Unmasked: A Reverse Harem High School Bully Romance (An Evergreen Academy Novel Book 4) Read online

  My cheeks warmed. I didn’t want to think about what those cameras picked up before everything changed, but that was all over now.

  The new Knights had screwed me again.

  “I get it, Gus. Do what you have to do.”

  He nodded and then went back inside. After a minute, I followed with Adam.

  “Things just keep getting more complicated, baby.”

  Adam nodded solemnly like he knew exactly what I was talking about. I took him up to the third floor and excused the staff putting away my things. When they were gone, I set my son on the bed and stepped back.

  “Okay. Do you want to help Mommy get ready to speak to the rep?”

  “Yes.”

  I cleared my throat. “Hello, my name is Valentina Moon. I—”

  “I should hope he knows your name.”

  I whirled around as my door swung open on squeaky hinges.

  “Ryder,” Adam squealed. There was a soft thud and then the toddler streaked past and tackled Ryder’s legs.

  The older boy chuckled as he ruffled his hair. “Hey, little man. Did you miss me?”

  “Yes!”

  “Did Mommy miss me too?”

  “Mommy missed you so much.”

  If I could see my cheeks, I was sure red would have glared back at me. “Adam, don’t give away my secrets.”

  Adam giggled as Ryder hefted him into his arms. He raised a brow at me over the little boy’s head. “Oh? Was it a secret?”

  “Yes.” I closed the distance between us, a smile playing on my lips. “I can’t have you thinking I’m pining after not seeing you for two weeks. How was the rest of your summer?”

  His forehead wrinkled. It drew my eyes above his brow to the faint scar that now marred his features. “Now that I’m eighteen, Benjamin’s partners have been coming by the house and dropping non-subtle hints about my plans for the company. I’ve been in unofficial meetings with them the last couple weeks. Mom appointed someone to step in after he... disappeared, but the arrangement was only meant to be temporary.”

  “What are your plans?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t want anything to do with his company. He certainly never wanted it to be mine.”

  My skin tightened thinking of Adam.

  “But it’s not just about me. There are over a hundred thousand employees working for Shea Industries. I owe them something even though I owe that man nothing. Not to mention Mom. I have to make sure she is always taken care of.”

  The smile did come through now. I gazed at Ryder as warmth spread through me. “You’re a good man, Ryder Shea. Who knew?”

  He cracked a smile. “Don’t tell anyone. The reputation I’ve been building as a cold, violent maniac may get us through this year.”

  Those words popped my bubble of good feelings like a balloon. My eyes snapped up to his new scar. “Ryder, I don’t want you to have that reputation. Things are not going to be like last semester.”

  “They’re not just going to stop, and we’re not going to let anyone mess with you.”

  I reached up and pressed my fingers to his temple. I gently traced his scar. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted—”

  “Stop.” His hand flashed up and grabbed mine. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t apologize.”

  I couldn’t help but be sorry. After that horrible morning when the Knights woke up and found out they were marked, it all started up again. Another card was put in my locker and no one was hearing that it was fake.

  My classmates came for me just as hard. The worst thing was they had the picture of me and Ezra in the library to use as ammunition. I found it everywhere—on my locker, my desk, my dorm front door, everywhere. The Knights were ruthless in defending my honor, and when one guy tried to corner me in the library, leering about “round two,” Ryder socked him with a punch that cracked his jaw.

  The two got into an awful fight while I screamed for them to stop, but I couldn’t pull them apart. Not even when Ryder’s head was bashed against the shelves and blood poured down his face. They both ended up in the nurse’s office the day before school let out and I vowed right there that I would end this.

  “You’re all in this mess because of me,” I replied.

  “We’re in this mess because Ace is psychotic. They flipped when the Knights they thought belonged to them chose you. They did this to punish us and show the school who is really in charge.”

  “The Spades,” I whispered.

  He nodded.

  The breath whooshed out of me and took my strength with it. I dropped forward and rested my head on his chest. “How will we ever find out who it is? Or if there are more Spades? We thought it was over with Scarlett. The entire senior class could be Spades and how would we know?”

  “We’ll figure it out.” A warm hand settled on my head. “Don’t forget we’ve got that list of Ace suspects. Somehow all of this fits together. We’ll find out who these people are.”

  “I’m not going through this again, and I’m not seeing my friends get hurt anymore. I told Ace I would find them and make them regret ever sending me that first text. I meant it.”

  His chest rumbled with his chuckle. “I know you will. When you set your mind to vengeance, you can’t be stopped. Turns out its incredibly attractive when it’s not directed at me.”

  The words flipped on the bubble machine in my stomach. What am I going to do with this guy? He keeps me at arm’s length all summer and then goes and says something like that.

  Ryder tugged on my short strands until I raised my head. Our eyes met in a spark of electricity that made me pulse quicken. Our lips could not have been more than an inch apart. It would take nothing for me to rise up and close the distance. So I did.

  “We shouldn’t,” he whispered, stopping me when we were only a hair apart.

  “Why not?”

  Ryder twisted his neck to the side. I followed his gaze and we both landed on Adam. The toddler was fixed on us. A tiny pout was forming in the corner of his mouth.

  “This is why,” he whispered. In a louder voice, he said, “Adam, Tina is mine.”

  I had all of a second to ride the high those words gave me until—

  “No! She’s my mommy!”

  Adam’s pout was in full force now. He glared at Ryder when only a little while ago, he was pleased to see him.

  “See?” Ryder went on, laughing. “Better not to do that in front of him. I don’t want to get beaten up by a toddler again.”

  Mortified, I took my angry baby out of his arms. Ryder had been doing this all summer. He would come to Wakefield to visit, take me and Adam out for the day, and then end the night saying we couldn’t go any farther.

  “What are you going to do when you can’t use Adam as an excuse?”

  Ryder’s smile hung on his lips as he looked down at me. “I guess I’ll have to kiss you.”

  I lost my reply as I blinked at him. I was not expecting that.

  I didn’t get a chance to find my words as a voice sounded behind us. “Baby. Eugene. Let me end your suffering.” Jaxson pushed Ryder to the side and planted himself in front of me. “I have arrived.”

  Jaxson ruffled Adam’s hair. “Hey, D-man. Did you miss your uncle Jaxson?” Jaxson had taken to calling him D-man after Adam’s middle name, David. Usually, he liked the name.

  Adam twisted around and buried his head in my neck. I soothingly rubbed his back.

  “He doesn’t mean it,” I assured. “Ryder set him off and now he’s a little upset.”

  He nodded. “He has that effect on me all the time.”

  Ryder rolled his eyes as Jaxson walked past me and plopped down on my bed. “Can you believe it? We’re all bunking together in this sweet dorm. Everyone said senior year would be awesome.”

  “It’s not a gift, Jaxson,” Ryder reminded. “I heard it from Gus. The Knights booted us from the main dorm. Plus, he’s putting cameras in to make sure we don’t do whatever you’re fantasizing about doing.”

  “
We still get to be closer to Valentina. I call that a gift.”

  I buried my head in Adam’s curls to hide my smile. Jaxson Van Zandt could say the sweetest things when he was ready.

  Adam snuggled deeper into my neck. The act sharply reminded me of what I needed to do.

  “Guys, I know we’re all getting ready for College Day, but there’s something I need to talk to you about before we go.”

  “That’s cool.” Jaxson leaned back and folded his fingers behind his head. “But I’m not going to College Day. Higher education is not for me.”

  “I thought you said last month that you were thinking about it,” I said.

  “I did think about it. I pictured late-night study sessions, walking across the quad, and sneaking into your dorm.”

  “Did you now?”

  “Yep. It was real dirty, mama. Can’t talk about it in front of the kid.”

  Now it was me rolling my eyes.

  “Anyway,” Jaxson continued, “I’d love to be at Somerset with you, but university isn’t for me. I talked about it with Papa Van Zandt and I’m going to work at the studio after I graduate. He is starting me as the lowest-paid grunt until I earn his trust, but eventually, I’m going to take over.” He shot me a smile. “I know what I want to do. I’m going to start now.”

  “I think that’s great, Jaxson. I’m happy for you.”

  “The best part is I’ll still be close to you.”

  “That is definitely a bonus.” I stopped flirting long enough to look at Ryder. “What about you? You’ve never told me your plans.”

  “I’ll be going to a school nearby.” Ryder looked straight ahead, not meeting my eyes. “I can’t leave Mom.”

  He said it so casually, but those words struck right through me. “But... there’s only one decent school near your Mom.”

  “That’s right.” I think I caught a ghost of a smile. “Somerset University is my first choice.”

  I was saved from thinking of something to say by a knock on the doorframe. I turned to find Gus standing in the entrance.

  “Now that you are all here, I’d like you to come down to the front room so I can explain the rules for the new senior dorm.”

  We tromped out behind him to find Maverick, Ezra, Sofia, Zane, Kai, and Paisley waiting for us at the bottom. The rest of the marked and all of those who stood by us when the new regime took over. Everyone looked amazing in their best suits, dresses, and shoes, but the grim looks on their faces didn’t match.

  Sofia took Adam off my hands when I stepped to her side and faced Gus.

  “You know why you’re here,” Gus began. “I’m sorry I can’t do anything to change your circumstances, but know that your safety is no less important to me. Cameras cover every inch inside and outside. The windows are shatterproof. The building has fire alarms on every floor.” Gus met each and every one of our eyes as he spoke. “I was made aware of another security risk in regards to the courtyard. I intend to have a camera installed there too.”

  I didn’t need to ask how or who made him aware. The boys had spilled about Scarlett’s attempt on my life. If it keeps everyone safe, then it was a secret that needed to be spilled.

  “The rules are the same for the main dorms. Opposite genders are not to be alone in a room. You have a ten o’clock curfew. Staff have the right to enter as they please. Any questions?”

  A few people shook their heads, but otherwise no one moved.

  “Alright. You have a big day ahead of you so go on. Your things will be put away and your dorm ready when you return.”

  I turned on the boys before the group could split up. “I need to talk to you. Will you go up to my room?”

  The guys went up without a word while I took Adam back.

  “Val, is there something up?”

  “Yes.”

  She placed her hand on my elbow. “What is it?”

  “Hey. Did you have that talk with your parents?”

  Sofia blinked at my subject change. “Yeah, I did. I chewed them out for trying to make me feel bad for doing the right thing. Honey Hair is a great product and can survive a few trolls, but I let them know our relationship wouldn’t if they didn’t learn to support me.”

  “I’m proud of you, Sof. You stood up and told the truth.” My eyes drifted up the stairs. “Now it’s time for me to do the same.”

  She didn’t ask me what I meant. Instead, she squeezed my arm before heading back outside.

  I let out a breath. “Okay, Adam. Are you ready?”

  “Yes,” he replied, even though he didn’t know what he was supposed to be ready for.

  “Tina isn’t ready. Will you give her a kiss for luck?”

  Adam didn’t hesitate in dropping a big smooch on my cheek. “Tina, I love you.”

  The words were a straight shot of warmth and confidence to my heart. I knew at that moment that I was doing the right thing.

  The former Knights were waiting in my room for me like I asked, and they had made the space their own. Jaxson reclined on my pillows. Maverick sat on the edge of my mattress. Ezra took up the desk chair and Ryder leaned against my bathroom door.

  Despite the rules, I stepped in and closed the door. I figured Gus would give me enough credit to not get up to any funny business with a three-year-old in the room.

  “Let me guess,” Ezra began before I could open my mouth. “Strategy session.”

  “We need one,” Maverick responded. “They went hard at us last semester. It’ll only get worse.”

  “It won’t get worse,” stated Jaxson, “because we’re going to be smart. Ryder’s end-of-the-year throwdown aside, they’ve been sticking to the rules and not getting physical. If we don’t go anywhere alone—”

  “Guys.”

  “—we stuck together last year and that didn’t stop what happened to Sofia and Val,” Ryder reminded them. “They’ve been targeting the girls and we can’t be with them all the time.”

  “Guys.”

  “The hell we can’t,” Jaxson protested. “I’m perfectly happy to spend every minute with Val. I’m sure—”

  “Guys!”

  Four pairs of eyes flew to me as the conversation came to an abrupt halt. I took a deep breath. “This isn’t a strategy session. I asked you to come here because I have something important to tell you.”

  Maverick rose to his feet. He was so tall he came up as high as the canopy over my bed. “What is it?”

  I glanced down at my son. “It’s about Adam.”

  The baby looked back at me with trusting green eyes. I kept my attention fixed on those eyes as I revealed the truth I had been holding back for years.

  “Adam is not my brother. He’s my son.”

  No one made a sound. Silence spread through the room, pressing down on me as I refused to look away from Adam.

  “Val.” Ryder’s voice broke through. In the next breath, his arms were around us. “Thank you for telling us.”

  I lifted my head to give him a smile that wobbled. He knew of course. He knew everything. But his support meant more than I could tell him.

  I finally chanced a look at the others. Maverick’s and Jaxson’s faces held the shock I expected while Ezra’s expression was carefully schooled.

  “Guys, please, say something.”

  Jaxson broke first. “Is this what you meant when you said there were things I didn’t know about you?”

  I nodded. “Pretty much.”

  “Adam is your son.”

  “Yes.”

  “So you gave birth to him when...”

  “I was fourteen,” I finished. I held the toddler a little closer. “There is more I need to tell you about the circumstances of Adam’s arrival, but I won’t do that in front of him. All you need to know right now is that he’s mine and I love him more than I thought I could ever love anyone.”

  To my surprise, Jaxson cracked a smile. “That’s good enough for me. Honestly, I always thought it funny how obsessed with the kid you were. Everyone else can’t sta
nd their younger siblings. This makes way more sense.”

  I shifted my gaze to Maverick. The taller boy spoke the second he caught my attention. “This changes nothing between us. I love you and Adam’s a great kid.” He stepped forward as another smile found its way to my lips. “Thank you for trusting us.”

  I put my hand in his when he reached out. I couldn’t believe I had been afraid to tell them. I turned my smile on Ezra.

  He didn’t smile back. “Can we talk more about this later? Just the two of us?”

  “Oh. Yes, of course, we can.”

  “Great.” Ezra got to his feet and made for the door. “We should get going before Gus comes down on us.”

  “Okay,” I said softly as he brushed past me.

  “Val, he—”

  I slipped my hand out of Maverick’s. “Don’t. It’s fine. I’ll talk to him later like he asked. We should go. The reps will be arriving soon.”

  Maverick didn’t say more. He bent, kissed my forehead, ruffled Adam’s hair until he giggled, and then walked out. Jaxson did the same.

  Soon it was just me and Ryder. “I know that must have been hard.”

  I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “It was, but I had to do it. If there is going to be any real future between us, then I have to be honest. Adam is my first priority.”

  I took his hand. It was cold to the touch and reminded me vividly of the granite I used to compare him too. “I should have told you I was going to do this. It involves you too.”

  “This isn’t about me. You can tell who you want when you’re ready, but... are you going to tell them everything?”

  I was highly aware of Adam on my hip. “Not everything, but I’ll tell them as much as I can.”

  He nodded. “I’ll be there to support you if you want me. Just tell me what to do.”

  I gripped his hand tighter. “You’re already doing it.”

  “Tina.” Adam’s voice brought me back to reality. “I’m hungry.”

  I quickly wiped away a stray tear before turning a big smile on Adam. “Of course you are, baby. Let’s go find Olivia and the snacks.”

  I was in better spirits when I walked out of the construction zone and into the bright morning. The promised refreshments were laid out in the courtyard and I found Mom by the punch talking to Evergreen of all people. I picked up the pace.