“Did it work?”
“People show more affection to their cats, and I have it on good authority that cats have attitude.”
“Good authority?” Phoenix squinted. “You’ve never had a cat?”
I gave a wry shake of my head.
“Dog then?”
Another headshake.
“Any pet?”
“I had an imagination,” I said with a sigh and looked out the window, recalling the one time I’d asked my dad for a furry friend.
“Why do you need this?” he yelled. “Are the gifts and presents not enough?”
No. I wanted to scream. I just wanted something to hug. I wasn’t allowed teddy bears or anything comforting. The one doll he had given me was glass — cold, just like him.
“I just… isn’t it good for kids? To have responsibility?”
He barked out a laugh. “You see this?” He aimed a sweeping gesture around our large mansion. “This is your responsibility. You keep your room clean and try not to mess anything up and then, when you are older, you marry a man of my choosing. That is final.”
“I’m twelve. I—”
His slap came fast and hard, nearly toppling me over the couch. “You will not disrespect me in my own home. Go to your room. No dinner.”
I ran to my room and slammed the door then grabbed one of my picture books, the last one he’d failed to remove from my bedroom, and glanced at a picture of a little puppy named Spot.
I traced Spot with my finger and prayed that one day I’d find someone who would love me as much as Spot.
Which was sad.
Pathetic.
Because Spot wasn’t real.
But in my heart, in my head, he was, and one day, I was going to be able to escape my prison long enough to find a puppy to hug.
One day, I swore, I’d be loveable.
“Hey…” Phoenix pulled the car to a stop. “We don’t have to stay for this, you know. I’m sure I could come up with an excuse for Tex. I mean, if you want to go home.”
“I have no home.” The words escaped my mouth before I could stop them. I closed my eyes and groaned, ready for Phoenix to jump down my throat just like my dad would have.
Instead he sighed and said, “Me either.”
We sat in complete silence while students filed out of the large bus with their weekend bags.
It was the one time we didn’t have to wear uniforms. I pulled at my simple jersey T-shirt and smoothed down my ripped jeans.
“You look beautiful,” Phoenix whispered.
My hands froze on my thighs, and I turned to look at him. I was sure my eyes looked as wide as they felt. “Th-thank you.”
“But…” He nodded toward the building. “In order for others to notice, you gotta get out of the damn car, little girl.”
“Right.” I exhaled. “Okay.”
“And if anyone looks at you funny, I’ll shoot them. Sound good?”
“At least we have options on where to bury the body,” I muttered.
“Who buries bodies?” Phoenix shrugged. “Throw ’em in the lake, that’s what I always say…”
“Oddly enough this conversation isn’t helping my nerves, Phoenix.”
He offered me a small smile; it was enough for me to want to lean across the console and kiss him — hard. “I’d be concerned if it did. Now, out of the car. Baby steps.”
Reluctantly, I got out of the car and went around to grab my bag, but Phoenix beat me to it.
“Go.” He nodded toward the lodge. “Check in.”
I rubbed my hands together and slowly made my way past the groups of freshman already starting to whisper as if my entrance was more important than theirs. I was nothing, a nobody, yet I was somebody to them, something interesting, something dangerous.
I was mafia.
A criminal.
The bad guy.
Yet, they had no proof of it.
None at all, except rumors and associations.
By the time I made it inside the large lobby, I was sweating. I could feel Phoenix behind me, and that was the only reason I had enough strength to go to the desk and mumble my name.
“Oh, Bianka Campisi!” the lady said loudly. “I have you with Andi Smith for the weekend. You’ll just love her. She’s—”
“Right here!” A petite girl with bright blond, almost-white hair popped out in front of me and held out her hand. “Hi.”
I took her hand and shook it. “Hi, I’m—”
“Bee,” she finished with a wink. “I know. Well, no offense, but everyone knows. Then again, it’s college, almost like high school, yet Elite is turning out to be worse.”
I smiled, a real smile. “You’re telling me.”
“Come on.” She shrugged. “I’ll show you our room, and then we can go to lunch. They have some activities planned after that.”
“Okay.” I didn’t budge.
She tilted her head then looked behind me. “Uh, he can come if he… wants?”
“Oh.” I turned to see Phoenix watching Andi with interest, an interest I wasn’t at all comfortable with. “No, he’s… um, fine. He’s staying. Stay, Phoenix.”
“At least give him his treat.” Pike said, sauntering up to the table with his hands up. “I’d say it’s only fair for his good behavior.”
“Bite me,” Phoenix mumbled then strangely dropped my bag next to my feet and walked off.