“Really?” I ask, straightening. “This is huge, Colt.”
“Why?” he asks, narrowing his eyes.
“Because,” I say. “That’s two founding families.”
“So?” he asks. “My mom was a Montgomery, and the other Montgomerys joined the Dolces in taking us down. She married a Darling, so she was fair game to them.”
“Yeah, but their family didn’t stand up to the Dolces,” I point out. “If we can get your family and the Delacroixs…”
I wonder if Gideon was aware of that when he broke ranks. Maybe he knew it was coming and got a jump start on building his own support system in advance. After all, he saw what the Dolces did to his cousin’s family, to this town. He must have known he’d need all the help he could get if things went south with the casino land deal.
Maybe I should be mad that he was scheming all along, using the rebellion as a cover for what he was doing so the D-boys wouldn’t suspect it. Maybe he even asked me out so they’d think he only joined us to get a date, and all along, he had a lot more going on behind the scenes. But I’m not mad about it. I actually respect the fuck out of the kid for it. If that’s what he was doing, he’s more cunning than I gave him credit for, and I’m here for that level of deception.
“Whoa there, Teeny,” Colt says, holding up a hand. “There’s nowehere. I’m done with that fight.”
“Well, I’m not,” I say. “If Tony’s the only Dolce left, surely two powerful families combined can stop him.”
He just shakes his head. “You don’t know anything about him if you think it’s that easy. It’s not just Mr. Dolce. He’s got the mayor, the judges, everyone in his pocket. He plays golf with the fucking governor. He’s not one man. He’s an empire.”
“Maybe,” I say. “But empires fall every day.”
seventeen
Harper Apple
When we step inside, the Dolce boys and their friends are standing in the short hallway between us and the café, blocking our way.
“Well, well, well,” Duke says. “Look what we have here.”
“What, you’re going to try to keep me from having friends again?” I ask, rolling my eyes. “Been there, done that. Can’t you find something new to have a mantrum about?”
“I don’t think my brother would be very happy to see you fucking around on him with a Darling,” Baron says, crossing his arms and planting his feet wide. A little crowd starts to form behind them, ready for a show. I spot Dixie among them, looking as excited as everyone else, probably ready to capitalize on her new fame with even more drama.
“Try again,” I say to Baron. “Royal knows I’m friends with Colt, and he’s fine with it.”
“Yeah, and I’m not interested in Harper,” Colt says. “I learned my lesson last year.”
“If you’d learned your lesson, then you’d know that if you fuck with her, I’ll rip the metal plate out of your head and skull fuck your brains out your ears,” Baron says. “Do you really want to risk that?”
“I’m not fucking with him,” I say. “We were having a smoke.”
“You got proof?” Baron asks, pulling a sucker from his pocket and beginning to unwrap it.
I’m about to ask if he wants me to go get my cigarette butt, since Colt doesn’t fight back, but he speaks from behind me before I can. “What, you want to see if my dick is wet? Maybe give it a lick, make sure it doesn’t taste like pussy?”
“Colt,” I hiss. “Know when to shut up.”
“Nah, let him keep talking,” Duke says, cracking his knuckles and giving us that unhinged, psychotic smile of his. “I hear you lost your memory, Colt. We’ll take you to the basement later and remind you what that mouth is for.”
“Leave him alone,” Gloria says from beside them, giving us an imperious once-over. “You can’t pick on the sped kids. That’s like, a rule.”
“You’re defending Colt?” Baron asks, turning to her, his voice even but ice cold.
“What? No,” she cries, her eyes going wide and the color draining from her cheeks. “I hate Colt!”
Baron must see what I do, the realization dawning in her eyes that she just made an unforgiveable mistake in the eyes of the Dolces—defending a Darling from their wrath. I did it once, and Royal dumped me on the spot. Now Gloria’s about to find out the price of the one cardinal sin in their eyes. She’s been their queen for two years, but it only takes one word to undo everything she’s gained. Breaking rank, showing any form of dissent or disapproval, the slightest whisper of disloyalty, and she’s done.
She’s apologizing profusely, trying to backpedal already, but Baron’s face remains hard. His eyes light up with something vicious and predatory as he takes a step toward her.