Page 11 of The Honor Society

A half hour later, my IVs are both back in, Jenner’s taken my clothes, again, and I’m in a stupid hospital gown watching Family Feud. God, life is boring in hospitals.

A knock sounds at the door.

“It’s open dipshit.” I call out.

Jude slides into the room and shuts the door behind him, then leans against it, arms crossed. He looks pissed.

I would be too.

“Tell me everything.”

“I almost died and I don’t remember a lot and I think that if you really—” He holds up the flash drive and waves it at me. “—oh you mean that.”

“Could you be any more flippant about this? It has names. Judges. Police officers. Politicians…”

I shoot him a smug look. “Would you shit your pants if I told you that’s the tame flash drive out of the two?”

“There’s two Dean’s Lists?” He crosses then uncrosses his arms. “Seriously?”

“One Dean’s List. One…other list or like a ledger.” I wave him off with my hands like it’s not a big deal. He doesn’t need specifics, those get you killed. “How much do you know about your father’s business dealings Jude?”

How much do you know Jude?

How much are you willing to tell me?

How much do you love Lilah?

And finally, sorry for bringing you into this. You’re in it though.

He sighs. “Enough to know my mom was killed for knowing too much and being willing to expose him to the very end. Enough to know she wanted you to finish what she started.”

I’m calm on the outside but my heart is racing. I don’t know how to accomplish what I need to and keep everyone I love safe.

All I know is that the Axel sitting in that hospital room is useless without his armor, meaning, I have to make a choice.

Step fully into the darkness.

Or continue to straddle the blurred line between darkness and light.

“Your mom had a lot of secrets. Most of all, your entire world crumbled the day she died, Jude. If I tell you too much you’re a target, but because of who your dad is, I’m thinking, it’s possible that he’s going to pull you in and use Lilah as leverage so I’m going to give you some advice.”

“Where is this even coming from? So what? My mom gave you The Dean’s List and now you sound like some sort of corporate spy or mob boss.” He laughs. I don’t. It’s more terrifying what I am, than what he’s thinking. “Axel, no matter what it is, it’s my family and it’s Lilah so if she’s in potential danger I need to know.”

“Hmmmm,” I’m thinking. “Then, I say we play him before he plays you. Do you trust me?”

“With my life.”

“Then I’m going to need your pocket knife.”

“Huh?”

I hold out my hand.

Frowning, he pulls it from his back pocket and hands it to me. My thumb crosses the insignia carved into the silver and I almost laugh out loud. Of course he would give his son the Hale Crested knife, the meaning behind it? Conquest. The Hale’s are the first of The Four Horsemen, the newest family.”

“This,” I point to the end of the knife. “Means Conquest. It was given to your father the night he married your mom and killed off your grandfather, taking his crown, her birthright, and solidifying the Hale line as the new Horseman. He clawed his way to the very top using secrets from The Dean’s List back when he had it—before your mom stole it. He kept a tally of everything up until his betrayal and her murder. The one thing he wanted went missing the night she died. She died taking his trump card and now, you’ll have to do something in return. Both of us have to become something we’re not. I’m already in it, and my plan was to position you and then when you were ready bring you in. That’s not going to happen especially since he escaped prison so easily he’s either still after The List, thinks you’re going to hand it over to him, or he knows more than I think. No matter what, he’s now a loose end we cannot afford.”

I slice four tally marks across my palm and then a horizontal mark across them in the middle. “I need you to work for your dad, truly work for him, and once you’ve gained his trust and access to every fucking thing in his empire. I’m going to need you to kill him. You have eighteen days.”