Chapter 15

I staredout at the massive school from my window. Life hadn’t gotten easier in the way of finding my mom and sister’s killer, but I’d been working on it non-stop for the last five years of my life. Trent was safe and tucked away at Bolten Academy and working on getting an in with the lords, the next generation of the Bratva. Rumors led us to trying them out as having information, but it wasn’t like they were just going to willingly give it up, so Trent was the implant.

And me.

I was free from Everett. Mostly. I fought when I had to, but I’d left the Underground and collecting. Nothing good came from Everett Church. The last straw wasn’t because I found out I was actually the bad guy, in a way, collecting his dinner for him. To be fair, those people weren’t good guys either, and Everett was doing the world a favor by having them killed.

The last straw was finding out he basically ran a human meat market in the Underground. Deep below the Chicago streets was an entirely different world where children were delicacies and eating pussy meant more than some wet cunt in your face while the woman attached to it moaned out your name.

Flesh market. Skin trade. Sex. Drugs. Violence. Depravity.

And I’d had a hand in it.

I hated myself for that part, but it had supported me through my worst and kept Trent and me together, so while it sickened me, I had no regrets other than wishing I’d have left the day Mom wanted us to.

“Ready?” Camilla asked as we got out and walked toward the school. We’d traveled here late last night because Mayfair was scouting. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music last spring and was working on my master’s. Seemed like the thing to do since I wasn’t going to leave Chicago until I killed the guy who hurt my family.

Word traveled fast via the internet about a songbird here who had a set of pipes on her. I hadn’t looked at anything of hers yet, but I was a big deal at Mayfair, and often, my advice was sought in regard to music, so when the school had asked me to tag along, I’d accepted.

It helped that I heard she was also the girlfriend of Lorenzo De Luca, an up-and-coming Italian mafia heir who had big ties in my city.

I needed to get in with him and his horsemen. Since I knew he’d been accepted at Mayfair, the goal was to hopefully get his girl in with him so he didn’t back out and I could dig deeper.

I said a silent prayer that this girl could actually sing because lately, the talent we’d been scouting was sub-par and we hadn’t added anyone new in on scholarship. That was becoming a bit of a problem for Mayfair’s prestigious music program.

We went inside and took our seats. I watched as students and families filed in and sat.

Rosalie Bishop.

I stared down at her name on the ticket they’d given us at the door. Senior. Theater. Music. Chorus. Valedictorian.

She seemed good on paper so far. I just hoped that translated into actual talent.

“I can’t believe she and Fox are together,” the girl in front of us squealed. “Like how? He’s so hot.”

“Rosalie is nice,” the other girl commented. “Plus, they were friends when we were in elementary school, remember? I guess they probably always loved each other.”

I frowned. Lorenzo was her boyfriend.

Who the fuck was Fox?

I scanned the ticket again and saw his name. He was the male role.

Fox Evans. Senior. Star football player. Attending Mayfair on a football scholarship. All-State award for quarterback.

I looked over to Camilla and showed her his name on the ticket.

“I’ve heard good things about him,” she said, smiling. “I’m hoping he’s half as good as I’ve heard because we need to add another one to the music program this year.”

I sighed.

Whatever. I hoped he was good too.

The lights dimmed, and the musical started.

And I. . . I was enthralled. I sat forward in my seat as Rosalie came onto the stage.

Breathtaking.

Magical.

Absolutely perfection.

My heart banged hard against my chest as I listened to her sing, goosebumps racing along my skin.

I’d never in my life reacted to anyone like that before. It wasn’t just her incredible voice or talent as an actress. It was the way she moved. The way her presence made me feel light inside.

Consumed.

If soulmates were a thing, I would think I’d found mine without having even spoken to her.

No woman had ever made me sit forward in my seat and caused me to feel what I was feeling.

I watched her performance, completely taken in by her.

She was going places.

And I had a new plan.

She was my in. If she were with Lorenzo, she was the way to him.

The play ended and Camilla clapped, on her feet beside me.

“She did good,” the girl in front of us said.

“She did. God, can you imagine what it’ll be like backstage with her and the horsemen? It’s gotta be so hot. How the hell did she get so lucky to get all of them to fall in love with her? I’m jealous.”

The other girl laughed while I drank in their words.

So Rosalie was the horsemen’s girl.

Interesting.

It made my job a little harder that she clearly had four guys, but I didn’t give a shit. I liked a challenge, and I needed to get closer.

I followed Camilla to the stage doors.

“She was amazing,” Camilla said. “I’m prepared to offer both her and Fox a spot at Mayfair in the music program.”

“Fox is attending on a football scholarship,” I said.

“That’s fine. We can work through that. We need him in the program. He has one hell of a range. Reminds me of you,” Camilla said, winking at me.

I grumbled back at her and followed her through the doors.

“You must be Ms. DeWitt and Mr. Beyers,” a man greeted us. “I’m Barry Dennison, the theater director.”

“You can call me Camilla,” Camilla said, shaking his hand. “We’re the representatives from Mayfair.”

“Anson,” I said, taking my turn to shake his hand.

“I trust you enjoyed our show?” Dennison said, leading us through the chaos of the backstage.

“We did. We’re interested in speaking to Miss Bishop and Mr. Evans,” I said.

“Of course. They’re over here.” Dennison pointed forward, and we followed him through the students and mess.

“Rosalie, this is Anson Beyers and Camilla DeWitt from Mayfair’s Performing Arts Department,” Dennison called out, stopping us in front of the redheaded beauty and the blue-eyed guy beside her. They had been embracing before we’d interrupted.

Seeing it made me incredibly. . . fuck, what was I? Irritated? Frustrated? Pissed-the-fuck-off? Jealous.

Easy, Anson.

“Hello,” Rosalie greeted us in the sweetest voice, her cheeks flushing pink.

“You were amazing out there,” Camilla said, smiling and shaking Rosalie’s hand.

“Probably one of the best performers I’ve seen in a long time,” I agreed, forcing myself to snap out of it. What was I supposed to even say? I suddenly felt awkward, so I flashed her a smile that worked on all the girls.

“Thank you,” she answered, completely ignoring my attempt at charming her. “We worked so hard on this show. Mr. Dennison and Ms. Adams really took it to another level for us.”

“I think we can say with a fair amount of certainty that we’d love to see you this fall at Mayfair, Miss Bishop.” Camilla was excited. I could tell by the way her voice wobbled.

Rosalie Bishop was the real deal.

“Oh my God. Really?” Rosalie’s green eyes widened, her excitement contagious.

I chuckled. “Absolutely. It would be a travesty to let something so. . . perfect go.” I swept my gaze over her and took her hand in mine.

She held my hand in return, and I grasped onto it longer than I probably should have, but just feeling her hand in mine was doing something to me.

Fox held her at the waist. “Congratulations, babe.” He kissed her temple before he leveled his gaze on me, clearly telling me to back the fuck off.

“Mr. Evans. You were. . . incredible,” Camilla continued. “Mr. Dennison said you’re going to Mayfair on a football scholarship.”

“That is correct,” Fox said, looking from me to Camilla. I continued to study Rosalie. She was enraptured with everything Fox said. It made my heart sink because I’d have a lot of work ahead of me.

“Have you given any thought to our music program? If you apply now, I think we’d have a space for you. We give out five scholarships every year to students with exemplary abilities. With a voice like yours, you’d be an asset to Mayfair.”

“Uh, sure. I’ll apply.”

“No need.” Camilla pulled cards out and handed them out. “You’re in if you want it, Mr. Evans. Let me know by the end of next week. It’s a rigorous program, but I think you’d be a good fit too.”

“Thank you. I’ll definitely be in touch.”

“We don’t usually allow students who are dating into the program—” I broke in, needing to get to Rosalie without him interfering. There was no way he was going to strike up a friendship with me. The hatred burning in his blue eyes as he glared at me told me as much.

“Then I’ll have to decline because Rosalie deserves it more than me,” he said.

“Nonsense. There are exceptions to everything. I see great things for these two,” Camilla said.

The silence was awkward. I knew we had to get him in, though. I’d work around him.

“Camilla is right. We’ll see about working it out if you decide to join us.” I said, eyeing Fox before I turned my smile back on for Rosalie. “Welcome, unofficially, to Mayfair, Miss Bishop.”

“Yes. We look forward to seeing you this fall. Both of you.” Camilla shot Fox a pointed look, and he offered her a smile before they bid us goodbye.

“They were truly incredible,” Camilla gushed once we were back in the car. “Rosalie is going places. She has pop star written all over her.”

I nodded. “She does indeed.”

Camilla was off and running as I drove us to the interstate to head back to Mayfair.

I’d learned in life that sometimes you had to sign a deal with the devil as a means to create your own heaven.

And sometimes. . . well, sometimes you had to be a devil to get ahead.

But for Rosalie Bishop, I knew I’d be whatever she wanted me to be.

I couldn’t wait to officially welcome her to Mayfair and get to the bottom of the murders of my mom and sister.

She was the way. I knew she was.

And there was just no way in hell I was ever letting her go.

Fox Evans could bank on that.

This is just the beginning.

Continue following Anson, Rosalie and the horsemen’s adventures in Mayfair University, The Boys of Chapel Crest and Kings of Bolten.