23. Chapter 23

Let us take a moment of silence, a moment to say our final goodbyes, a moment to find peace. Let us carry Prescott in our hearts as we continue our own journeys.

Those were the last words spoken at Prescott's funeral. Our own journeys. It's a little complicated when Jinx is on her knees, crying her eyes out next to her mother's tombstone and her father's open grave. Her parents are gone, and she has no one.

Then I look over and see Mom. Not a single tear has fallen. I wonder if she even cares that Prescott has been murdered, his heart cut from his chest. And she has the balls to stand there next to fuckin' Roan and not cry. What a witch.

I feel so hopeless; there's nothing to do to take away Jinx's pain. All I can do is watch her cry. I wish there were more I could do for her.

What I want most is to find out who killed her father. The killer has to be in this school. And these cops refuse to do anything. How hard is it to investigate? Not a single suspect, my ass. They just don't want to do their job.

As everyone descends, Jinx stays on the ground.

"What can we do for her?" Maddox asks, never taking his eyes off her.

"There isn't much we can do except be here for her," Atticus answers, looking heartbroken.

We know we've been overcrowding her, but it's what we felt was right. Prescott might have been in our lives for a short while, but we also feel his loss. Who am I going to tease over family dinners now? Who will stick up for me when a professor tries to get me cut from the swim team? In a way, he was like a father to me. He tried to love me, and I didn't want it.

All I have now is her. Why is she still here? I walk away from the guys and storm across the cemetery site. Roan looks up, and his smile fades. Who smiles at a funeral?

"Ashton, so good to see you, son." She fake sniffles.

"Cut the shit, Mom. Why are you here?"

She places a perfectly manicured hand on her chest. "Prescott was my husband."

I turn to Roan. "Then why bring the dick along? Gonna give him a blowjob on top of the fresh grave?"

"Watch your mouth. You don't speak to your mother like that," Roan grits out.

I spit on the ground next to his glossy black shoes. "I don't listen to assholes. Certainly those who sleep with my mom. You know she's only with you for your money. Once she gets what she wants, she's gone."

Mom opens and closes her mouth like a fish out of water. "I do not."

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, and I'm a golden child. Get the fuck out of here."

Jinx's cry of grief grabs my attention. I spin around to see her lying on the ground, shaking. I rush over, dropping to my knees and hauling her into me.

"I've got you. You aren't alone." I try to soothe her.

She wraps her arms around my neck and releases her sorrows. From the corner of my eye, I see Roan watching with something dark in his eyes. He's lucky I never threw him in that fuckin hole and buried him. The nerve to show up here but to keep watching Jinx; it's like he wants to get caught.

"Ash, we should get out of here. It's getting cold, and the last thing we need is for Jinx to catch a cold." Atticus leans down, swiping a piece of hair away from Jinx's forehead.

"Can you take her back? I have something I need to do." I look up at Ace and exchange a silent plea.

He bends down and scoops her up. "Don't take too long. I'll bring her back to our dorm."

I watch Atticus and Maddox leave with her and notice Roan finally walking away. Being back in Grovedale doesn't bring back the best memories. Too many horrible things happen in this town, so it's no wonder Jinx wants to get out so badly. I head out of the cemetery toward the college, where most of the demons lie, not only for me but also for Maddox.

This school wasn't supposed to be where I was meant to go, and I know that now. I should've fought harder at the time and told Prescott no. RWA was where I should've gone from the start. But I wanted Jinx to have her freedom. She needed to get away from us. More so, Atticus.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if we brought her stalker to her. She never had an issue until we showed up. Maybe it's for the best if we don't return at all. Now that her dad is gone, what will happen? She will have a challenging journey ahead of her now, the owner of an entire school that no one knows about. That's one huge secret to keep.

I need a way for Roan to leave. That'll keep her safe. I hope.

Grovedale College is the simplest college to break into. They never did fix their security for the aqua center. And to blow off steam, I need a good swim. The smell of chlorine is like home to me. Swimming soothes me, and seeing Mom today, I need the water more than anything.

The first dive into the water reminds me why I love this and am so thankful for Prescott. Even if it was Atticus that got us into trouble in the first place, I'm glad swimming was our punishment. Without it, I'm not sure where I would be. I would probably be high as fuck buying random shit still.

It hasn't sunk in that Prescott is gone.

"Boys, Odette will show you around the school tomorrow. It's different from your last one. The rules are stricter. Don't give me a bad name."

Jinx stares at Prescott from across the dining room table. "Dad, we talked about this." She hissed.

"That's enough. They are your brothers. Treat them as such."

Atticus grinned. She may be our stepsister, but he wouldn't treat her as such. Fuck I won't either. The way Ace keeps staring, I won't dare get in the way.

"What's so great about this school?" Ace asks without taking his eyes off Jinx.

Prescott groans. "It will set you up for your future, Atticus. You can't be a lowlife forever. Don't you have plans for the future?"

"Sure. Not to be like my father."

"Yeah, he was a good magician, but it's not for us," I add.

Jinx shakes her head. "That's not what he means. Don't you have ambitions?"

"One," Is all Ace says.

I kick him from under the table. He needs to cool it with the hints, or Prescott will have our heads, and I'm rather fond of both of mine. If he finds out we want to ruin his daughter, we"re fucked.

"This school has a wide range of clubs you can join, and I'm sure you'll find something to love. Now, I'll leave you three alone, and it will be you three for a very long time. Don't start shit if you can't finish it."

If he only knew when he said it, it would be accurate, except we have Maddox in our circle now. We have to work together and keep that circle tight.

I make it back to the dorms late. It's later than I expected, and everyone is passed out. I take advantage and head to the laundry room. Digging the joint out of my pocket, I place it between my lips as I walk into the room. I'm about to light it when someone clears their throat.

"Ashton, you aren't supposed to smoke in the building."

I drew in a lungful of air, trying to calm myself. "And geeks are supposed to be in bed by eight."

I watched as his nostrils twitched. "Where's my payment?"

I light my joint, closing my eyes as I inhale deeply. "When I pass my class. I don't trust you, Arch. You fucked me over once already."

"T-that was a mistake. I did the work for you."

His eyes fix upon my lips when I move the joint. "What else do you want?"

He snaps his eyes to the ground. "Nothing."

"Do I not treat you well, Archie?"

His eyes flick up to mine. "You do, I swear."

I move closer, placing the joint between his lips. "Suck."

He draws a deep inhale, coughing immediately. "Oh, dear god. That burns."

"Yeah, the first hit usually does. Just so you know. If you rat me out, I'll rat you out. My little stoner friend."

"What?" he coughs.

"You heard me. Don't be smoking in the laundry room, Archie. It's against the rules. Aren't geeks all for following the rules?" I finish the joint before walking out.

That should teach the prick to fuck with me again. I meant to get back at him for almost getting me kicked off the swim team, and the opportunity fell into my lap. Although I wonder if he could've helped dig some information into Roan for me, that guy popped up like nothing. I don't like it. And to keep texting Jinx like we don't know it's him. What a piece of shit.

I'll do everything I can to keep Jinx safe until we find a way to remove Roan or Jinx from this school.