Page 12 of The Honor Society

Jude’s eyes widen and then narrow. “Who the hell are you to even ask me to do that?”

“Judge, jury, and executioner.” I turn my neck so he sees the same tattoo on my collar.

“You said you got that because you got drunk and wanted to keep track of the girls you’ve slept with.” Jude points.

“Needed a good story.” I reach for his wrist. He pulls back. I jerk him forward and glare. “I’m not fucking asking, Jude. This is the only way.”

“Why eighteen days?” His jaw clenches.

“Because, in nineteen days The Four Horsemen, Death, Conquest, War, and Famine sit down at the same table for our annual Convocation. If your father is still sitting at it, if he finds a way to pull a vote to his side, we’ve already lost.”

He takes a deep breath. “I’m not a killer.”

“Become one.”

“I’m not a gangster.”

“Learn.” I hiss. “Now open your hand.”

With a curse he opens his palm and I carve in the tally marks and press my blood against his twisting our hands into a hand shake.

I close the knife and toss it up to him. “Get cleaned up. Go find your dad. Keep Lilah with Charlie, for now, the apartment’s locked tight, I have all the cameras on my phone, I’ll send you a private link with access to them.” He’s still processing. Good. Let him. I grab my cell and call Jenner. “Yeah, hospital room. Jude’s been marked. Write it in The Ledger.”

“Whoa, whoa,” Jude holds up his hands. “In The Ledger?”

“Your life.” I nod. “Is now mine. It goes into The Ledger, fail to kill him in nineteen days and you’ll pay the debt with your life.” Seconds later a knock sounds on the door. Jenner walks in with a Glock in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. He hands them over to Jude then walks out.

“Welcome. To The Honor Society, heir to Conquest.”

4

Nineteen Days Until The Convocation

CHARLIE

Between panicked texts from Lilah and a very non-committal one from Jude, I gather that not only are they not coming tonight to see Axel but they’re in a massive fight. They were fine this afternoon what shifted in the last few hours? I’m not getting details but my anxiety is eating away at me along with my guilt that he might be lonely, hungry, in danger. Like I could protect him. Sigh.

Fear has me looking behind my back every few seconds for a man in a freaking mask making threatening remarks. So, I decide to visit him, against my better judgement.

The good news? I haven’t been followed since then, maybe it was him the whole time. Maybe I got an A in answering questions. Who knows? I woke up in my freaking bed with my car parked at the apartment like nothing happened.

Which means they have access to my apartment.

My car.

Know where I’m at all times.

And haven’t killed me.

I can’t decide if I’m supposed to feel better or worse but whoever is doing all of this isn’t the same person who was threatening me earlier that I know for sure.

When I woke up from the best sleep of my life there was a glass of water by my bedside table, my favorite protein bar—weird—and a note.

Don’t go to the police. Stay safe. Vigilant. You missed. –The Proctor

Who the hell is The Proctor? My only contact is the phone number that would call me and give me instructions and text messages about the whereabouts of The Dean’s List, and for some reason I feel like if I call it now I’m giving information to the bad guys.

I’m too confused to process anything other than, right now, Axel doesn’t remember anything and he needs food.