, he has to see you in this dress. There’s no way he’ll think of you as just his friend’s little sister again.”
I start to stumble behind my best friend when I feel a strong set of fingers encircle my other wrist. Blazing heat radiates from his touch as he tightens his grip on me.
Breeze looks at us both with wide eyes.
“What are you doing?” I snap.
The scowl crossing his face tells me he doesn’t appreciate my tone. “We need you on stage.”
“On stage?” I hiss. “Why?”
“You’ll see.” His lips curl up and I’m reminded of a lion again. Dutch peers intently at me. “I have other plans for you tonight, Cadey.”
