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

by Ruby Vincent

  I sighed. “Ryder, come on. Don’t be like this. I know he’s five-alarm hot—”

  “Who said that?!”

  “—but he can’t help it. Men like that ooze sex appeal like an open wound spurts blood.”

  Ryder goggled at me. “Val, what the hell are we talking about?”

  “I’m saying that people probably assume he’s flirting with them if he even breathes in their direction, but he didn’t say or do anything inappropriate with me. He was actually kind of an asshole.”

  He scoffed. “More reason for me to be suspicious. Everyone knows you love assholes.”

  I swatted his shoulder before he could duck me. “I’m about to shake one asshole loose if he doesn’t behave himself.”

  “I’ll tell Jaxson he needs to be worried then.”

  A giggle escaped me despite myself. I didn’t know what I was going to do with this guy. “Seriously, Ryder, our professor isn’t the problem, but he helped me understand what is.” My phone was still in my hand. I held it out to him. “There’s also this. Ace texted me.”

  In the next second, Ryder had my phone and was reading the message. His face twisted with every word he read.

  “Get ready for their next move,” he said. “Fucking hell. They’re planning something else? Why won’t they give it a rest? What more do they want?”

  “Me.” I raised my head and looked into his eyes. “This doesn’t end until they’ve gotten rid of me.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “I know,” I replied, inclining my head. “Which means I’d better be ready for whatever is coming next.”

  “We had better be ready.”

  That reply brought my first smile of the day to my lips. “Speaking of my we, we need to get the other guys and talk. I told you Roundtree helped me figure something out. Text them and tell them to meet us by the fountain.”

  Ryder didn’t waste time asking for details. We sent out the alerts to the boys and twenty minutes later they were sitting on the rim of the fountain while I filled them in on what happened in Roundtree’s class.

  “Snitches?” Maverick repeated.

  “Yes.” I stood so the four of them could see me at once. “Don’t you see what this means?” I got four blank looks. Heaving a sigh, I explained. “Roundtree has pretty much confirmed that there are more Spades—probably a lot more. If the Spades are supposed to be snitches, then there can’t just be one. We know that Ace is close to us, but what about the other grades? Who is keeping watch to make sure they stay in line? Who is down there while the Knights are up here with us?”

  I could see instantly when it hit them over the head. “Shit, Val,” Jaxson cried. “You’re right. There has to be more. They’ll be all over the damn school.”

  I held up my hands. “Enforcers and informants—working as one to make sure there is never a blemish on the sparkling façade of Evergreen.” I gazed at one hand as an even harder truth washed over me. “And if the point of the Spades is to be informants, then we can be sure of one thing, they will be watching us. They are most likely—”

  “Among the people who have said they’re on our side,” Ezra finished. “They might even be tucked up in our new dorm.”

  I wanted to deny it, but that was the only thing that made sense. “Yes.”

  There was a lull as that sunk in. The fountain bubbled happily behind us as the enormity of what we were facing became real.

  “We can’t trust anyone,” I said. “Even those who cried and begged for forgiveness. Whatever our next move is, we don’t let anyone outside of the five of us know.”

  “What about Sofia, Zane, Kai, and Paisley?” Maverick asked.

  It hurt me to have to shake my head. “I trust Sofia absolutely and I know our South African transfers have nothing to do with the stuff that has been happening here, but I don’t want to put Sofia in a position of having to lie to Zane. I don’t want Zane to have to keep things from his brother, and I don’t want to tell Kai we don’t know if we can trust his girlfriend.”

  Ezra piped up. “Wait. Thomas is dating Paisley?”

  I nodded as I forced myself to say the rest. “Paisley and I have gotten close again and I don’t want to believe she could be a Spade, but after Scarlett, I know I can’t afford to take chances. It’s just us five. Okay?”

  Ryder stood and took my hand. “It’s always been just us five.”

  A smile found its way to my lips. “I’ve got the list. We should look at it again, go over what we know, and make a plan. Ace is going to hit hard. We need to hit back harder.”

  “That works for me.”

  Chapter Seven

  In the weeks that followed, Evergreen Academy became a different place. The boys revealing the truth had the effect I anticipated even though it disgusted me. People accused them of lying to cover for me and that caused the people on the side of the Spades to dig in even deeper. But on the other side, those who supported us backed us even harder. Where we didn’t have the numbers to fight back before, we did now—all the way down to the freshman class. We didn’t know who among them we could trust, but even if people were faking it, they were doing a good job.

  The new Knights kept up their campaign to keep us out of the lunchroom, library, clubs, and school events, but when we showed up en masse to the Halloween dance and a fight broke out, Evergreen stepped in and officially split the classes. We now had separate meal times, separate study periods, separate dorms, and separate homeroom teachers.

  “I can’t believe we have Markham again,” Jaxson complained. He set my breakfast tray down in front of me and kissed my forehead before taking his own seat. “We’ll never get free of that woman.”

  “I heard she asked to teach us after our English Lit teacher quit,” Eric added. “Evergreen jumped on it since she’s had the most experience dealing with this class and our shit.”

  I snorted. “Tell me about it.”

  Maverick wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in closer. I was sitting in his lap while the rest of our group was spread out through the cafeteria. We were allowed back in by Headmaster decree, but we had an early morning window of six a.m. to six thirty. We could take our breakfast back to the dorm but it wasn’t the peaceful haven it used to be now that there are eighteen students crammed in a building only meant to hold twelve. The last few weeks had been tough, but through it all, Ace had not sent me another text. That worried me as much as it should.

  I put my head in the crook of Maverick’s neck and let the tension ease from my body. At least the boys and I have never been closer. Even the mercurial Ryder has been opening up to me.

  I peeked across the table at him and caught his eye. He winked at me like we shared a secret.

  “I suspect she’s going to be dealing with a lot of shit on the end-of-semester environmental science trip,” Kai piped up. “I heard the other class tried to get us kicked off, but it’s for a grade so Professor Patchett shut them down. Still, Patchett is having Markham come to back her up and keep us all apart.”

  “This school has enough money to send us on separate trips,” said Paisley. “It would be a good idea if they did.”

  “I think the Knights tried to get Evergreen on board with that after kicking us out failed,” Kai said. “He didn’t go for that idea either.”

  Paisley groaned. “Is anyone else not looking forward to this?”

  We didn’t have to answer. Of course we weren’t looking forward to being forced together with the other class.

  I scarfed down a couple bites of omelet until the bell rang warning us that we had five minutes to eat and get out before the other class came into the cafeteria. I pulled Eric aside as our group walked up to return our trays.

  “Eric, what is going on with the yearbook?” I asked under my breath. “It’s been weeks.”

  “It’s not my fault.” He took my tray, returned it, and then walked with me out of the room. “My mom has turned down all my requests for a weekend pass. She says I need t
o be at school focusing on studying and applying to college and telling her I want to go home and get Dad’s yearbook isn’t coming across as a good reason.”

  “Tell her it’s for a school project or something.”

  “My mom is no dummy; she’ll want receipts. Just trust me,” he said out of the corner of his mouth while we neared Markham’s new class. “I’ll get it.”

  “Fine.”

  I let it drop as we entered the classroom. Markham nodded at us on the way to our seats. She stood in front of her desk, arms clasped in front of her as she waited patiently for us all to arrive. Ezra was the last to walk in. He sat down in the seat behind me and I put my hand out under the desk until I felt his fingers thread through mine. Things had been crazy but I was committed to spending time with my boys. Especially my littlest boy.

  Thanks to Evergreen’s new rule, I was allowed out on the weekends to be with Adam. I surprised him with a trip to the beach and bought him a bunch of clothes that he would grow out of in a week. Ezra was out last weekend too for therapy so he picked me up from home and we stopped at a hotel before continuing to school.

  I blushed just thinking of the day before. Ezra had propped me against the hotel window and screwed me until I saw stars. There was no chance of anyone seeing my bare backside through the drapes, but at the time, I’m not sure I would have noticed if they were open or not.

  “Attention, class.” Markham pulled me out of my heated memories. “As you know, this weekend is the end-of-semester science trip. I want to ensure a few things are clear before we set foot off this campus.

  “There will be no fighting or altercations on this trip. For the first time in the history of this school, we have lost a professor because they could not handle the stress of dealing with the senior class. From now on, and certainly on this trip, you will be on your best behavior. Is that understood?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” we chorused.

  “Good.” Markham took another minute to level us with her stern gaze before continuing. “As you know, your field trip will be to the Rayonner Bayou. You will put what you’ve learned this semester to the test by collecting water samples to examine for quality and organisms. In afternoon breakout sessions, you will discuss what you’ve learned about the water cycle, the life cycle of the animals that live in the bayou, and how we depend on swamps and river systems to survive. On the last day of the trip, you will have a free day where you will combine all you have learned in a two-page paper.” She scanned the room. “Are there any questions?”

  Sofia raised her hand. “Can we work in groups?”

  Markham shook her head. “Except for group discussions, you will complete your assignments on your own. Professor Patchett is assessing your individual proficiency. The work you do on this trip will count toward fifty percent of your final grade so I hope you will keep that in mind.

  “In regard to sleeping arrangements, we will be staying at a small hotel near the bayou. There are two to a room and you may choose your roommates. It goes without saying that opposite genders are not allowed in each other’s rooms...”

  Markham went on to say more, but I tuned her out. I had heard much the same from Professor Patchett and then again on the morning announcements from Headmaster Evergreen. We were leaving on the trip the next day and would be away for four days. We would get back on Friday and our parents would be waiting to take us home for winter break. The administration was determined that it not be a disaster. I wish I had as much faith in their rules and scolding.

  We would all be crammed together in a little swamp and I couldn’t help but think that it would be the perfect time for Ace to strike when we were miles away from campus with no Gus, no security cameras, and only two chaperones. If it crossed my mind, it must have crossed theirs too.

  No, I was not looking forward to this trip.

  “VAL, I’M TAKING YOUR Cucumber Splash conditioner. I ran out of mine.”

  “What’s mine is yours, Richards.”

  Sofia stuck her head out of the bathroom. “We are sharing a room, right?”

  I gave her a look. “Like that’s a question. No one else is going to put up with your snoring.”

  “I don’t snore!”

  I laughed as she stomped back into the bathroom and continued raiding my medicine cabinet. “Zane will back me up on this,” I called.

  “Not if he knows what’s good for him.”

  I laughed again. My mood was high even though in thirty minutes we would be hopping on the bus that would drive us five hours to the bayou. The sun had yet to dawn on this early Tuesday morning, but the dorm was a riot of noise. People shouted up and down the stairs, and through the open door, I could see people passing as they carried their things down to the front hall.

  “I feel bad for leaving Paisley on her own,” I heard her say. “Maybe Markham and Patchett will let us sleep three in a room.”

  “She can always bunk with Claire or Ciara.” I put the last sweater in my bag and zipped it up. I was ready to go. Sofia still had her things scattered all over my bed. We had managed to keep our own rooms when the new guys moved in, but we often ended up spending the night with each other anyway. “Do you think there is any chance this trip will be as fun as our junior winter trip?”

  “You mean when someone brained you with a ski?”

  “Before that.”

  “No chance, Val.” Sofia walked out of the bathroom loaded down with my hair products and tossed them in her suitcase. “I heard from the seniors before us that we’re slogging in the swamp from sunup to lunch, then the rest of the time we’re discussing life cycles and organisms until we pass out from boredom. This trip is all about the grade, not about the fun.”

  “But we’ll still have fun, right, babe?”

  I looked up to find Zane leaning against my doorframe. Kai stuck his head around his brother’s body.

  “Yes, baby,” Kai moaned. “Tell me we’re going to muah muah.” He swirled his tongue around his lips, licking and smacking as I howled.

  “I think I’m going to pass on that,” Sofia said in between giggling. “But why don’t you take that to your girlfriend?”

  “Oooh. Good idea.” Kai took off, leaving his brother shaking his head in his wake.

  “You can’t prove we’re related,” Zane mumbled. “Do you guys need me to bring anything down?”

  “No, but they’re handing out breakfast burritos in the cafeteria. Can you pick us up a couple?” I gestured at the mess that claimed my bed. “Sofia clearly needs more time.”

  “No problem.”

  By the time Sofia finished packing and we stepped outside with our things, the bus was idling in front of the gates.

  “Only one bus,” I said. “Why are they doing this to us?”

  “It’s too early. I hope the other class doesn’t start something.”

  “We’ll all get in trouble if they do.” I picked up both our bags and set off for the gates, shuffling behind the rest of my dormmates. “The way things are going, the professors are getting fed up with us.”

  “They are welcome to get off their asses and intervene.”

  Sofia and I shared a look. The truth in that statement was so real I didn’t need to comment on it. Professors have been quitting, moving, and doling out punishments, but no one has touched what we’re really fighting about. They weren’t going to enter this war.

  As we slipped through the wrought-iron gates, I spotted Markham standing before the entrance to the bus holding her clipboard.

  My eyes narrowed. Except for you. I’m not letting you stay on the sidelines any longer.

  “I’m hoping everyone is too tired to start something,” I said aloud, eyes still fixed on Markham. “I plan on going back to sleep.”

  “I’m with you.”

  I dumped our stuff under the bus and let Markham check us off her list. The bus was mostly full with the kids from our dorm. They took up the back rows so we headed back there to join them. Sofia slid in next to Zane, cuddled
into his arms, and closed her eyes. I took the empty seat next to them and that afforded me a look of the rest of the class boarding.

  Our eyes met through the glass. Natalie, Isabella, and Darren led the way for the rest of the class. Natalie’s mouth twisted when she saw me while Isabella remained neutral. Darren blew me a kiss.

  His reward was my middle finger. If any good has come out of the classes being torn apart it’s that I don’t have to be around that asshole.

  “Morning.” The seat sank as I put down my finger. Maverick pressed a kiss to my cheek that instantly lifted my mood. “I’m glad to get away from the academy for a bit.”

  I took his arm and put it around my shoulder. “I’d be excited too if I wasn’t anticipating serious drama.”

  His arm around me tightened. “Nothing is going to happen to you, Val.”

  I didn’t ask why that was where his mind went. Of course he realized this was a good time for Ace to deliver the retribution they promised. “I know I’m not alone—whatever happens.”

  “You’re not. I’ll be close by for this whole trip. Very, very”—he put his lips to my ear—“very close.”

  I bit down on my lip to hold back a grin. “Maverick, we will either be tramping around in the muck or sitting in group discussion. There’s no way we’ll be able to find a minute alone to mess around.”

  “Mess around?” Maverick pulled back and gave me a funny look. “Who said anything about messing around? I was just talking about keeping you safe.” He tsked. “You’ve got a one-track mind, baby.”

  I shoved his shoulder although my grin was now on full display. “We both know we’re on the same track, Beaumont.” I draped my hand on his neck and pulled him closer. “You’re going to come and see me over winter break, right?”

  He nodded against my forehead. “My parents decided to stay home this year. If you don’t have plans, I’d love it if you, your mom, and Adam came to my place for Christmas dinner.”

  Happiness unfurled inside me and spread through my bones. The boys had been so great about Adam. As much as I loved them, there was no future for us if they couldn’t accept that I was a mom first. That they were inviting both of us into their lives made me sure that we were building something that would last. “We’d love that too.”