["Cinderella.\tTo\tothers,\tMarie\tAntoinette.\u201d Some\tpeople\twould\twant\tto\tbe\tme.\tSome\tpeople\twould\thate\tme\tto\tthe\tdepths of\ttheir\tsouls.\tFor\tthe\tfirst\ttime,\tI\tnoticed\tthe\tgun\tholstered\tto\tOren\u2019s\tside. \u201cIt\u2019s\t best\t you\t sit\t tight,\u201d\t Oren\t said\t evenly.\t \u201cYour\t sister\t should\t be\t back tonight.\u201d For\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tmorning,\tAlisa\tand\tI\tplayed\twhat\tI\thad\tmentally\ttermed\tThe Uprooting\t Avery\u2019s\t Life\t In\t An\t Instant\t game.\t I\t quit\t my\t job.\t Alisa\t took\t care\t of withdrawing\tme\tfrom\tschool. \u201cWhat\tabout\tmy\tcar?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cOren\t will\t be\t driving\t you\t for\t the\t foreseeable\t future,\t but\t we\t can\t have\t your vehicle\t shipped,\t if\t you\t would\t like,\u201d\t Alisa\t offered.\t \u201cOr\t you\t can\t pick\t out\t a\t new car\tfor\tpersonal\tuse.\u201d For\tall\tthe\temphasis\tshe\tput\ton\tthat,\tyou\twould\thave\tthought\tshe\twas\ttalking about\tbuying\tgum\tat\tthe\tsupermarket. \u201cDo\t you\t prefer\t sedans\t or\t SUVs?\u201d\t she\t queried,\t holding\t her\t phone\t in\t a\t way that\t suggested\t she\t was\t fully\t capable\t of\t ordering\t a\t car\t with\t a\t mere\t click\t of\t a button.\t\u201cAny\tcolor\tpreference?\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re\tgoing\tto\thave\tto\texcuse\tme\tfor\ta\tsecond,\u201d\tI\ttold\ther.\tI\tducked\tback into\t my\t bedroom.\t The\t bed\t was\t piled\t ridiculously\t high\t with\t pillows.\t I\t climbed up\ton\tthe\tbed,\tlet\tmyself\tfall\tback\ton\tthe\tmountain\tof\tpillows,\tand\tpulled\tout\tmy phone. Texting,\tcalling,\tand\tDM-ing\tMax\tall\tled\tto\tthe\tsame\tresult:\tnothing.\tShe\thad definitely\thad\ther\tphone\tconfiscated\u2014and\tpossibly\ther\tlaptop,\twhich\tmeant\tthat she\t couldn\u2019t\t advise\t me\t on\t the\t appropriate\t response\t when\t one\u2019s\t lawyer\t started talking\tabout\tordering\ta\tcar\tlike\tit\twas\ta\tfoxing\tpizza. This\t is\t unreal.\t Less\t that\t twenty-four\t hours\t earlier,\t I\u2019d\t been\t sleeping\t in\t a parking\t lot.\t The\t closest\t I\u2019d\t come\t to\t splurging\t was\t the\t occasional\t breakfast sandwich. Breakfast\tsandwich,\tI\tthought.\tHarry.\tI\tsat\tup\tin\tbed.\t\u201cAlisa?\u201d\tI\tcalled.\t\u201cIf\tI didn\u2019t\t want\t a\t new\t car,\t if\t I\t wanted\t to\t spend\t that\t money\t on\t something\t else\u2014 could\tI?\u201d Bankrolling\ta\tplace\tfor\tHarry\tto\tstay\u2014and\tgetting\thim\tto\taccept\tit\u2014wouldn\u2019t\tbe","easy,\tbut\tAlisa\ttold\tme\tto\tconsider\tit\thandled.\tThat\twas\tthe\tworld\tI\tlived\tin\tnow. All\tI\thad\tto\tdo\twas\tspeak,\tand\tit\twas\thandled. This\twouldn\u2019t\tlast.\tIt\tcouldn\u2019t.\tSooner\tor\tlater,\tsomeone\twould\tfigure\tout\tthat this\twas\tsome\tkind\tof\tscrewup.\tSo\tI\tmight\tas\twell\tenjoy\tit\twhile\tit\tlasts. That\t was\t the\t number\t one\t thought\t on\t my\t mind\t when\t we\t went\t to\t pick\t up Libby.\tAs\tmy\tsister\tstepped\tout\tof\tmy\tprivate\tjet.\tI\twondered\tif\tAlisa\tcould\tget her\tinto\tthe\tSorbonne.\tOr\tbuy\ther\ta\tlittle\tcupcake\tshop.\tOr\u2014 \u201cLibby.\u201d\t Every\t thought\t in\t my\t head\t came\t screeching\t to\t a\t halt\t the\t moment\t I saw\ther\tface.\tHer\tright\teye\twas\tbruised\tand\tswollen\tnearly\tshut. Libby\tswallowed\tbut\tdidn\u2019t\tavert\ther\teyes.\t\u201cIf\tyou\tsay\t\u2018I\ttold\tyou\tso,\u2019\tI\twill make\tbutterscotch\tcupcakes\tand\tguilt\tyou\tinto\teating\tthem\tevery\tday.\u201d \u201cIs\t there\t a\t problem\t I\t should\t know\t about?\u201d\t Alisa\t asked\t Libby,\t her\t voice deceptively\tcalm\tas\tshe\teyed\tthe\tbruise. \u201cAvery\thates\tbutterscotch,\u201d\tLibby\tsaid,\tlike\tthat\twas\tthe\tproblem. \u201cAlisa,\u201d\tI\tgritted\tout,\t\u201cdoes\tyour\tlaw\tfirm\thave\ta\thit\tman\ton\tretainer?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d\t Alisa\t kept\t her\t tone\t strictly\t professional.\t \u201cBut\t I\u2019m\t very\t resourceful.\t I could\tmake\tsome\tinquiries.\u201d \u201cI\tlegitimately\tcannot\ttell\tif\tyou\tare\tjoking,\u201d\tLibby\tsaid,\tand\tthen\tshe\tturned to\tme.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\ttalk\tabout\tit.\tAnd\tI\u2019m\tfine.\u201d \u201cBut\u2014\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tfine.\u201d I\tmanaged\tto\tkeep\tmy\tmouth\tshut,\tand\tall\tof\tus\tmanaged\tto\tmake\tit\tback\tto the\t hotel.\t The\t plan\t was\t to\t finish\t up\t a\t few\t final\t arrangements\t and\t leave immediately\tfor\tHawthorne\tHouse. Things\tdid\tnot\tgo\texactly\taccording\tto\tplan. \u201cWe\t have\t a\t problem.\u201d\t Oren\t didn\u2019t\t sound\t overly\t bothered,\t but\t Alisa immediately\t put\t down\t her\t phone.\t Oren\t nodded\t to\t our\t suite\u2019s\t balcony.\t Alisa stepped\toutside,\tlooked\tdown,\tand\tswore. I\t pushed\t past\t Oren\t and\t went\t out\t on\t the\t balcony\t to\t see\t what\t was\t going\t on. Down\tbelow,\toutside\tthe\thotel\u2019s\tentrance,\thotel\tsecurity\tguards\twere\tstruggling with\t what\t appeared\t to\t be\t a\t mob.\t It\t wasn\u2019t\t until\t a\t flash\t went\t off\t that\t I\t realized what\tthat\tmob\twas. Paparazzi. And\tjust\tlike\tthat,\tevery\tcamera\twas\tpointed\tup\tat\tthe\tbalcony.\tAt\tme.","CHAPTER\t14 I\t thought\t you\t said\t your\t firm\t had\t this\t locked\t down.\u201d\t Oren\t gave\t Alisa\t a\t look. She\t scowled\t back\t at\t him,\t made\t three\t phone\t calls\t in\t quick\t succession\u2014two\t of them\tin\tSpanish\u2014and\tthen\tturned\tback\tto\tmy\thead\tof\tsecurity.\t\u201cThe\tleak\tdidn\u2019t come\tfrom\tus.\u201d\tHer\teyes\tdarted\ttoward\tLibby.\t\u201cIt\tcame\tfrom\tyour\tboyfriend.\u201d Libby\u2019s\tanswer\twas\tbarely\tmore\tthan\ta\twhisper.\t\u201cMy\tex.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\t sorry.\u201d\t Libby\t had\t apologized\t at\t least\t a\t dozen\t times.\t She\u2019d\t told\t Drake everything\u2014about\t the\t will,\t the\t conditions\t on\t my\t inheritance,\t where\t we\t were staying.\tEverything.\tI\tknew\ther\twell\tenough\tto\tknow\twhy.\tHe\twould\thave\tbeen angry\tthat\tshe\u2019d\ttaken\toff.\tShe\twould\thave\ttried\tto\tpacify\thim.\tAnd\tthe\tmoment she\u2019d\t told\t him\t about\t the\t money,\t he\t would\t have\t demanded\t to\t tag\t along.\t He would\t have\t started\t making\t plans\t to\t spend\t the\t Hawthorne\t money.\t And\t Libby, God\tbless\ther,\twould\thave\ttold\thim\tthat\tit\twasn\u2019t\ttheirs\tto\tspend,\tthat\tit\twasn\u2019t his. He\t hit\t her.\t She\t left\t him.\t He\t went\t to\t the\t press.\t And\t now\t they\t were\t here.\t A horde\tdescended\ton\tus\tas\tOren\tled\tme\tout\ta\tside\tdoor. \u201cThere\tshe\tis!\u201d\ta\tvoice\tyelled. \u201cAvery!\u201d \u201cAvery,\tover\there!\u201d \u201cAvery,\thow\tdoes\tit\tfeel\tto\tbe\tthe\trichest\tteenager\tin\tAmerica?\u201d \u201cHow\tdoes\tit\tfeel\tto\tbe\tthe\tworld\u2019s\tyoungest\tbillionaire?\u201d \u201cHow\tdid\tyou\tknow\tTobias\tHawthorne?\u201d \u201cIs\tit\ttrue\tthat\tyou\u2019re\tTobias\tHawthorne\u2019s\tillegitimate\tdaughter?\u201d I\t was\t shuffled\t into\t an\t SUV.\t The\t door\t closed,\t dulling\t the\t roar\t of\t the reporters\u2019\t questions.\t Exactly\t halfway\t through\t our\t drive,\t I\t got\t a\t text\u2014not\t from Max.\tFrom\tan\tunknown\tnumber. I\topened\tit\tand\tsaw\ta\tscreenshot\tof\ta\tnews\theadline.\tAvery\tGrambs:\tWho\tIs","the\tHawthorne\tHeiress? A\tshort\tmessage\taccompanied\tthe\tpicture. Hey,\tMystery\tGirl.\tYou\u2019re\tofficially\tfamous. There\twere\tmore\tpaparazzi\toutside\tthe\tgates\tof\tHawthorne\tHouse,\tbut\tonce\twe pulled\tpast\tthem,\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tworld\tfaded\taway.\tThere\twas\tno\twelcome\tparty. No\tJameson.\tNo\tGrayson.\tNo\tHawthornes\tof\tany\tkind.\tI\treached\tfor\tthe\tmassive front\t door\u2014locked.\t Alisa\t disappeared\t around\t the\t back\t of\t the\t house.\t When\t she finally\treappeared,\tthere\twas\ta\tpained\texpression\ton\ther\tface.\tShe\thanded\tme\ta large\tenvelope. \u201cLegally,\u201d\t she\t said,\t \u201cthe\t Hawthorne\t family\t is\t required\t to\t provide\t you\t with keys.\tPractically\tspeaking\u2026\u201d\tShe\tnarrowed\ther\teyes.\t\u201cThe\tHawthorne\tfamily\tis a\tpain\tin\tthe\tass.\u201d \u201cThat\ta\tlegal\tterm?\u201d\tOren\tasked\tdryly. I\t ripped\t open\t the\t envelope\t and\t found\t that\t the\t Hawthorne\t family\t had\t indeed provided\tme\twith\tkeys\u2014somewhere\tin\tthe\tneighborhood\tof\ta\thundred\tof\tthem. \u201cAny\tidea\twhich\tone\tof\tthese\tgoes\tto\tthe\tfront\tdoor?\u201d\tI\tasked.\tThey\tweren\u2019t normal\t keys.\t They\t were\t oversized\t and\t ornately\t made.\t They\t all\t looked\t like antiques,\tand\teach\tkey\twas\tdistinct\u2014different\tdesigns,\tdifferent\tmetals,\tdifferent lengths\tand\tsizes. \u201cYou\u2019ll\tfigure\tit\tout,\u201d\tsomeone\tsaid. My\tgaze\tjerked\tupward,\tand\tI\tfound\tmyself\tstaring\tat\tan\tintercom. \u201cCut\tthe\tgames,\tJameson,\u201d\tAlisa\tordered.\t\u201cThis\tisn\u2019t\tnearly\tas\tcute\tas\tyou\tall think\tit\tis.\u201d No\treply. \u201cJameson?\u201d\tAlisa\ttried\tagain. Silence,\tand\tthen:\t\u201cI\thave\tfaith\tin\tyou,\tM.G.\u201d The\tintercom\tcut\toff,\tand\tAlisa\tblew\tout\ta\tlong,\tfrustrated\tbreath.\t\u201cGod\tsave me\tfrom\tHawthornes.\u201d \u201cM.G.?\u201d\tLibby\tasked,\tbewildered. \u201cMystery\t Girl,\u201d\t I\t clarified.\t \u201cFrom\t what\t I\u2019ve\t gathered,\t that\u2019s\t Jameson Hawthorne\u2019s\tidea\tof\ta\tnickname.\u201d\tI\tturned\tmy\tattention\tto\tthe\tring\tof\tkeys\tin\tmy hand.\t The\t obvious\t solution\t was\t to\t try\t them\t all.\t Assuming\t one\t of\t these\t keys opened\tthe\tfront\tdoor,\tI\u2019d\tget\tlucky\teventually.\tBut\tluck\tdidn\u2019t\tfeel\tlike\tenough. I\twas\talready\tthe\tluckiest\tgirl\tin\tthe\tworld.","Some\tpart\tof\tme\twanted\tto\tdeserve\tit. I\tflipped\tthrough\tthe\tkeys,\tinspecting\tthe\tdesigns\ton\tthe\thandles.\tAn\tapple.\tA snake.\t A\t pattern\t of\t swirls\t reminiscent\t of\t water.\t There\t were\t keys\t for\t each\t letter of\t the\t alphabet,\t in\t fancy,\t old-fashioned\t script.\t There\t were\t keys\t with\t numbers and\tkeys\twith\tshapes,\tone\twith\ta\tmermaid\tand\tfour\tdifferent\tkeys\tfeaturing\teyes. \u201cWell?\u201d\tAlisa\tsaid\tabruptly.\t\u201cDo\tyou\twant\tme\tto\tmake\ta\tphone\tcall?\u201d \u201cNo.\u201d\t I\t turned\t my\t attention\t from\t the\t keys\t to\t the\t door.\t The\t design\t was simple,\tgeometric\u2014not\ta\tmatch\tfor\tanything\ton\tany\tof\tthe\tkeys\tI\u2019d\tlooked\tat\tso far.\t That\t would\t be\t too\t easy,\t I\t thought.\t Too\t simple.\t A\t second\t later,\t a\t parallel thought\tfollowed.\tNot\tsimple\tenough. I\u2019d\t learned\t this\t much\t playing\t chess:\t The\t more\t complicated\t a\t person\u2019s strategy\t seemed,\t the\t less\t likely\t an\t opponent\t was\t to\t look\t for\t simple\t answers.\t If you\t could\t keep\t someone\t looking\t at\t your\t knight,\t you\t could\t take\t them\t with\t a pawn.\tLook\tpast\tthe\tdetails.\tPast\tthe\tcomplications.\tI\tshifted\tmy\tfocus\tfrom\tthe handles\tof\tthe\tkeys\tto\tthe\tpart\tthat\tactually\twent\tinto\tthe\tlock.\tThough\tthe\tkeys differed\tin\tsize\toverall,\tthe\tlock\tend\twas\tsized\tsimilarly\tfrom\tkey\tto\tkey. Not\t just\t sized\t similarly,\t I\t realized,\t looking\t at\t two\t of\t the\t keys\t side\t by\t side. The\t pattern\u2014the\t mechanism\t that\t actually\t turned\t the\t lock\u2014was\t identical between\tthe\ttwo.\tI\tmoved\ton\tto\ta\tthird\tkey.\tThe\tsame.\tI\tbegan\tworking\tmy\tway through\t the\t ring,\t comparing\t each\t key\t to\t the\t next,\t one\t by\t one.\t Same.\t Same. Same. There\tweren\u2019t\ta\thundred\tkeys\ton\tthis\tring.\tThe\tfaster\tI\tflipped\tthrough\tthem, the\tsurer\tI\twas.\tThere\twere\ttwo\u2014dozens\tof\tcopies\tof\tthe\twrong\tkey,\tdressed\tup to\tlook\tdifferent\tfrom\teach\tother,\tand\tthen\u2026 \u201cThis\t one.\u201d\t I\t finally\t hit\t a\t key\t with\t a\t different\t pattern\t from\t the\t others.\t The intercom\t crackled,\t but\t if\t Jameson\t was\t still\t on\t the\t other\t side,\t he\t didn\u2019t\t say\t a word.\tI\tmoved\tto\tput\tthe\tkey\tin\tthe\tlock,\tand\tadrenaline\tjolted\tthrough\tmy\tveins when\tit\tturned. Eureka. \u201cHow\tdid\tyou\tknow\twhich\tkey\tto\tuse?\u201d\tLibby\tasked\tme. The\tanswer\tcame\tfrom\tthe\tintercom.\t\u201cSometimes,\u201d\tJameson\tHawthorne\tsaid, sounding\t strangely\t contemplative,\t \u201cthings\t that\t appear\t very\t different\t on\t the surface\tare\tactually\texactly\tthe\tsame\tat\ttheir\tcore.\u201d","CHAPTER\t15 Welcome\t home,\t Avery.\u201d\t Alisa\t stepped\t into\t the\t foyer\t and\t spun\t to\t face\t me.\t I stopped\t breathing,\t just\t for\t an\t instant,\t as\t I\t crossed\t the\t threshold.\t It\t was\t like stepping\tinto\tBuckingham\tPalace\tor\tHogwarts\tand\tbeing\ttold\tthat\tit\twas\tyours. \u201cDown\t that\t corridor,\u201d\t Alisa\t said,\t \u201cwe\t have\t the\t theater,\t the\t music\t room, conservatory,\t solarium.\u2026\u201d\t I\t didn\u2019t\t even\t know\t what\t half\t of\t those\t rooms\t were. \u201cYou\u2019ve\tseen\tthe\tGreat\tRoom,\tof\tcourse,\u201d\tAlisa\tcontinued.\t\u201cThe\tformal\tdining is\tfarther\tdown,\tthen\tthe\tkitchen,\tthe\tchef\u2019s\tkitchen.\u2026\u201d \u201cThere\u2019s\ta\tchef?\u201d\tI\tblurted\tout. \u201cThere\t are\t sushi,\t Italian,\t Taiwanese,\t vegetarian,\t and\t pastry\t chefs\t on retainer.\u201d\t The\t voice\t that\t said\t those\t words\t was\t male.\t I\t turned\t to\t see\t the\t older couple\t from\t the\t will\u2019s\t reading\t standing\t by\t the\t entry\t to\t the\t Great\t Room.\t The Laughlins,\t I\t remembered.\t \u201cBut\t my\t wife\t handles\t the\t cooking\t day-to-day,\u201d\t Mr. Laughlin\tcontinued\tgruffly. \u201cMr.\tHawthorne\twas\ta\tvery\tprivate\tman.\u201d\tMrs.\tLaughlin\teyed\tme.\t\u201cHe\tmade do\twith\tmy\tcooking\tmost\tdays\tbecause\the\tdidn\u2019t\tlike\thaving\tany\tmore\toutsiders poking\taround\tin\tthe\tHouse\tthan\tnecessary.\u201d There\twas\tno\tdoubt\tin\tmy\tmind\tthat\tshe\twas\tsaying\tHouse\twith\ta\tcapital\tH \u2014and\teven\tless\tthat\tshe\tconsidered\tme\tan\toutsider. \u201cThere\t are\t dozens\t of\t staff\t on\t retainer,\u201d\t Alisa\t explained.\t \u201cThey\t all\t receive\t a full-time\twage\tbut\twork\ton\tcall.\u201d \u201cIf\t something\t needs\t doing,\t there\u2019s\t someone\t to\t do\t it,\u201d\t Mr.\t Laughlin\t said plainly,\t\u201cand\tI\tsee\tthat\tit\u2019s\tdone\tin\tthe\tmost\tdiscreet\tfashion\tpossible.\tMore\toften than\tnot,\tyou\twon\u2019t\teven\tknow\tthey\u2019re\there.\u201d \u201cBut\tI\twill,\u201d\tOren\tstated.\t\u201cMovement\ton\tand\toff\tthe\testate\tis\tstrictly\ttracked, and\t no\t one\t makes\t it\t past\t the\t gates\t without\t a\t deep\t background\t check. Construction\tcrews,\tthe\thousekeeping\tand\tgardening\tstaff,\tevery\tmasseuse,\tchef, stylist,\tor\tsommelier\u2014they\tare\tall\tcleared\tthrough\tmy\tteam.\u201d Sommelier.\tStylist.\tChef.\tMasseuse.\tMy\tbrain\tworked\tbackward\tthrough\tthat list.\tIt\twas\tdizzying.","\u201cThe\tgym\tfacilities\tare\tdown\tthis\thall,\u201d\tAlisa\tsaid,\treturning\tto\ther\ttour\tguide role.\t \u201cThere\t are\t full-sized\t basketball\t and\t racquetball\t courts,\t a\t rock\t climbing wall,\tbowling\talley\u2014\u201d \u201cA\tbowling\talley?\u201d\tI\trepeated. \u201cOnly\tfour\tlanes,\u201d\tAlisa\tassured\tme,\tas\tif\tit\twas\tperfectly\treasonable\tto\thave a\tsmall\tbowling\talley\tin\tone\u2019s\thouse. I\t was\t still\t trying\t to\t formulate\t an\t appropriate\t response\t when\t the\t front\t door opened\tbehind\tme.\tThe\tday\tbefore,\tNash\tHawthorne\thad\tgiven\tthe\timpression\tof someone\twho\twas\tout\tof\there\u2014yet\tthere\the\twas. \u201cMotorcycle\tcowboy,\u201d\tLibby\twhispered\tin\tmy\tear. Beside\t me,\t Alisa\t stiffened.\t \u201cIf\t everything\u2019s\t in\t order\t here,\t I\t should\t check\t in with\tthe\tfirm.\u201d\tShe\treached\tinto\ther\tsuit\tpocket\tand\thanded\tme\ta\tnew\tphone.\t\u201cI programmed\t in\t my\t number,\t Mr.\t Laughlin\u2019s,\t and\t Oren\u2019s.\t If\t you\t need\t anything, call.\u201d She\tleft\twithout\tsaying\ta\tsingle\tword\tto\tNash,\tand\the\twatched\ther\tgo. \u201cYou\tbe\tcareful\twith\tthat\tone,\u201d\tMrs.\tLaughlin\tadvised\tthe\teldest\tHawthorne brother,\tonce\tthe\tdoor\thad\tclosed.\t\u201cHell\thath\tno\tfury\tlike\ta\twoman\tscorned.\u201d That\tcemented\tsomething\tfor\tme.\tAlisa\tand\tNash.\tMy\tlawyer\thad\tadvised\tme against\tlosing\tmy\theart\tto\ta\tHawthorne,\tand\twhen\tshe\u2019d\tasked\tme\tif\tI\u2019d\tever\thad my\tlife\truined\tby\tone\tof\tthem,\tand\tI\u2019d\tsaid\tno,\ther\tresponse\thad\tbeen\tlucky\tyou. \u201cDon\u2019t\t go\t convincing\t yourself\t Lee-Lee\t is\t consortin\u2019\t with\t the\t enemy,\u201d\t Nash told\t Mrs.\t Laughlin.\t \u201cAvery\t isn\u2019t\t anyone\u2019s\t enemy.\t There\t are\t no\t enemies\t here. This\tis\twhat\the\twanted.\u201d He.\tTobias\tHawthorne.\tEven\tdead,\the\twas\tlarger\tthan\tlife. \u201cNone\tof\tthis\tis\tAvery\u2019s\tfault,\u201d\tLibby\tsaid\tbeside\tme.\t\u201cShe\u2019s\tjust\ta\tkid.\u201d Nash\tswung\this\tattention\tto\tmy\tsister,\tand\tI\tcould\tfeel\ther\ttrying\tto\tfade\tinto oblivion.\t Nash\t peered\t through\t her\t hair\t to\t the\t black\t eye\t underneath.\t \u201cWhat happened\there?\u201d\the\tmurmured. \u201cI\u2019m\tfine,\u201d\tLibby\tsaid,\tsticking\ther\tchin\tout. \u201cI\tcan\tsee\tthat,\u201d\tNash\treplied\tsoftly.\t\u201cBut\tif\tyou\tdecide\tyou\u2019d\tlike\tto\tgive\tme a\tname?\tI\u2019d\ttake\tit.\u201d I\t could\t see\t the\t effect\t those\t words\t had\t on\t Libby.\t She\t wasn\u2019t\t used\t to\t having anyone\tbut\tme\tin\ther\tcorner. \u201cLibby.\u201d\t Oren\t got\t her\t attention.\t \u201cIf\t you\u2019ve\t got\t a\t moment,\t I\u2019d\t like\t to introduce\tyou\tto\tHector,\twho\twill\tbe\trunning\tpoint\ton\tyour\tdetail.\tAvery,\tI\tcan personally\t guarantee\t that\t Nash\t will\t not\t ax-murder\t you\t or\t allow\t you\t to\t be\t ax- murdered\tby\tanyone\telse\twhile\tI\u2019m\tgone.\u201d","That\tgot\ta\tsnort\tfrom\tNash,\tand\tI\tglared\tat\tOren.\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\thave\tto\tadvertise how\tlittle\tI\ttrusted\tthem!\tAs\tLibby\tfollowed\tOren\tinto\tthe\tbowels\tof\tthe\thouse,\tI became\tkeenly\taware\tof\tthe\tway\tthat\tthe\toldest\tHawthorne\tbrother\twatched\ther go. \u201cLeave\ther\talone,\u201d\tI\ttold\tNash. \u201cYou\u2019re\tprotective,\u201d\tNash\tcommented,\t\u201cand\tyou\tseem\tlike\tyou\u2019d\tfight\tdirty, and\tif\tthere\u2019s\tone\tthing\tI\trespect,\tit\u2019s\tthose\tparticular\ttraits\tin\tcombination.\u201d There\twas\ta\tcrash,\tthen\ta\tthud\tin\tthe\tdistance. \u201cThat,\u201d\tNash\tsaid\tmeditatively,\t\u201cwould\tbe\tthe\treason\tI\tcame\tback\tand\tam\tnot living\ta\tpleasantly\tnomadic\texistence\tas\twe\tspeak.\u201d Another\tthud. Nash\t rolled\t his\t eyes.\t \u201cThis\t should\t be\t fun.\u201d\t He\t began\t striding\t toward\t a nearby\t hall.\t He\t looked\t back\t over\t his\t shoulder.\t \u201cYou\t might\t as\t well\t tag\t along, kid.\tYou\tknow\twhat\tthey\tsay\tabout\tbaptisms\tand\tfire.\u201d","CHAPTER\t16 Nash\thad\tlong\tlegs,\tso\ta\tlazy\tamble\ton\this\tpart\trequired\tme\tto\tjog\tto\tkeep\tup.\tI looked\tin\teach\troom\tas\twe\tpassed,\tbut\tthey\twere\tall\ta\tblur\tof\tart\tand\tarchitecture and\tnatural\tlight.\tAt\tthe\tend\tof\ta\tlong\thall,\tNash\tthrew\topen\ta\tdoor.\tI\tprepared myself\tto\tsee\tevidence\tof\ta\tbrawl.\tInstead,\tI\tsaw\tGrayson\tand\tJameson\tstanding on\topposite\tsides\tof\ta\tlibrary\tthat\ttook\tmy\tbreath\taway. The\troom\twas\tcircular.\tShelves\tstretched\tup\tfifteen\tor\ttwenty\tfeet\toverhead, and\t every\t single\t one\t was\t lined\t completely\t with\t hardcover\t books.\t The\t shelves were\t made\t of\t a\t deep,\t rich\t wood.\t Spread\t across\t the\t room,\t four\t wrought-iron staircases\tspiraled\ttoward\tthe\tupper\tshelves,\tlike\tthe\tpoints\ton\ta\tcompass.\tIn\tthe library\u2019s\t center,\t there\t was\t a\t massive\t tree\t stump,\t easily\t ten\t feet\t across.\t Even from\ta\tdistance,\tI\tcould\tsee\tthe\trings\tmarking\tthe\ttree\u2019s\tage. It\ttook\tme\ta\tmoment\tto\trealize\tthat\tit\twas\tmeant\tto\tbe\tused\tas\ta\tdesk. I\t could\t stay\t here\t forever,\t I\t thought.\t I\t could\t stay\t in\t this\t room\t forever\t and never\tleave. \u201cSo,\u201d\t Nash\t said\t beside\t me,\t casually\t eyeing\t his\t brothers.\t \u201cWhose\t ass\t do\t I need\tto\tkick\tfirst?\u201d Grayson\tlooked\tup\tfrom\tthe\tbook\the\twas\tholding.\t\u201cMust\twe\talways\tresort\tto fisticuffs?\u201d \u201cLooks\tlike\tI\thave\ta\tvolunteer\tfor\tthe\tfirst\tass-kicking,\u201d\tNash\tsaid,\tthen\tshot a\t measuring\t look\t at\t Jameson,\t who\t was\t leaning\t against\t one\t of\t the\t wrought-iron staircases.\t\u201cDo\tI\thave\ta\tsecond?\u201d Jameson\tsmirked.\t\u201cCouldn\u2019t\tstay\taway,\tcould\tyou,\tbig\tbrother?\u201d \u201cAnd\t leave\t Avery\t here\t with\t you\t knuckleheads?\u201d\t Until\t Nash\t mentioned\t my name,\t neither\t of\t the\t other\t two\t seemed\t to\t have\t registered\t my\t presence\t behind him,\tbut\tI\tfelt\tmy\tinvisibility\tslip\taway,\tjust\tlike\tthat. \u201cI\t wouldn\u2019t\t worry\t too\t much\t about\t Ms.\t Grambs,\u201d\t Grayson\t said,\t silver\t eyes sharp.\t\u201cShe\u2019s\tclearly\tcapable\tof\ttaking\tcare\tof\therself.\u201d Translation:\t I\u2019m\t a\t soulless,\t gold-digging\t con\t artist,\t and\t he\t sees\t straight through\tme.","\u201cDon\u2019t\tpay\tany\tattention\tto\tGray,\u201d\tJameson\ttold\tme\tlazily.\t\u201cNone\tof\tus\tdo.\u201d \u201cJamie,\u201d\tNash\tsaid.\t\u201cZip\tit.\u201d Jameson\tignored\thim.\t\u201cGrayson\tis\tin\ttraining\tfor\tthe\tInsufferable\tOlympics, and\t we\t really\t think\t he\t can\t go\t all\t the\t way\t if\t he\t can\t just\t jam\t that\t stick\t a\t little farther\tup\this\u2014\u201d Asterisk,\tI\tthought,\tchanneling\tMax. \u201cEnough,\u201d\tNash\tgrunted. \u201cWhat\tdid\tI\tmiss?\u201d\tXander\tbounded\tthrough\tthe\tdoorway.\tHe\twas\twearing\ta private\tschool\tuniform,\tcomplete\twith\ta\tblazer\tthat\the\tshed\tin\tone\tliquid\tmotion. \u201cYou\t haven\u2019t\t missed\t anything\t at\t all,\u201d\t Grayson\t told\t him.\t \u201cAnd\t Ms.\t Grambs was\t just\t leaving.\u201d\t He\t flicked\t his\t gaze\t toward\t me.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t sure\t you\t want\t to\t get settled.\u201d I\twas\tthe\tbillionaire\tnow,\tand\the\twas\tstill\tgiving\torders. \u201cWait\t a\t second.\u201d\t Xander\t frowned\t suddenly,\t taking\t in\t the\t state\t of\t the\t room. \u201cWere\t you\t guys\t brawling\t in\t here\t without\t me?\u201d\t I\t still\t saw\t no\t visible\t signs\t of\t a fight\tor\tdestruction,\tbut\tobviously,\tXander\thad\tpicked\tup\ton\tsomething\tI\thadn\u2019t. \u201cThis\t is\t what\t I\t get\t for\t being\t the\t one\t who\t doesn\u2019t\t skip\t school,\u201d\t he\t said mournfully. At\t the\t mention\t of\t school,\t Nash\t looked\t from\t Xander\t to\t Jameson.\t \u201cNo uniform,\u201d\the\tnoted.\t\u201cPlaying\thooky,\tJamie?\tTwo\tass-kickings\tit\tis.\u201d Xander\theard\tthe\tphrase\tass-kicking,\tgrinned,\tbounced\tto\tthe\tballs\tof\this\tfeet, and\t pounced\t with\t no\t warning,\t tackling\t Nash\t to\t the\t ground.\t Just\t some\t friendly impromptu\twrestling\tbetween\tbrothers. \u201cPinned\tyou!\u201d\tXander\tdeclared\ttriumphantly. Nash\thooked\this\tankle\taround\tXander\u2019s\tleg\tand\tflipped\thim,\tpinning\thim\tto the\tground.\t\u201cNot\ttoday,\tlittle\tbrother.\u201d\tNash\tgrinned,\tthen\tflashed\ta\tmuch\tdarker look\tat\tthe\tother\ttwo\tbrothers.\t\u201cNot\ttoday.\u201d They\twere\u2014the\tfour\tof\tthem\u2014a\tunit.\tThey\twere\tHawthornes.\tI\twasn\u2019t.\tI\tfelt that\t now,\t in\t a\t physical\t way.\t They\t shared\t a\t bond\t that\t was\t impervious\t to outsiders. \u201cI\tshould\tgo,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tbelong\there,\tand\tif\tI\tstayed,\tall\tI\twould\tdo\twas stare. \u201cYou\tshouldn\u2019t\tbe\there\tat\tall,\u201d\tGrayson\treplied\ttersely. \u201cStuff\ta\tsock\tin\tit,\tGray,\u201d\tNash\tsaid.\t\u201cWhat\u2019s\tdone\tis\tdone,\tand\tyou\tknow\tas well\tas\tI\tdo\tthat\tif\tthe\told\tman\tdid\tit,\tthere\u2019s\tno\tundoing\tit.\u201d\tNash\tswiveled\this head\ttoward\tJameson.\t\u201cAnd\tas\tfor\tyou:\tSelf-destructive\ttendencies\taren\u2019t\tnearly as\tadorable\tas\tyou\tthink\tthey\tare.\u201d","\u201cAvery\tsolved\tthe\tkeys,\u201d\tJameson\tsaid\tcasually.\t\u201cFaster\tthan\tany\tof\tus.\u201d For\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tsince\tI\u2019d\twalked\tinto\tthe\troom,\tall\tfour\tbrothers\tfell\tinto\tan extended\t silence.\t What\t is\t going\t on\t here?\t I\t wondered.\t The\t moment\t felt\t tense, electric,\tborderline\tunbearable,\tand\tthen\u2014 \u201cYou\tgave\ther\tthe\tkeys?\u201d\tGrayson\tbroke\tthe\tsilence. I\t was\t still\t holding\t the\t key\t ring\t in\t my\t hand.\t It\t suddenly\t felt\t very\t heavy. Jameson\twasn\u2019t\tsupposed\tto\tgive\tme\tthese. \u201cWe\twere\tlegally\tobligated\tto\thand\tover\u2014\u201d \u201cA\t key.\u201d\t Grayson\t interrupted\t Jameson\t and\t started\t stalking\t slowly\t toward him,\t snapping\t the\t book\t in\t his\t hand\t closed.\t \u201cWe\t were\t legally\t obligated\t to\t give her\ta\tkey,\tJameson,\tnot\tthe\tkeys.\u201d I\u2019d\tassumed\tthat\tI\twas\tbeing\tmessed\twith.\tAt\tbest,\tI\u2019d\tthought\tit\twas\ta\ttest. But\t from\t the\t way\t they\t were\t talking,\t it\t seemed\t more\t like\t a\t tradition.\t An invitation. A\trite\tof\tpassage. \u201cI\twas\tcurious\thow\tshe\u2019d\tdo.\u201d\tJameson\tarched\tan\teyebrow.\t\u201cDo\tyou\twant\tto hear\ther\ttime?\u201d \u201cNo,\u201d\tNash\tboomed.\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\tif\the\twas\tanswering\tJameson\u2019s\tquestion\tor telling\tGrayson\tto\tstop\tadvancing\ton\ttheir\tbrother. \u201cCan\t I\t get\t up\t now?\u201d\t Xander\t interjected,\t still\t pinned\t beneath\t Nash\t and seemingly\tin\ta\tbetter\thumor\tthan\tthe\tother\tthree\tcombined. \u201cNope,\u201d\tNash\treplied. \u201cI\t told\t you\t she\t was\t special,\u201d\t Jameson\t murmured\t as\t Grayson\t continued closing\tin\ton\thim. \u201cAnd\t I\t told\t you\t to\t stay\t away\t from\t her.\u201d\t Grayson\t stopped,\t just\t out\t of Jameson\u2019s\treach. \u201cSo\t I\t see\t that\t you\t two\t are\t talking\t again!\u201d\t Xander\t commented\t jollily. \u201cExcellent.\u201d Not\t excellent,\t I\t thought,\t unable\t to\t draw\t my\t eyes\t away\t from\t the\t storm brewing\t just\t feet\t away.\t Jameson\t was\t taller,\t Grayson\t broader\t through\t the shoulders.\tThe\tsmirk\ton\tthe\tformer\u2019s\tface\twas\tmatched\tby\tsteel\ton\tthe\tlatter\u2019s. \u201cWelcome\tto\tHawthorne\tHouse,\tMystery\tGirl.\u201d\tJameson\u2019s\twelcome\tseemed to\tbe\tmore\tfor\tGrayson\u2019s\tbenefit\tthan\tfor\tmine.\tWhatever\tthis\tfight\twas\tabout,\tit wasn\u2019t\tjust\ta\tdifference\tof\topinion\ton\trecent\tevents. It\twasn\u2019t\tjust\tabout\tme. \u201cStop\t calling\t me\t Mystery\t Girl.\u201d\t I\u2019d\t barely\t spoken\t since\t the\t moment\t the library\tdoor\thad\tswung\tinward,\tbut\tI\twas\tgetting\tsick\tof\tplaying\tspectator.\t\u201cMy","name\tis\tAvery.\u201d \u201cI\u2019d\t also\t be\t willing\t to\t call\t you\t Heiress,\u201d\t Jameson\t offered.\t He\t stepped forward\tinto\ta\tbeam\tof\tlight\tshining\tdown\tfrom\ta\tskylight\tabove.\tHe\twas\ttoe-to- toe\t with\t Grayson\t now.\t \u201cWhat\t do\t you\t think,\t Gray?\t Got\t a\t nickname\t preference for\tour\tnew\tlandlord?\u201d Landlord.\tJameson\twas\trubbing\tit\tin,\tlike\the\tcould\thandle\tbeing\tdisinherited if\tit\tmeant\tthat\tthe\their\tapparent\thad\tlost\teverything,\ttoo. \u201cI\u2019m\ttrying\tto\tprotect\tyou,\u201d\tGrayson\tsaid\tlowly. \u201cI\t think\t we\t both\t know,\u201d\t Jameson\t replied,\t \u201cthat\t the\t only\t person\t you\u2019ve\t ever protected\tis\tyourself.\u201d Grayson\twent\tcompletely,\tdeathly\tstill. \u201cXander.\u201d\t Nash\t stood,\t pulling\t the\t youngest\t brother\t to\t his\t feet.\t \u201cWhy\t don\u2019t you\tshow\tAvery\tto\ther\twing?\u201d That\t was\t either\t Nash\u2019s\t attempt\t to\t prevent\t a\t line\t from\t being\t crossed\t or\t an indication\tthat\tone\talready\thad\tbeen. \u201cCome\t on.\u201d\t Xander\t bumped\t his\t shoulder\t lightly\t against\t mine.\t \u201cWe\u2019ll\t stop for\tcookies\ton\tthe\tway.\u201d If\t that\t statement\t was\t meant\t to\t dissipate\t the\t tension\t in\t the\t room,\t it\t didn\u2019t work,\tbut\tit\tdid\tdraw\tGrayson\u2019s\tattention\taway\tfrom\tJameson\u2014for\tthe\tmoment. \u201cNo\t cookies.\u201d\t Grayson\u2019s\t voice\t was\t strangled,\t like\t his\t throat\t was\t closing down\taround\tthe\twords\u2014like\tJameson\u2019s\tlast\tshot\thad\tcut\toff\this\tair\tcompletely. \u201cFine,\u201d\t Xander\t replied\t cheerily.\t \u201cYou\t drive\t a\t hard\t bargain,\t Grayson Hawthorne.\tNo\tcookies.\u201d\tXander\twinked\tat\tme.\t\u201cWe\u2019ll\tstop\tfor\tscones.\u201d","CHAPTER\t17 The\t first\t scone\t is\t what\t I\t like\t to\t call\t the\t practice\t scone.\u201d\t Xander\t stuffed\t an entire\t scone\t in\t his\t mouth,\t handed\t one\t to\t me,\t then\t swallowed\t and\t continued lecturing.\t \u201cIt\t is\t not\t until\t the\t third\u2014nay,\t fourth\u2014scone\t that\t you\t develop\t any kind\tof\tscone-eating\texpertise.\u201d \u201cScone-eating\texpertise,\u201d\tI\trepeated\tin\ta\tdeadpan. \u201cYour\t nature\t is\t skeptical,\u201d\t Xander\t noted.\t \u201cThat\t will\t serve\t you\t well\t in\t these halls,\tbut\tif\tthere\tis\tone\tuniversal\ttruth\tin\tthe\thuman\texperience,\tit\tis\tthat\ta\tfinely honed\tscone-eating\tpalate\tdoes\tnot\tjust\tdevelop\tovernight.\u201d Out\tof\tthe\tcorner\tof\tmy\teye,\tI\tcaught\tsight\tof\tOren\tand\twondered\thow\tlong he\t had\t been\t tailing\t us.\t \u201cWhy\t are\t we\t standing\t here\t talking\t about\t scones?\u201d\t I asked\tXander.\tOren\thad\tinsisted\tthat\tthe\tHawthorne\tbrothers\tweren\u2019t\ta\tphysical threat,\t but\t still!\t At\t the\t very\t least,\t Xander\t should\t have\t been\t trying\t to\t make\t my life\tmiserable.\t\u201cAren\u2019t\tyou\tsupposed\tto\thate\tme?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cI\t do\t hate\t you,\u201d\t Xander\t replied,\t happily\t devouring\t his\t third\t scone.\t \u201cIf\t you notice,\t I\t have\t kept\t the\t blueberry\t confections\t for\t myself\t and\t gave\t you\u201d\u2014he shuddered\u2014\u201cthe\t lemon-flavored\t scones.\t Such\t is\t the\t depth\t of\t my\t loathing\t for you\tpersonally\tand\ton\tprinciple.\u201d \u201cThis\t isn\u2019t\t a\t joke.\u201d\t I\t felt\t like\t I\u2019d\t fallen\t into\t Wonderland\u2014and\t then\t fallen again,\trabbit\thole\tafter\trabbit\thole,\tin\ta\tvicious\tcycle. Traps\tupon\ttraps,\tI\tcould\thear\tJameson\tsaying.\tAnd\triddles\tupon\triddles. \u201cWhy\twould\tI\thate\tyou,\tAvery?\u201d\tXander\tasked\tfinally.\tThere\twere\tlayers\tof emotion\t in\t his\t tone\t that\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t there\t before.\t \u201cYou\t aren\u2019t\t the\t one\t who\t did this.\u201d Tobias\tHawthorne\thad. \u201cMaybe\tyou\u2019re\tblameless.\u201d\tXander\tshrugged.\t\u201cMaybe\tyou\u2019re\tthe\tevil\tgenius that\tGray\tseems\tto\tthink\tyou\tare,\tbut\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tday,\teven\tif\tyou\tthought that\tyou\u2019d\tmanipulated\tour\tgrandfather\tinto\tthis,\tI\tguarantee\tthat\the\u2019d\tbe\tthe\tone manipulating\tyou.\u201d I\t thought\t of\t the\t letter\t that\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t had\t left\t me\u2014two\t words,\t no","explanation. \u201cYour\tgrandfather\twas\ta\tpiece\tof\twork,\u201d\tI\ttold\tXander. He\tpicked\tup\ta\tfourth\tscone.\t\u201cI\tagree.\tIn\this\thonor,\tI\teat\tthis\tscone.\u201d\tHe\tdid just\tthat.\t\u201cWant\tme\tto\tshow\tyou\tto\tyour\trooms\tnow?\u201d There\u2019s\t got\t to\t be\t a\t catch\t here.\t Xander\t Hawthorne\t had\t to\t be\t more\t than\t he appeared.\t\u201cJust\tpoint\tme\tin\tthe\tright\tdirection,\u201d\tI\ttold\thim. \u201cAbout\t that\u2026\u201d\t The\t youngest\t Hawthorne\t brother\t made\t a\t face.\t \u201cThere\u2019s\t a chance\tthat\tHawthorne\tHouse\tis\tjust\ta\ttiny\tbit\thard\tto\tnavigate.\tImagine,\tif\tyou will,\t that\t a\t labyrinth\t had\t a\t baby\t with\t Where\u2019s\t Waldo?,\t only\t Waldo\t is\t your rooms.\u201d I\t attempted\t to\t translate\t that\t ridiculous\t sentence.\t \u201cHawthorne\t House\t has\t an unconventional\tlayout.\u201d Xander\tdid\taway\twith\ta\tfifth\tand\tfinal\tscone.\t\u201cHas\tanyone\tever\ttold\tyou\tthat you\thave\ta\tway\twith\twords?\u201d \u201cHawthorne\tHouse\tis\tthe\tlargest\tprivately\towned\tresidential\thome\tin\tthe\tstate\tof Texas.\u201d\t Xander\t led\t me\t up\t a\t staircase.\t \u201cI\t could\t give\t you\t a\t number\t for\t square footage,\t but\t it\t would\t only\t be\t an\t estimate.\t The\t thing\t that\t truly\t separates Hawthorne\t House\t from\t other\t obscenely\t large,\t castle-like\t structures\t isn\u2019t\t so much\tits\tsize\tas\tits\tnature.\tMy\tgrandfather\tadded\tat\tleast\tone\tnew\troom\tor\twing every\tyear.\tImagine,\tif\tyou\twill,\tthat\tan\tM.\tC.\tEscher\tdrawing\tconceived\ta\tchild with\tLeonardo\tda\tVinci\u2019s\tmost\tmasterful\tdesigns.\u2026\u201d \u201cStop,\u201d\t I\t ordered.\t \u201cNew\t rule:\t You\u2019re\t no\t longer\t allowed\t to\t use\t any terminology\t for\t baby-making\t when\t describing\t this\t house\t or\t its\t occupants\u2014 including\tyourself.\u201d Xander\tbrought\ta\thand\tmelodramatically\tto\this\tchest.\t\u201cHarsh.\u201d I\tshrugged.\t\u201cMy\thouse,\tmy\trules.\u201d He\t gawked\t at\t me.\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t believe\t I\u2019d\t said\t it,\t either,\t but\t there\t was something\t about\t Xander\t Hawthorne\t that\t made\t me\t feel\t like\t I\t didn\u2019t\t have\t to apologize\tfor\tmy\town\texistence. \u201cToo\tsoon?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cI\u2019m\ta\tHawthorne.\u201d\tXander\tgave\tme\this\tmost\tdignified\tlook.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tnever\ttoo soon\t to\t start\t trash-talking.\u201d\t He\t resumed\t playing\t the\t tour\t guide.\t \u201cNow,\t as\t I\t was saying,\t the\t East\t Wing\t is\t actually\t the\t Northeast\t Wing,\t located\t on\t the\t second floor.\tIf\tyou\tget\tlost,\tjust\tlook\tfor\tthe\told\tman.\u201d\tXander\tnodded\ttoward\ta\tportrait","on\tthe\twall.\t\u201cThis\twas\this\twing,\tthese\tlast\tfew\tmonths.\u201d I\u2019d\t seen\t pictures\t of\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t online,\t but\t once\t I\t looked\t at\t the portrait,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tlook\taway.\tHe\thad\tsilver-gray\thair\tand\ta\tface\tmore\tweather- worn\t than\t I\u2019d\t realized.\t His\t eyes\t were\t Grayson\u2019s,\t almost\t exactly,\t his\t build Jameson\u2019s,\this\tchin\tNash\u2019s.\tIf\tI\thadn\u2019t\tseen\tXander\tin\tmotion,\tI\tmight\tnot\thave recognized\ta\tresemblance\tbetween\thim\tand\tthe\told\tman\tat\tall,\tbut\tit\twas\tthere\tin the\t way\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\u2019s\t features\t pulled\t together\u2014not\t the\t eyes\t or\t nose\t or mouth,\tbut\tsomething\tabout\tthe\tshape\tin\tbetween. \u201cI\t never\t even\t met\t him.\u201d\t I\t tore\t my\t eyes\t from\t the\t portrait\t and\t looked\t at Xander.\t\u201cI\u2019d\tremember\tif\tI\thad.\u201d \u201cAre\tyou\tsure?\u201d\tXander\tasked\tme. I\t found\t myself\t looking\t back\t at\t the\t portrait.\t Had\t I\t ever\t met\t the\t billionaire? Had\tour\tpaths\tcrossed,\teven\tfor\ta\tmoment?\tMy\tmind\twas\tblank,\texcept\tfor\tone phrase,\tlooping\tthrough\tover\tand\tover\tagain.\tI\u2019m\tsorry.","CHAPTER\t18 Xander\tleft\tme\tto\texplore\tmy\twing. My\twing.\tI\tfelt\tridiculous\teven\tthinking\tthe\twords.\tIn\tmy\tmansion.\tThe\tfirst four\t doors\t led\t to\t suites,\t each\t of\t them\t sized\t to\t make\t a\t king\t bed\t look\t tiny.\t The closets\t could\t have\t doubled\t as\t bedrooms.\t And\t the\t bathrooms!\t Showers\t with built-in\tseats\tand\ta\tminimum\tof\tthree\tdifferent\tshowerheads\tapiece.\tGargantuan bathtubs\tthat\tcame\twith\tcontrol\tpanels.\tTelevisions\tinlaid\tin\tevery\tmirror. Dazed,\tI\tmade\tmy\tway\tto\tthe\tfifth\tand\tfinal\tdoor\ton\tmy\thall.\tNot\ta\tbedroom, I\t realized\t when\t I\t opened\t it.\t An\t office.\t Enormous\t leather\t chairs\u2014six\t of\t them\u2014 sat\tin\ta\thorseshoe\tshape,\tfacing\ta\tbalcony.\tGlass\tdisplay\tshelves\tlined\tthe\twalls. Evenly\t spaced\t on\t the\t shelves\t were\t items\t that\t looked\t like\t they\t belonged\t in\t a museum\u2014geodes,\t antique\t weaponry,\t statues\t of\t onyx\t and\t stone.\t Opposite\t the balcony,\t at\t the\t back\t of\t the\t room,\t was\t a\t desk.\t As\t I\t got\t closer,\t I\t saw\t a\t large bronze\t compass\t built\t into\t its\t surface.\t I\t trailed\t my\t fingers\t over\t the\t compass.\t It turned\u2014northwest\u2014and\ta\tcompartment\tin\tthe\tdesk\tpopped\topen. This\twing\twas\twhere\tTobias\tHawthorne\tspent\this\tlast\tfew\tmonths,\tI\tthought. Suddenly,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tjust\twant\tto\tlook\tin\tthe\topen\tcompartment\u2014I\twanted\tto\trifle through\t every\t drawer\t in\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\u2019s\t desk.\t There\t had\t to\t be\t something, somewhere,\tthat\tcould\ttell\tme\twhat\the\twas\tthinking\u2014why\tI\twas\there,\twhy\the\u2019d pushed\t his\t family\t aside\t for\t me.\t Had\t I\t done\t something\t to\t impress\t him?\t Did\t he see\tsomething\tin\tme? Or\tMom? I\t got\t a\t closer\t look\t at\t the\t opened\t compartment.\t Inside,\t there\t were\t deep grooves,\tcarved\tin\tthe\tshape\tof\tthe\tletter\tT.\tI\tran\tmy\tfingers\tacross\tthe\tgrooves. Nothing\thappened.\tI\ttested\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tdrawers.\tLocked. Behind\tthe\tdesk,\tthere\twere\tshelves\tfilled\twith\tplaques\tand\ttrophies.\tI\twalked toward\tthem.\tThe\tfirst\tplaque\thad\tthe\twords\tUnited\tStates\tof\tAmerica\tengraved on\t a\t gold\t background;\t underneath\t them,\t there\t was\t a\t seal.\t It\t took\t a\t little\t more reading\t of\t the\t smaller\t print\t for\t me\t to\t realize\t that\t it\t was\t a\t patent\u2014and\t not\t one issued\tto\tTobias\tHawthorne.","This\tpatent\twas\theld\tby\tXander. There\t were\t at\t least\t a\t half\t dozen\t other\t patents\t on\t the\t wall,\t several\t world records,\t and\t trophies\t in\t every\t shape\t imaginable.\t A\t bronze\t bull\t rider.\t A surfboard.\t A\t sword.\t There\t were\t medals.\t Multiple\t black\t belts.\t Championship cups\u2014some\tof\tthem\tnational\tchampionships\u2014for\teverything\tfrom\tmotocross\tto swimming\t to\t pinball.\t There\t was\t a\t series\t of\t four\t framed\t comic\t books\u2014 superheroes\t I\t recognized,\t the\t kind\t they\t made\t movies\t about\u2014authored\t by\t the four\t Hawthorne\t grandsons.\t A\t coffee\t table\t book\t of\t photographs\t bore\t Grayson\u2019s name\ton\tthe\tspine. This\t wasn\u2019t\t just\t a\t display.\t It\t was\t practically\t a\t shrine\u2014Tobias\t Hawthorne\u2019s ode\t to\t his\t four\t extraordinary\t grandsons.\t This\t made\t no\t sense.\t It\t didn\u2019t\t make sense\t that\t any\t four\t people\u2014three\t of\t them\t teenagers\u2014could\t have\t achieved\t this much,\tand\tit\tdefinitely\tdidn\u2019t\tmake\tsense\tthat\tthe\tman\twho\u2019d\tkept\tthis\tdisplay\tin his\toffice\thad\tdecided\tthat\tnone\tof\tthem\tdeserved\tto\tinherit\this\tfortune. Even\tif\tyou\tthought\tthat\tyou\u2019d\tmanipulated\tour\tgrandfather\tinto\tthis,\tI\tcould hear\tXander\tsaying,\tI\tguarantee\tthat\the\u2019d\tbe\tthe\tone\tmanipulating\tyou. \u201cAvery?\u201d The\t second\t I\t heard\t my\t name,\t I\t stepped\t back\t from\t the\t trophies.\t Hastily,\t I closed\tthe\tcompartment\tI\u2019d\treleased\ton\tthe\tdesk. \u201cIn\there,\u201d\tI\tcalled\tback. Libby\tappeared\tin\tthe\tdoorway.\t\u201cThis\tis\tunreal,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cThis\tentire\tplace is\tunreal.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\t one\t word\t for\t it.\u201d\t I\t tried\t to\t focus\t on\t the\t marvel\t that\t was\t Hawthorne House\t and\t not\t on\t my\t sister\u2019s\t black\t eye,\t but\t I\t failed.\t If\t possible,\t the\t bruising looked\tworse\tnow. Libby\t wrapped\t her\t arms\t around\t her\t torso.\t \u201cI\u2019m\t fine,\u201d\t she\t said\t when\t she noticed\tmy\tstare.\t\u201cIt\tdoesn\u2019t\teven\thurt\tthat\tmuch.\u201d \u201cPlease\t tell\t me\t you\u2019re\t done\t with\t him.\u201d\t The\t words\t escaped\t before\t I\t could stop\t them.\t Libby\t needed\t support\t right\t now\u2014not\t judgment.\t But\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t help thinking\tthat\tDrake\thad\tbeen\ther\tex\tbefore. \u201cI\u2019m\there,\taren\u2019t\tI?\u201d\tLibby\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tchose\tyou.\u201d I\twanted\ther\tto\tchoose\therself,\tand\tI\tsaid\tas\tmuch.\tLibby\tlet\ther\thair\tfall\tinto her\t face\t and\t turned\t toward\t the\t balcony.\t She\t was\t silent\t for\t a\t full\t minute\t before she\tspoke\tagain. \u201cMy\tmom\tused\tto\thit\tme.\tOnly\twhen\tshe\twas\treally\tstressed,\tyou\tknow?\tShe was\ta\tsingle\tmom,\tand\tthings\twere\thard.\tI\tcould\tunderstand\tthat.\tI\ttried\tto\tmake everything\teasier.\u201d","I\tcould\tpicture\ther\tas\ta\tkid,\tgetting\thit\tand\ttrying\tto\tmake\tit\tup\tto\tthe\tperson who\thit\ther.\t\u201cLibby\u2026\u201d \u201cDrake\tloved\tme,\tAvery.\tI\tknow\the\tdid,\tand\tI\ttried\tso\thard\tto\tunderstand\u2026\u201d She\twas\thugging\therself\tharder\tnow.\tThe\tblack\tpolish\ton\ther\tnails\tlooked\tfresh. Perfect.\t\u201cBut\tyou\twere\tright.\u201d My\theart\tbroke\ta\tlittle.\t\u201cI\tdidn\u2019t\twant\tto\tbe.\u201d Libby\t stood\t there\t for\t a\t few\t more\t seconds,\t then\t walked\t over\t to\t the\t balcony and\ttested\tthe\tdoor.\tI\tfollowed,\tand\tthe\ttwo\tof\tus\tstepped\tout\tinto\tthe\tnight\tair. Down\t below,\t there\t was\t a\t swimming\t pool.\t It\t must\t have\t been\t heated,\t because someone\twas\tswimming\tlaps. Grayson.\t My\t body\t recognized\t him\t before\t my\t mind\t did.\t His\t arms\t beat against\tthe\twater\tin\ta\tbrutally\tefficient\tbutterfly\tstroke.\tAnd\this\tback\tmuscles\u2026 \u201cI\thave\tto\ttell\tyou\tsomething,\u201d\tLibby\tsaid\tbeside\tme. That\t let\t me\t tear\t my\t eyes\t away\t from\t the\t pool\u2014and\t the\t swimmer.\t \u201cAbout Drake?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cNo.\t I\t heard\t something.\u201d\t Libby\t swallowed.\t \u201cWhen\t Oren\t introduced\t me\t to my\tsecurity\tdetail,\tI\toverheard\tZara\u2019s\thusband\ttalking.\tThey\u2019re\trunning\ta\ttest\u2014a DNA\ttest.\tOn\tyou.\u201d I\thad\tno\tidea\twhere\tZara\tand\ther\thusband\thad\tgotten\ta\tsample\tof\tmy\tDNA, but\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t entirely\t surprised.\t I\u2019d\t thought\t it\t myself:\t The\t simplest\t explanation for\t including\t a\t total\t stranger\t in\t your\t will\t was\t that\t she\t wasn\u2019t\t a\t total\t stranger. The\tsimplest\texplanation\twas\tthat\tI\twas\ta\tHawthorne. I\thad\tno\tbusiness\twatching\tGrayson\tat\tall. \u201cIf\tTobias\tHawthorne\twas\tyour\tfather,\u201d\tLibby\tmanaged,\t\u201cthen\tour\tdad\u2014my dad\u2014isn\u2019t.\t And\t if\t we\t don\u2019t\t share\t a\t dad,\t and\t we\t barely\t even\t saw\t each\t other growing\tup\u2014\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\tyou\tdare\tsay\twe\u2019re\tnot\tsisters,\u201d\tI\ttold\ther. \u201cWould\tyou\tstill\twant\tme\there?\u201d\tLibby\tasked\tme,\ther\tfingers\trubbing\tat\ther choker.\t\u201cIf\twe\u2019re\tnot\u2014\u201d \u201cI\twant\tyou\there,\u201d\tI\tpromised.\t\u201cNo\tmatter\twhat.\u201d","CHAPTER\t19 That\t night,\t I\t took\t the\t longest\t shower\t of\t my\t life.\t The\t hot-water\t supply\t was endless.\tThe\tglass\tdoors\ton\tthe\tshower\theld\tin\tthe\tsteam.\tIt\twas\tlike\thaving\tmy own\t personal\t sauna.\t After\t drying\t off\t with\t plush,\t oversized\t towels,\t I\t put\t on\t my ratty\tpajamas\tand\tflopped\tdown\ton\twhat\tI\twas\tpretty\tsure\twere\tEgyptian\tcotton sheets. I\t wasn\u2019t\t sure\t how\t long\t I\u2019d\t been\t lying\t there\t when\t I\t heard\t it.\t A\t voice.\t \u201cPull the\tcandlestick.\u201d I\t was\t on\t my\t feet\t in\t an\t instant,\t whirling\t to\t put\t my\t back\t to\t the\t wall.\t On instinct,\tI\tgrabbed\tthe\tkeys\tI\u2019d\tleft\ton\tthe\tnightstand,\tin\tcase\tI\tneeded\ta\tweapon. My\teyes\tscanned\tthe\troom\tfor\tthe\tperson\twho\u2019d\tspoken,\tand\tcame\tup\tempty. \u201cPull\t the\t candlestick\t on\t the\t fireplace,\t Heiress.\t Unless\t you\t want\t me\t stuck back\there?\u201d Annoyance\t replaced\t my\t initial\t fight-or-flight\t response.\t I\t narrowed\t my\t eyes at\t the\t stone\t fireplace\t at\t the\t back\t of\t my\t room.\t Sure\t enough,\t there\t was\t a candelabra\ton\tthe\tmantel. \u201cPretty\t sure\t this\t qualifies\t as\t stalking,\u201d\t I\t told\t the\t fireplace\u2014or,\t more accurately,\t the\t boy\t on\t the\t other\t side\t of\t it.\t Still,\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t not\t pull\t the candlestick.\t Who\t could\t resist\t something\t like\t that?\t I\t wrapped\t my\t hand\t around the\t base\t of\t the\t candelabra.\t I\t was\t met\t with\t resistance,\t and\t another\t suggestion came\tfrom\tbehind\tthe\tfireplace. \u201cDon\u2019t\tjust\tpull\tforward.\tAngle\tit\tdown.\u201d I\tdid\tas\tI\twas\tinstructed.\tThe\tcandelabra\trotated,\tand\tthen\tI\theard\ta\tclick,\tand the\t back\t of\t the\t fireplace\t separated\t from\t its\t floor,\t just\t by\t an\t inch.\t A\t moment later,\tI\tsaw\tfingertips\tin\tthe\tgap,\tand\tI\twatched\tas\tthe\tback\tof\tthe\tfireplace\twas lifted\t up\t and\t disappeared\t behind\t the\t mantel.\t Now\t at\t the\t back\t of\t the\t fireplace there\t was\t an\t opening.\t Jameson\t Hawthorne\t stepped\t through.\t He\t straightened, then\treturned\tthe\tcandle\tto\tits\tupright\tposition,\tand\tthe\tentry\the\u2019d\tjust\tused\twas slowly\tcovered\tonce\tmore. \u201cSecret\tpassage,\u201d\the\texplained\tunnecessarily.\t\u201cThe\thouse\tis\tfull\tof\tthem.\u201d","\u201cAm\tI\tsupposed\tto\tfind\tthat\tcomforting?\u201d\tI\tasked\thim.\t\u201cOr\tterrifying?\u201d \u201cYou\t tell\t me,\t Mystery\t Girl.\t Are\t you\t comforted\t or\t terrified?\u201d\t He\t let\t me\t sit with\tthat\tfor\ta\tmoment.\t\u201cOr\tis\tit\tpossible\tthat\tyou\u2019re\tintrigued?\u201d The\tfirst\ttime\tI\u2019d\tmet\tJameson\tHawthorne,\the\twas\tdrunk.\tThis\ttime,\tI\tdidn\u2019t smell\t alcohol\t on\t his\t breath,\t but\t I\t wondered\t how\t much\t he\u2019d\t slept\t since\t the reading\tof\tthe\twill.\tHis\thair\twas\tbehaving\titself,\tbut\tthere\twas\tsomething\twild\tin his\tglinting\tgreen\teyes. \u201cYou\u2019re\t not\t asking\t about\t the\t keys.\u201d\t Jameson\t offered\t me\t a\t crooked\t little smile.\t\u201cI\texpected\tyou\tto\task\tabout\tthe\tkeys.\u201d I\theld\tthem\tup.\t\u201cThis\twas\tyour\tdoing.\u201d Not\t a\t question\u2014and\t he\t didn\u2019t\t treat\t it\t like\t one.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t a\t little\t bit\t of\t a\t family tradition.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tnot\tfamily.\u201d He\ttilted\this\thead\tto\tone\tside.\t\u201cDo\tyou\tbelieve\tthat?\u201d I\tthought\tabout\tTobias\tHawthorne\u2014about\tthe\tDNA\ttest\tthat\tZara\u2019s\thusband was\talready\trunning.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\u201d \u201cIt\twould\tbe\ta\tshame,\u201d\tJameson\tcommented,\t\u201cif\twe\twere\trelated.\u201d\tHe\tspared another\tsmile\tfor\tme,\tslow\tand\tsharp-edged.\t\u201cDon\u2019t\tyou\tthink?\u201d What\t was\t it\t with\t me\t and\t Hawthorne\t boys?\t Stop\t thinking\t about\t his\t smile. Stop\tlooking\tat\this\tlips.\tJust\u2014stop. \u201cI\tthink\tthat\tyou\talready\thave\tmore\tfamily\tthan\tyou\tcan\tdeal\twith.\u201d\tI\tcrossed my\t arms.\t \u201cI\t also\t think\t you\u2019re\t a\t lot\t less\t smooth\t than\t you\t think\t are.\t You\t want something.\u201d I\u2019d\t always\t been\t good\t at\t math.\t I\u2019d\t always\t been\t logical.\t He\t was\t here,\t in\t my room,\tflirting\tfor\ta\treason. \u201cEveryone\t is\t going\t to\t want\t something\t from\t you\t soon,\t Heiress.\u201d\t Jameson smiled.\t \u201cThe\t question\t is:\t How\t many\t of\t us\t want\t something\t you\u2019re\t willing\t to give?\u201d Even\t just\t the\t sound\t of\t his\t voice,\t the\t way\t he\t phrased\t things\u2014I\t could\t feel myself\twanting\tto\tlean\ttoward\thim.\tThis\twas\tridiculous. \u201cStop\t calling\t me\t Heiress,\u201d\t I\t shot\t back.\t \u201cAnd\t if\t you\t turn\t answering\t my question\tinto\tsome\tkind\tof\triddle,\tI\u2019m\tcalling\tsecurity.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s\t the\t thing,\t Mystery\t Girl.\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t I\u2019m\t turning\t anything\t into\t a riddle.\t I\t don\u2019t\t think\t I\t have\t to.\t You\t are\t a\t riddle,\t a\t puzzle,\t a\t game\u2014my grandfather\u2019s\tlast.\u201d He\twas\tlooking\tat\tme\tso\tintently\tnow,\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tdare\tlook\taway. \u201cWhy\tdo\tyou\tthink\tthis\thouse\thas\tso\tmany\tsecret\tpassages?\tWhy\tare\tthere\tso","many\tkeys\tthat\tdon\u2019t\twork\tin\tany\tof\tthe\tlocks?\tEvery\tdesk\tmy\tgrandfather\tever bought\thas\tsecret\tcompartments.\tThere\u2019s\tan\torgan\tin\tthe\ttheater,\tand\tif\tyou\tplay a\t specific\t sequence\t of\t notes,\t it\t unlocks\t a\t hidden\t drawer.\t Every\t Saturday morning,\tfrom\tthe\ttime\tI\twas\ta\tkid\tuntil\tthe\tnight\tmy\tgrandfather\tdied,\the\tsat\tmy brothers\tand\tme\tdown\tand\tgave\tus\ta\triddle,\ta\tpuzzle,\tan\timpossible\tchallenge\u2014 something\tto\tsolve.\tAnd\tthen\the\tdied.\tAnd\tthen\u2026\u201d\tJameson\ttook\ta\tstep\ttoward me.\t\u201cThere\twas\tyou.\u201d Me. \u201cGrayson\tthinks\tyou\u2019re\tsome\tmaster\tmanipulator.\tMy\taunt\tis\tconvinced\tyou must\thave\tHawthorne\tblood.\tBut\tI\tthink\tyou\u2019re\tthe\told\tman\u2019s\tfinal\triddle\u2014one last\tpuzzle\tto\tbe\tsolved.\u201d\tHe\ttook\tanother\tstep,\tbringing\tthe\ttwo\tof\tus\tthat\tmuch closer.\t\u201cHe\tchose\tyou\tfor\ta\treason,\tAvery.\tYou\u2019re\tspecial,\tand\tI\tthink\the\twanted us\u2014wanted\tme\u2014to\tfigure\tout\twhy.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\t not\t a\t puzzle.\u201d\t I\t could\t feel\t my\t heart\t beating\t in\t my\t neck.\t He\t was\t close enough\tnow\tto\tsee\tmy\tpulse. \u201cSure\tyou\tare,\u201d\tJameson\treplied.\t\u201cWe\tall\tare.\tDon\u2019t\ttell\tme\tthat\tsome\tpart\tof you\thasn\u2019t\tbeen\ttrying\tto\tfigure\tus\tout.\tGrayson.\tMe.\tMaybe\teven\tXander.\u201d \u201cIs\t this\t all\t just\t a\t game\t to\t you?\u201d\t I\t put\t my\t hand\t out\t to\t stop\t him\t from advancing\tfarther.\tHe\ttook\tone\tlast\tstep,\tforcing\tmy\tpalm\tto\this\tchest. \u201cEverything\u2019s\ta\tgame,\tAvery\tGrambs.\tThe\tonly\tthing\twe\tget\tto\tdecide\tin\tthis life\t is\t if\t we\t play\t to\t win.\u201d\t He\t reached\t up\t to\t brush\t the\t hair\t from\t my\t face,\t and\t I jerked\tback. \u201cGet\t out,\u201d\t I\t said\t lowly.\t \u201cUse\t the\t normal\t door\t this\t time.\u201d\t My\t entire\t life,\t no one\thad\ttouched\tme\tas\tgently\tas\the\thad\ta\tmoment\tbefore. \u201cYou\u2019re\tangry,\u201d\tJameson\tsaid. \u201cI\t told\t you\u2014if\t you\t want\t something,\t ask.\t Don\u2019t\t come\t in\t here\t talking\t about how\tI\u2019m\tspecial.\tDon\u2019t\ttouch\tmy\tface.\u201d \u201cYou\t are\t special.\u201d\t Jameson\t kept\t his\t hands\t to\t himself,\t but\t the\t heady expression\tin\this\teyes\tnever\tshifted.\t\u201cAnd\twhat\tI\twant\tis\tto\tfigure\tout\twhy.\tWhy you,\t Avery?\u201d\t He\t took\t a\t step\t back,\t giving\t me\t space.\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t tell\t me\t you\t don\u2019t want\tto\tknow,\ttoo.\u201d I\tdid.\tOf\tcourse\tI\tdid. \u201cI\u2019m\t going\t to\t leave\t this\t here.\u201d\t Jameson\t held\t up\t an\t envelope.\t He\t laid\t it carefully\t on\t the\t mantel.\t \u201cRead\t it,\t and\t then\t tell\t me\t this\t isn\u2019t\t a\t game\t to\t be\t won. Tell\t me\t this\t isn\u2019t\t a\t riddle.\u201d\t Jameson\t reached\t for\t the\t candelabra,\t and\t as\t the fireplace\tpassage\topened\tonce\tmore,\the\toffered\ta\ttargeted,\tparting\tshot.\t\u201cHe\tleft you\tthe\tfortune,\tAvery,\tand\tall\the\tleft\tus\tis\tyou.\u201d","CHAPTER\t20 Long\t after\t Jameson\t had\t disappeared\t into\t darkness\t and\t the\t fireplace\t door\t had closed,\tI\tstood\tthere,\tstaring.\tWas\tthis\tthe\tonly\tsecret\tpassage\tinto\tmy\troom?\tIn a\thouse\tlike\tthis\tone,\thow\tcould\tI\tever\treally\tknow\tthat\tI\twas\talone? Eventually,\t I\t moved\t to\t take\t the\t envelope\t Jameson\t had\t left\t on\t the\t mantel, even\t though\t everything\t in\t me\t rebelled\t against\t what\t he\t had\t said.\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t a puzzle.\tI\twas\tjust\ta\tgirl. I\t turned\t the\t envelope\t over\t and\t saw\t Jameson\u2019s\t name\t scrawled\t across\t the front.\t This\t is\t his\t letter,\t I\t realized.\t The\t one\t he\t was\t given\t at\t the\t reading\t of\t the will.\t I\t still\t had\t no\t idea\t what\t to\t make\t of\t my\t own\t letter,\t no\t idea\t what\t Tobias Hawthorne\t was\t apologizing\t for.\t Maybe\t Jameson\u2019s\t letter\t would\t clarify something. I\t opened\t it\t and\t read.\t The\t message\t was\t longer\t than\t mine\u2014and\t made\t even less\tsense. Jameson, Better\t the\t devil\t you\t know\t than\t the\t one\t you\t don\u2019t\u2014or\t is\t it?\t Power corrupts.\tAbsolute\tpower\tcorrupts\tabsolutely.\tAll\tthat\tglitters\tis\tnot\tgold. Nothing\tis\tcertain\tbut\tdeath\tand\ttaxes.\tThere\tbut\tfor\tthe\tgrace\tof\tGod\tgo I. Don\u2019t\tjudge. \u2014Tobias\tTattersall\tHawthorne By\tthe\tnext\tmorning,\tI\u2019d\tmemorized\tJameson\u2019s\tletter.\tIt\tsounded\tlike\tit\thad\tbeen written\t by\t someone\t who\t hadn\u2019t\t slept\t in\t days\u2014manic,\t rattling\t off\t one\t platitude after\t another.\t But\t the\t longer\t the\t words\t marinated\t in\t the\t back\t of\t my\t brain,\t the more\tI\tbegan\tto\tconsider\tthe\tpossibility\tthat\tJameson\tmight\tbe\tright. There\u2019s\tsomething\tthere,\tin\tthe\tletters.\tIn\tJameson\u2019s.\tIn\tmine.\tAn\tanswer\u2014or","at\tleast\ta\tclue. Rolling\t out\t of\t my\t massive\t bed,\t I\t went\t to\t unplug\t my\t phones,\t plural,\t from their\tchargers\tand\tdiscovered\tthat\tmy\told\tphone\thad\tpowered\tdown.\tWith\tsome hefty\t pushes\t on\t the\t power\t button\t and\t a\t little\t bit\t of\t luck,\t I\t managed\t to\t cajole\t it back\t on.\t I\t didn\u2019t\t know\t how\t I\t could\t even\t begin\t to\t explain\t the\t past\t twenty-four hours\tto\tMax,\tbut\tI\tneeded\tto\ttalk\tto\tsomeone. I\tneeded\ta\treality\tcheck. What\t I\t got\t was\t more\t than\t a\t hundred\t missed\t calls\t and\t texts.\t Suddenly,\t the reason\tAlisa\thad\tgiven\tme\ta\tnew\tphone\twas\tclear.\tPeople\tI\thadn\u2019t\tspoken\tto\tin years\t were\t messaging\t me.\t People\t who\t had\t spent\t their\t lives\t ignoring\t me clamored\tfor\tmy\tattention.\tCoworkers.\tClassmates.\tEven\tteachers.\tI\thad\tno\tidea how\thalf\tof\tthem\thad\tgotten\tmy\tnumber.\tI\tgrabbed\tmy\tnew\tphone,\twent\tonline, and\tdiscovered\tthat\tmy\temail\tand\tsocial\tmedia\taccounts\twere\teven\tworse. I\thad\tthousands\tof\tmessages\u2014most\tof\tthem\tfrom\tstrangers.\tTo\tsome\tpeople, you\u2019ll\t be\t Cinderella.\t To\t others,\t Marie\t Antoinette.\t My\t stomach\t muscles tightened.\tI\tset\tboth\tphones\tdown\tand\tstood\tup,\tmy\thand\tgoing\tover\tmy\tmouth. I\tshould\thave\tseen\tthis\tcoming.\tIt\tshouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen\ta\tshock\tto\tmy\tsystem\tat all.\tBut\tI\twasn\u2019t\tready. How\tcould\ta\tperson\tbe\tready\tfor\tthis? \u201cAvery?\u201d\tA\tvoice\tcalled\tinto\tmy\troom\u2014female\tand\tnot\tLibby. \u201cAlisa?\u201d\tI\tdouble-checked\tbefore\topening\tmy\tbedroom\tdoor. \u201cYou\t missed\t breakfast,\u201d\t came\t the\t reply.\t Brisk,\t businesslike\u2014definitely Alisa. I\topened\tthe\tdoor. \u201cMrs.\tLaughlin\twasn\u2019t\tsure\twhat\tyou\tlike,\tso\tshe\tmade\ta\tbit\tof\teverything,\u201d Alisa\t told\t me.\t A\t woman\t I\t didn\u2019t\t recognize\u2014early\t twenties,\t maybe\u2014followed her\t into\t the\t room\t carrying\t a\t tray.\t She\t deposited\t it\t on\t my\t nightstand,\t cut\t a narrowed-eyed\tglance\tmy\tway,\tthen\tleft\twithout\ta\tword. \u201cI\tthought\tthe\tstaff\tonly\tcame\tin\tas\tneeded,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tturning\tto\tAlisa\tonce\tthe door\twas\tclosed. Alisa\t blew\t out\t a\t long\t breath.\t \u201cThe\t staff,\u201d\t she\t said,\t \u201cis\t very,\t very\t loyal\t and extremely\tconcerned\tright\tnow.\tThat\u201d\u2014Alisa\tnodded\tto\tthe\tdoor\u2014\u201cwas\tone\tof the\tnewer\thires.\tShe\u2019s\tone\tof\tNash\u2019s.\u201d I\tnarrowed\tmy\teyes.\t\u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean,\tshe\u2019s\tone\tof\tNash\u2019s?\u201d Alisa\u2019s\t composure\t never\t faltered.\t \u201cNash\t is\t a\t bit\t of\t a\t nomad.\t He\t leaves.\t He wanders.\tHe\tfinds\tsome\thole-in-the-wall\tplace\tto\tbartend\tfor\ta\twhile,\tand\tthen, like\ta\tmoth\tto\tthe\tflame,\the\tcomes\tback\u2014usually\twith\tone\tor\ttwo\thopeless\tsouls","in\t tow.\t As\t I\u2019m\t sure\t you\t can\t imagine,\t there\u2019s\t plenty\t of\t work\t to\t be\t had\t at Hawthorne\tHouse,\tand\tMr.\tHawthorne\thad\ta\thabit\tof\tputting\tNash\u2019s\tlost\tsouls\tto work.\u201d \u201cAnd\tthe\tgirl\twho\twas\tjust\tin\there?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cShe\u2019s\t been\t here\t about\t a\t year.\u201d\t Alisa\u2019s\t tone\t gave\t nothing\t away.\t \u201cShe\u2019d\t die for\tNash.\tMost\tof\tthem\twould.\u201d \u201cAre\tshe\tand\tNash\u2026\u201d\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\thow\tto\tphrase\tthis.\t\u201cInvolved?\u201d \u201cNo!\u201d\tAlisa\tsaid\tsharply.\tShe\ttook\ta\tdeep\tbreath\tand\tcontinued.\t\u201cNash\twould never\tlet\tanything\thappen\twith\tsomeone\the\thad\tany\tkind\tof\tpower\tover.\tHe\thas his\tflaws\u2014a\tsavior\tcomplex\tamong\tthem\u2014but\the\u2019s\tnot\tlike\tthat.\u201d I\t couldn\u2019t\t take\t the\t elephant\t in\t the\t room\t any\t longer,\t so\t I\t dragged\t it\t into\t the light.\t\u201cHe\u2019s\tyour\tex.\u201d Alisa\u2019s\t chin\t rose.\t \u201cWe\t were\t engaged\t for\t a\t time,\u201d\t she\t allowed.\t \u201cWe\t were young.\tThere\twere\tissues.\tBut\tI\tassure\tyou,\tI\thave\tno\tconflict\tof\tinterest\twhen\tit comes\tto\tyour\trepresentation.\u201d Engaged?\tI\thad\tto\tactively\ttry\tto\tkeep\tmy\tjaw\tfrom\tdropping.\tMy\tlawyer\thad planned\tto\tmarry\ta\tHawthorne,\tand\tshe\thadn\u2019t\tthought\tthat\tmerited\ta\tmention? \u201cIf\tyou\u2019d\tprefer,\u201d\tAlisa\tsaid\tstiffly,\t\u201cI\tcan\tarrange\tfor\tsomeone\telse\tfrom\tthe firm\tto\twork\tas\tyour\tliaison.\u201d I\tforced\tmyself\tto\tstop\tgawking\tat\ther\tand\ttried\tto\tprocess\tthe\tsituation.\tAlisa had\t been\t nothing\t but\t professional\t and\t seemed\t almost\t frighteningly\t good\t at\t her job.\tPlus,\tgiven\tthe\twhole\tbroken\tengagement\tthing,\tshe\thad\ta\treason\tnot\tto\tbe loyal\tto\tthe\tHawthornes. \u201cIt\u2019s\tokay,\u201d\tI\tsaid.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\tneed\ta\tnew\tliaison.\u201d That\tgot\ta\tvery\tsmall\tsmile\tout\tof\ther.\t\u201cI\u2019ve\ttaken\tthe\tliberty\tof\tenrolling\tyou at\t Heights\t Country\t Day.\u201d\t Alisa\t moved\t to\t the\t next\t item\t on\t her\t to-do\t list\t with merciless\t efficiency.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t the\t school\t that\t Xander\t and\t Jameson\t attend.\t Grayson graduated\t last\t year.\t I\u2019d\t hoped\t to\t have\t you\t enrolled\t and\t at\t least\t partially acclimated\t before\t news\t of\t your\t inheritance\t broke\t in\t the\t press,\t but\t we\u2019ll\t deal with\t the\t hand\t we\u2019ve\t been\t dealt.\u201d\t She\t gave\t me\t a\t look.\t \u201cYou\u2019re\t the\t Hawthorne heiress,\t and\t you\u2019re\t not\t a\t Hawthorne.\t That\u2019s\t going\t to\t draw\t attention,\t even\t at\t a place\tlike\tCountry\tDay,\twhere\tyou\twill\tbe\tfar\tfrom\tthe\tonly\tone\twith\tmeans.\u201d Means,\t I\t thought.\t How\t many\t ways\t did\t rich\t people\t have\t of\t not\t saying\t the word\trich? \u201cI\u2019m\t pretty\t sure\t I\t can\t handle\t a\t bunch\t of\t prep\t school\t kids,\u201d\t I\t said,\t even though\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\tof\tthat.\tAt\tall. Alisa\t caught\t sight\t of\t my\t phones.\t She\t squatted\t down\t and\t plucked\t my\t old","phone\tfrom\tthe\tground.\t\u201cI\u2019ll\tdispose\tof\tthis\tfor\tyou.\u201d She\t didn\u2019t\t even\t have\t to\t look\t at\t the\t screen\t to\t realize\t what\t had\t happened. What\t was\t still\t happening,\t if\t the\t constant,\t muted\t buzzing\t of\t the\t phone\t was\t any indication. \u201cWait,\u201d\t I\t told\t her.\t I\t grabbed\t the\t phone,\t ignored\t the\t messages,\t and\t went\t for Max\u2019s\tnumber.\tI\ttransferred\tit\tto\tmy\tnew\tphone. \u201cI\t suggest\t you\t strictly\t regulate\t who\t has\t access\t to\t your\t new\t number,\u201d\t Alisa told\tme.\t\u201cThis\tisn\u2019t\tgoing\tto\tdie\tdown\tanytime\tsoon.\u201d \u201cThis,\u201d\t I\t repeated.\t The\t media\t attention.\t Strangers\t sending\t me\t messages. People\twho\u2019d\tnever\tcared\tabout\tme\tdeciding\twe\twere\tbest\tfriends. \u201cThe\tstudents\tat\tCountry\tDay\twill\thave\ta\tbit\tmore\tdiscretion,\u201d\tAlisa\ttold\tme, \u201cbut\tyou\tneed\tto\tbe\tprepared.\tAs\tawful\tas\tit\tsounds,\tmoney\tis\tpower,\tand\tpower is\tmagnetic.\tYou\u2019re\tnot\tthe\tperson\tyou\twere\ttwo\tdays\tago.\u201d I\t wanted\t to\t argue\t that\t point,\t but\t instead,\t my\t mind\t cycled\t back\t to\t Tobias Hawthorne\u2019s\tletter\tto\tJameson,\this\twords\techoing\tin\tmy\tmind.\tPower\tcorrupts. Absolute\tpower\tcorrupts\tabsolutely.","CHAPTER\t21 You\t read\t my\t letter.\u201d\t Jameson\t Hawthorne\t slid\t into\t the\t back\t seat\t of\t the\t SUV beside\t me.\t Oren\t had\t already\t given\t me\t the\t rundown\t on\t the\t security\t features\t of the\t car.\t The\t windows\t were\t bulletproof\t and\t heavily\t tinted,\t and\t Tobias Hawthorne\t had\t owned\t multiple\t identical\t SUVs\t for\t times\t when\t decoys\t were needed. Going\tto\tHeights\tCountry\tDay\tSchool\tapparently\twasn\u2019t\tone\tof\tthem. \u201cXander\tneed\ta\tride?\u201d\tOren\tasked\tfrom\tthe\tdriver\u2019s\tseat,\tcatching\tJameson\u2019s eyes\tin\tthe\tmirror. \u201cXan\t goes\t to\t school\t early\t on\t Fridays,\u201d\t Jameson\t said.\t \u201cExtracurricular activity.\u201d In\tthe\tmirror,\tOren\u2019s\tgaze\tshifted\tto\tme.\t\u201cYou\tokay\thaving\tcompany?\u201d Was\tI\tokay\tin\tclose\tquarters\twith\tJameson\tHawthorne,\twho\u2019d\tstepped\tout\tof a\tfireplace\tand\tinto\tmy\tbedroom\tthe\tnight\tbefore?\tHe\ttouched\tmy\tface\u2014 \u201cIt\u2019s\tfine,\u201d\tI\ttold\tOren,\tsquelching\tthe\tmemory. Oren\t turned\t the\t key\t in\t the\t ignition\t and\t then\t cast\t a\t glance\t back\t over\t his shoulder.\t\u201cShe\u2019s\tthe\tpackage,\u201d\the\ttold\tJameson.\t\u201cIf\tthere\u2019s\tan\tincident\u2026\u201d \u201cYou\t save\t her\t first,\u201d\t Jameson\t finished.\t He\t kicked\t a\t foot\t up\t on\t the\t center console\t and\t reclined\t against\t the\t door.\t \u201cGrandfather\t always\t said\t Hawthorne males\t have\t nine\t lives.\t I\t can\u2019t\t possibly\t have\t burned\t through\t more\t than\t five\t of mine.\u201d Oren\tturned\tback\tto\tthe\tfront\tand\tput\tthe\tcar\tin\tdrive,\tand\tthen\twe\twere\toff. Even\tthrough\tthe\tbulletproof\twindows,\tI\tcould\thear\tthe\tminor\troar\tthat\twent\tup when\t we\t passed\t outside\t the\t gates.\t Paparazzi.\t There\u2019d\t been\t at\t least\t a\t dozen before.\tNow\tthere\twere\ttwice\tthat\tnumber\u2014maybe\tmore. I\tdidn\u2019t\tlet\tmyself\tdwell\ton\tthat\tfor\tlong.\tI\tlooked\taway\tfrom\tthe\treporters\u2014 and\ttoward\tJameson.\t\u201cHere.\u201d\tI\treached\tinto\tmy\tbag\tand\thanded\thim\tmy\tletter. \u201cI\t showed\t you\t mine,\u201d\t Jameson\t said,\t playing\t the\t double\t entendre\t for\t all\t it was\tworth.\t\u201cYou\tshow\tme\tyours.\u201d \u201cShut\tup\tand\tread.\u201d","He\tdid.\t\u201cThat\u2019s\tit?\u201d\the\tasked\twhen\the\twas\tdone. I\tnodded. \u201cAny\t idea\t what\t he\u2019s\t apologizing\t for?\u201d\t Jameson\t asked.\t \u201cAny\t great\t and anonymous\twrongs\tin\tyour\tpast?\u201d \u201cOne.\u201d\t I\t swallowed\t and\t broke\t eye\t contact.\t \u201cBut\t unless\t you\t think\t your grandfather\tis\tresponsible\tfor\tmy\tmom\thaving\tan\textremely\trare\tblood\ttype\tand ending\tup\tway\ttoo\tlow\ton\tthe\ttransplant\tlist,\the\u2019s\tprobably\tin\tthe\tclear.\u201d I\u2019d\tmeant\tthat\tto\tsound\tsarcastic,\tnot\traw. \u201cWe\u2019ll\t come\t back\t to\t your\t letter.\u201d\t Jameson\t did\t me\t the\t courtesy\t of\t ignoring every\thint\tof\temotion\tin\tmy\ttone.\t\u201cAnd\tturn\tour\tattention\tto\tmine.\tI\u2019m\tcurious, Mystery\tGirl,\twhat\tdo\tyou\tmake\tof\tit?\u201d I\t got\t the\t feeling\t that\t this\t was\t another\t test.\t A\t chance\t to\t show\t my\t worth. Challenge\taccepted. \u201cYour\tletter\tis\twritten\tin\tproverbs,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tstarting\twith\tthe\tobvious.\t\u201cAll\tthat glitters\tis\tnot\tgold.\tAbsolute\tpower\tcorrupts\tabsolutely.\tHe\u2019s\tsaying\tthat\tmoney and\tpower\tare\tdangerous.\tAnd\tthe\tfirst\tline\u2014better\tthe\tdevil\tyou\tknow\tthan\tthe one\tyou\tdon\u2019t\u2014or\tis\tit?\u2014that\u2019s\tobvious,\tright?\u201d His\t family\t was\t the\t devil\t that\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t had\t known\u2014and\t I\t was\t the devil\t he\t hadn\u2019t.\t But\t if\t that\u2019s\t true\u2014why\t me?\t If\t I\t was\t a\t stranger,\t how\t had\t he chosen\tme?\tA\tdart\ton\ta\tmap?\tMax\u2019s\timaginary\tcomputer\talgorithm? And\tif\tI\twas\ta\tstranger\u2014why\twas\the\tsorry? \u201cKeep\tgoing,\u201d\tJameson\tprompted. I\t focused.\t \u201cNothing\t is\t certain\t but\t death\t and\t taxes.\t It\t sounds\t to\t me\t like\t he knew\the\twas\tgoing\tto\tdie.\u201d \u201cWe\t didn\u2019t\t even\t know\t he\t was\t sick,\u201d\t Jameson\t murmured.\t That\t hit\t close\t to home.\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t had\t apparently\t been\t a\t champion\t at\t keeping\t secrets\u2014 like\t my\t mother.\t I\t could\t be\t the\t devil\t he\t doesn\u2019t\t know,\t even\t if\t he\t knew\t her.\t I would\tstill\tbe\ta\tstranger,\teven\tif\tshe\twasn\u2019t. I\tcould\tfeel\tJameson\tbeside\tme,\twatching\tme\tin\ta\tway\tthat\tmade\tme\twonder if\the\tcould\tsee\tstraight\tinside\tmy\thead. \u201cThere\t but\t for\t the\t grace\t of\t God\t go\t I,\u201d\t I\t said,\t returning\t to\t the\t letter\u2019s contents,\tintent\ton\tfollowing\tthis\tto\tthe\tend.\t\u201cWith\tdifferent\tcircumstances,\tany of\tus\tcould\thave\tended\tup\tin\tanyone\telse\u2019s\tposition,\u201d\tI\ttranslated. \u201cThe\t rich\t boy\t can\t become\t a\t pauper.\u201d\t Jameson\t took\t his\t feet\t down\t from\t the center\t console\t and\t turned\t his\t head\t wholly\t toward\t me,\t his\t green\t eyes\t catching mine\tin\ta\tway\tthat\tmade\tmy\tentire\tbody\tgo\tto\thigh\talert.\t\u201cAnd\tthe\tgirl\tfrom\tthe wrong\tside\tof\tthe\ttracks\tcan\tbecome\u2026\u201d","A\tprincess.\tA\triddle.\tAn\theiress.\tA\tgame. Jameson\t smiled.\t If\t this\t was\t a\t test,\t I\u2019d\t passed.\t \u201cOn\t the\t surface,\u201d\t he\t told\t me, \u201cit\t appears\t that\t the\t letter\t outlines\t what\t we\t already\t know:\t My\t grandfather\t died and\tleft\teverything\tto\tthe\tdevil\the\tdidn\u2019t\tknow,\tthereby\treversing\tthe\tfortune\tof many.\tWhy?\tBecause\tpower\tcorrupts.\tAbsolute\tpower\tcorrupts\tabsolutely.\u201d I\tcouldn\u2019t\thave\tlooked\taway\tfrom\thim\tif\tI\u2019d\ttried. \u201cAnd\twhat\tabout\tyou,\tHeiress?\u201d\tJameson\tcontinued.\t\u201cAre\tyou\tincorruptible? Is\t that\t why\t he\t left\t the\t fortune\t in\t your\t hands?\u201d\t The\t expression\t playing\t at\t the corners\tof\this\tlips\twasn\u2019t\ta\tsmile.\tI\twasn\u2019t\tsure\twhat\tit\twas,\texactly,\tother\tthan magnetic.\t \u201cI\t know\t my\t grandfather.\u201d\t Jameson\t stared\t at\t me\t intently.\t \u201cThere\u2019s more\there.\tA\tplay\ton\twords.\tA\tcode.\tA\thidden\tmessage.\tSomething.\u201d He\t handed\t my\t letter\t back.\t I\t took\t it\t and\t looked\t down.\t \u201cYour\t grandfather signed\t my\t letter\t with\t initials.\u201d\t I\t offered\t up\t one\t last\t observation.\t \u201cAnd\t yours with\this\tfull\tname.\u201d \u201cAnd\twhat,\u201d\tJameson\tsaid\tlightly,\t\u201cdo\twe\tmake\tof\tthat?\u201d We.\t How\t had\t a\t Hawthorne\t and\t I\t become\t a\t we?\t I\t should\t have\t been\t wary. Even\t with\t Oren\u2019s\t assurances\u2014and\t Alisa\u2019s\u2014I\t should\t have\t been\t keeping\t my distance.\t But\t there\t was\t something\t about\t this\t family.\t Something\t about\t these boys. \u201cAlmost\t there.\u201d\t Oren\t spoke\t from\t the\t front\t seat.\t If\t he\u2019d\t been\t following\t our conversation,\t he\t gave\t no\t sign\t of\t it.\t \u201cThe\t Country\t Day\t administration\t has\t been briefed\ton\tthe\tsituation.\tI\tsigned\toff\ton\tthe\tschool\u2019s\tsecurity\tyears\tago,\twhen\tthe boys\t enrolled.\t You\t should\t be\t fine\t here,\t Avery,\t but\t do\t not,\t under\t any circumstances,\t leave\t the\t campus.\u201d\t Our\t car\t pulled\t past\t a\t guarded\t gate.\t \u201cI\t won\u2019t be\tfar.\u201d I\t turned\t my\t mind\t from\t the\t letters\u2014Jameson\u2019s\t and\t mine\u2014to\t what\t awaited me\toutside\tthis\tcar.\tThis\tis\ta\thigh\tschool?\tI\tthought,\ttaking\tin\tthe\tsight\toutside my\twindow.\tIt\tlooked\tmore\tlike\ta\tcollege\tor\ta\tmuseum,\tlike\tsomething\tout\tof\ta catalog\twhere\tall\tthe\tstudents\twere\tbeautiful\tand\tsmiling.\tSuddenly,\tthe\tuniform I\u2019d\t been\t given\t felt\t like\t it\t didn\u2019t\t belong\t on\t my\t body.\t I\t was\t a\t kid\t playing\t dress- up,\t pretending\t that\t wearing\t a\t kitchen\t pot\t on\t her\t head\t could\t turn\t her\t into\t an astronaut,\tthat\tsmudging\tlipstick\tall\tover\ther\tface\tmade\ther\ta\tstar. To\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tworld,\tI\twas\ta\tsudden\tcelebrity.\tI\twas\ta\tfascination\u2014and\ta target.\tBut\there?\tHow\tcould\tpeople\twho\u2019d\tgrown\tup\twith\tthis\tkind\tof\tmoney\tsee a\tgirl\tlike\tme\tas\tanything\tbut\ta\tfraud? \u201cI\t hate\t to\t puzzle\t and\t run,\t Mystery\t Girl.\u2026\u201d\t Jameson\u2019s\t hand\t was\t already\t on the\tdoor\thandle\tas\tthe\tSUV\tpulled\tto\ta\tstop.\t\u201cBut\tthe\tlast\tthing\tyou\tneed\ton\tyour","first\tday\tat\tthis\tschool\tis\tfor\tanyone\tto\tsee\tyou\tgetting\tcozy\twith\tme.\u201d","CHAPTER\t22 Jameson\twas\tgone\tin\ta\tblink.\tHe\tdisappeared\tinto\ta\tcrowd\tof\tburgundy\tblazers and\tshiny\thair,\tand\tI\twas\tleft\tstill\tbuckled\tinto\tmy\tseat,\tunable\tto\tmove. \u201cIt\u2019s\tjust\ta\tschool,\u201d\tOren\ttold\tme.\t\u201cThey\u2019re\tjust\tkids.\u201d Rich\t kids.\t Kids\t whose\t baseline\t for\t normal\t was\t probably\t \u201cjust\u201d\t being\t the child\tof\ta\tbrain\tsurgeon\tor\thotshot\tlawyer.\tWhen\tthey\tthought\tcollege,\tthey\twere probably\ttalking\tabout\tHarvard\tor\tYale.\tAnd\tthere\tI\twas,\twearing\ta\tpleated\tplaid skirt\t and\t a\t burgundy\t blazer,\t complete\t with\t a\t navy\t crest\t embossed\t with\t Latin words\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tknow\thow\tto\tread. I\t grabbed\t my\t new\t phone\t and\t sent\t a\t message\t to\t Max.\t This\t is\t Avery.\t New number.\tCall\tme. Glancing\t at\t the\t front\t seat\t again,\t I\t forced\t my\t hand\t to\t the\t door.\t It\t wasn\u2019t Oren\u2019s\tjob\tto\tcoddle\tme.\tIt\twas\this\tjob\tto\tprotect\tme\u2014and\tnot\tfrom\tthe\tstares\tI fully\texpected\tthe\tmoment\tI\tstepped\tout\tof\tthis\tcar. \u201cDo\tI\tmeet\tyou\tback\there\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tday?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cI\u2019ll\tbe\there.\u201d I\twaited\ta\tbeat,\tin\tcase\tOren\thad\tany\tother\tinstructions,\tand\tthen\tI\topened\tthe door.\t\u201cThanks\tfor\tthe\tride.\u201d Nobody\twas\tstaring\tat\tme.\tNobody\twas\twhispering.\tIn\tfact,\tas\tI\twalked\ttoward the\t twin\t archways\t marking\t the\t entrance\t to\t the\t main\t building,\t I\t got\t the\t distinct feeling\tthat\tthe\tlack\tof\tresponse\twas\tdeliberate.\tNot-staring.\tNot-talking.\tJust\tthe lightest\t of\t glances,\t every\t few\t steps.\t Whenever\t I\t looked\t at\t anyone,\t they\t looked away. I\t told\t myself\t that\t they\t were\t probably\t trying\t not\t to\t make\t a\t big\t deal\t of\t my arrival,\t that\t this\t was\t what\t discretion\t looked\t like\u2014but\t it\t still\t felt\t like\t I\u2019d wandered\tinto\ta\tballroom\twhere\teveryone\telse\twas\tdancing\ta\tcomplicated\twaltz, twisting,\tspinning\taround\tme\tlike\tI\twasn\u2019t\teven\tthere.","As\t I\t closed\t the\t distance\t to\t the\t archways,\t a\t girl\t with\t long\t black\t hair\t bucked the\t trend\t of\t ignoring\t me\t like\t a\t Thoroughbred\t shaking\t off\t an\t inferior\t rider.\t She watched\tme\tintently,\tand\tone\tby\tone,\tthe\tgirls\taround\ther\tdid\tthe\tsame. When\t I\t reached\t them,\t the\t black-haired\t girl\t stepped\t away\t from\t the\t group\u2014 toward\tme. \u201cI\u2019m\tThea,\u201d\tshe\tsaid,\tsmiling.\t\u201cYou\tmust\tbe\tAvery.\u201d\tHer\tvoice\twas\tperfectly pleasant\u2014borderline\t musical,\t like\t a\t siren\t who\t knew\t with\t the\t least\t bit\t of\t effort she\tcould\tsing\tsailors\tinto\tthe\tsea.\t\u201cWhy\tdon\u2019t\tI\tshow\tyou\tto\tthe\toffice?\u201d \u201cThe\theadmaster\tis\tDr.\tMcGowan.\tShe\u2019s\tgot\ta\tPhD\tfrom\tPrinceton.\tShe\u2019ll\tkeep you\t in\t her\t office\t for\t at\t least\t a\t half\t hour,\t talking\t about\t opportunities\t and traditions.\tIf\tshe\toffers\tyou\tcoffee,\ttake\tit\u2014her\town\tpersonal\troast,\tto\tdie\tfor.\u201d Thea\t seemed\t well\t aware\t of\t the\t fact\t that\t we\t were\t both\t getting\t plenty\t of\t stares now.\t She\t also\t seemed\t to\t be\t enjoying\t it.\t \u201cWhen\t Dr.\t Mac\t gives\t you\t your schedule,\tmake\tsure\tyou\thave\ttime\tfor\tlunch\tevery\tday.\tCountry\tDay\tuses\twhat they\tcall\tmodular\tscheduling,\twhich\tmeans\twe\toperate\ton\ta\tsix-day\tcycle,\teven though\twe\tonly\thave\tschool\tfive\tdays\ta\tweek.\tClasses\tmeet\tanywhere\tfrom\tthree to\t five\t times\t a\t cycle,\t so\t if\t you\u2019re\t not\t careful,\t you\t can\t end\t up\t in\t class\t straight through\tlunch\ton\tA\tday\tand\tB\tday\tbut\thave\tpractically\tno\tclasses\ton\tC\tor\tF.\u201d \u201cOkay.\u201d\tMy\thead\twas\tspinning,\tbut\tI\tforced\tout\tone\tmore\tword.\t\u201cThanks.\u201d \u201cPeople\tat\tthis\tschool\tare\tlike\tfairies\tin\tCeltic\tmythology,\u201d\tThea\tsaid\tlightly. \u201cYou\tshouldn\u2019t\tthank\tus\tunless\tyou\twant\tto\towe\tus\ta\tboon.\u201d I\twasn\u2019t\tsure\thow\tto\treply\tto\tthat,\tso\tI\tsaid\tnothing.\tThea\tdidn\u2019t\tseem\tto\ttake offense.\t As\t she\t led\t me\t down\t a\t long\t hallway\t with\t old\t class\t portraits\t lining\t the walls,\t she\t filled\t the\t silence.\t \u201cWe\u2019re\t not\t so\t bad,\t really.\t Most\t of\t us\t anyway.\t As long\tas\tyou\u2019re\twith\tme,\tyou\u2019ll\tbe\tfine.\u201d That\trankled.\t\u201cI\u2019ll\tbe\tfine\tregardless,\u201d\tI\ttold\ther. \u201cClearly,\u201d\tThea\tsaid\temphatically.\tThat\twas\ta\treference\tto\tthe\tmoney.\tIt\thad to\tbe.\tDidn\u2019t\tit?\tThea\u2019s\tdark\teyes\troved\tover\tmine.\t\u201cIt\tmust\tbe\thard,\u201d\tshe\tsaid, studying\t my\t response\t with\t an\t intensity\t that\t her\t smile\t did\t absolutely\t nothing\t to hide,\t\u201cliving\tin\tthat\thouse\twith\tthose\tboys.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s\tfine,\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cOh,\t honey.\u201d\t Thea\t shook\t her\t head.\t \u201cIf\t there\u2019s\t one\t thing\t the\t Hawthorne family\tisn\u2019t,\tit\u2019s\tfine.\tThey\twere\ta\ttwisted,\tbroken\tmess\tbefore\tyou\tgot\there,\tand they\u2019ll\tbe\ta\ttwisted,\tbroken\tmess\tonce\tyou\u2019re\tgone.\u201d","Gone.\tWhere\texactly\tdid\tThea\tthink\tI\twas\tgoing? We\u2019d\t reached\t the\t end\t of\t the\t hallway\t now\t and\t the\t door\t to\t the\t headmaster\u2019s office.\tIt\topened,\tand\tfour\tboys\tpoured\tout\tin\tsingle\tfile.\tAll\tfour\tof\tthem\twere bleeding.\t All\t four\t were\t smiling.\t Xander\t was\t the\t fourth.\t He\t saw\t me\u2014and\t then he\tsaw\twho\tI\twas\twith. \u201cThea,\u201d\the\tsaid. She\t gave\t him\t a\t too-sweet\t smile,\t then\t lifted\t a\t hand\t to\t his\t face\u2014or\t more specifically,\tto\this\tbloodied\tlip.\t\u201cXander.\tLooks\tlike\tyou\tlost.\u201d \u201cThere\t are\t no\t losers\t in\t Robot\t Battle\t Death\t Match\t Fight\t Club,\u201d\t Xander\t said stoically.\t\u201cThere\tare\tonly\twinners\tand\tpeople\twhose\trobots\tsort\tof\texplode.\u201d I\tthought\tabout\tTobias\tHawthorne\u2019s\toffice\u2014about\tthe\tpatents\tI\u2019d\tseen\ton\tthe walls.\t What\t kind\t of\t genius\t was\t Xander\t Hawthorne?\t And\t was\t he\t missing\t an eyebrow? Thea\t proceeded\t as\t if\t that\t was\t exactly\t nothing\t to\t remark\t upon.\t \u201cI\t was\t just showing\t Avery\t to\t the\t office\t and\t giving\t her\t some\t insider\t tips\t on\t surviving Country\tDay.\u201d \u201cCharming!\u201d\t Xander\t declared.\t \u201cAvery,\t did\t the\t ever-delightful\t Thea Calligaris\thappen\tto\tmention\tthat\ther\tuncle\tis\tmarried\tto\tmy\taunt?\u201d Zara\u2019s\tlast\tname\twas\tHawthorne-Calligaris. \u201cI\t hear\t Zara\t and\t your\t uncle\t are\t looking\t for\t ways\t to\t challenge\t the\t will.\u201d Xander\t gave\t every\t appearance\t of\t talking\t to\t Thea,\t but\t I\t got\t the\t distinct\t feeling that\the\twas\treally\tissuing\ta\twarning\tto\tme. Don\u2019t\ttrust\tThea. Thea\tgave\tan\telegant\tlittle\tshrug,\tundaunted.\t\u201cI\twouldn\u2019t\tknow.\u201d","CHAPTER\t23 I\u2019ve\t slotted\t you\t into\t American\t Studies\t and\t Philosophy\t of\t Mindfulness.\t In science\tand\tmath,\tyou\tshould\tbe\table\tto\tcontinue\ton\twith\tyour\tcurrent\tcourse\tof study,\t assuming\t our\t course\t load\t doesn\u2019t\t prove\t to\t be\t too\t much.\u201d\t Dr.\t McGowan took\ta\tsip\tof\ther\tcoffee.\tI\tdid\tthe\tsame.\tIt\twas\tjust\tas\tgood\tas\tThea\thad\tpromised it\t would\t be,\t and\t that\t made\t me\t wonder\t how\t much\t truth\t there\t was\t to\t the\t rest\t of what\tshe\u2019d\tsaid. It\tmust\tbe\thard\tliving\tin\tthat\thouse\twith\tthose\tboys. They\t were\t a\t twisted,\t broken\t mess\t before\t you\t got\t here,\t and\t they\u2019ll\t be\t a twisted,\tbroken\tmess\tonce\tyou\u2019re\tgone. \u201cNow,\u201d\tDr.\tMac\u2014as\tshe\u2019d\tinsisted\ton\tbeing\tcalled\u2014continued,\t\u201cin\tterms\tof electives,\tI\twould\tsuggest\tMaking\tMeaning,\twhich\tfocuses\ton\tthe\tstudy\tof\thow meaning\t is\t conveyed\t through\t the\t arts\t and\t includes\t a\t strong\t component\t of\t civic engagement\t with\t local\t museums,\t artists,\t theater\t productions,\t the\t ballet company,\tthe\topera,\tand\tso\ton.\tGiven\tthe\tsupport\tthe\tHawthorne\tFoundation\thas traditionally\t provided\t to\t these\t endeavors,\t I\t believe\t you\t will\t find\t the\t course\u2026 useful.\u201d The\tHawthorne\tFoundation?\tI\tmanaged\u2014just\tbarely\u2014to\tavoid\trepeating\tthe words. \u201cNow,\t for\t the\t rest\t of\t your\t schedule,\t I\t will\t need\t you\t to\t tell\t me\t a\t bit\t about your\tplans\tfor\tthe\tfuture.\tWhat\tare\tyou\tpassionate\tabout,\tAvery?\u201d It\t was\t on\t the\t tip\t of\t my\t tongue\t to\t tell\t her\t what\t I\u2019d\t told\t Principal\t Altman.\t I was\t a\t girl\t with\t a\t plan\u2014but\t that\t plan\t had\t always\t been\t driven\t by\t practicalities. I\u2019d\t picked\t a\t college\t major\t that\t would\t get\t me\t a\t solid\t job.\t The\t practical\t thing\t to do\tnow\twas\tstay\tthe\tcourse.\tThis\tschool\thad\tto\thave\tmore\tresources\tthan\tmy\told one.\tThey\tcould\thelp\tme\tgame\tstandardized\ttests,\tmaximize\tthe\tcollege\tcredit\tI received\t in\t high\t school,\t put\t me\t in\t the\t perfect\t position\t to\t finish\t college\t in\t three years\t instead\t of\t four.\t If\t I\t played\t my\t cards\t right,\t even\t if\t Zara\t and\t her\t husband somehow\tended\tup\tundoing\twhat\tTobias\tHawthorne\thad\tdone,\tI\tcould\tcome\tout ahead.","But\t Dr.\t Mac\t hadn\u2019t\t just\t asked\t about\t my\t plans.\t She\u2019d\t asked\t what\t I\t was passionate\t about,\t and\t even\t if\t the\t Hawthorne\t family\t did\t manage\t to\t successfully challenge\tthe\twill,\tI\u2019d\tprobably\tstill\tget\ta\tpayout.\tHow\tmany\tmillions\tof\tdollars might\tthey\tbe\twilling\tto\tpay\tme\tjust\tto\tgo\taway?\tWorse\tcame\tto\tworst,\tI\tcould probably\tsell\tmy\tstory\tfor\tmore\tthan\tenough\tto\tpay\tfor\tcollege. \u201cTravel,\u201d\tI\tblurted\tout.\t\u201cI\u2019ve\talways\twanted\tto\ttravel.\u201d \u201cWhy?\u201d\tDr.\tMac\tpeered\tat\tme.\t\u201cWhat\tis\tit\tthat\tattracts\tyou\tto\tother\tplaces? The\t art?\t The\t history?\t The\t peoples\t and\t their\t cultures?\t Or\t are\t you\t drawn\t to\t the marvels\t of\t the\t natural\t world?\t Do\t you\t want\t to\t see\t mountains\t and\t cliffs,\t oceans and\tgiant\tsequoia\ttrees,\tthe\train\tforest\u2014\u201d \u201cYes,\u201d\t I\t said\t fiercely.\t I\t could\t feel\t tears\t stinging\t in\t my\t eyes,\t and\t I\t wasn\u2019t entirely\tsure\twhy.\t\u201cTo\tall\tof\tit.\tYes.\u201d Dr.\tMac\treached\tout\tand\ttook\tmy\thand.\t\u201cI\u2019ll\tget\tyou\ta\tlist\tof\telectives\tto\tlook at,\u201d\t she\t said\tsoftly.\t \u201cI\tunderstand\t that\t study\t abroad\t won\u2019t\t be\t an\t option\t for\t the next\tyear,\tdue\tto\tyour\trather\tunique\tcircumstances,\tbut\twe\thave\tsome\tmarvelous programs\t you\t might\t consider\t thereafter.\t You\t might\t even\t entertain\t the\t idea\t of delaying\tgraduation\ta\tbit.\u201d If\t someone\t had\t told\t me\t a\t week\t earlier\t that\t there\t was\t anything\t that\t could tempt\t me\t to\t stay\t in\t high\t school\t even\t a\t minute\t longer\t than\t necessary,\t I\t would have\tthought\tthey\twere\tdelusional.\tBut\tthis\twasn\u2019t\ta\tnormal\tschool. Nothing\tabout\tmy\tlife\twas\tnormal\tanymore.","CHAPTER\t24 Max\t called\t me\t back\t around\t noon.\t At\t Heights\t Country\t Day,\t modular scheduling\t meant\t that\t there\t were\t gaps\t in\t my\t schedule\t during\t which\t I\t wasn\u2019t expected\t to\t be\t anywhere\t in\t particular.\t I\t could\t wander\t the\t halls.\t I\t could\t spend time\tin\ta\tdance\tstudio,\ta\tdarkroom,\tor\tone\tof\tthe\tgymnasiums.\tWhen,\tprecisely, I\t ate\t lunch\t was\t up\t to\t me.\t So\t when\t Max\t called\t and\t I\t ducked\t into\t an\t empty classroom,\tno\tone\tstopped\tme,\tand\tno\tone\tcared. \u201cThis\tplace\tis\theaven,\u201d\tI\ttold\tMax.\t\u201cActual.\tHeaven.\u201d \u201cThe\tmansion?\u201d\tMax\tasked. \u201cThe\tschool,\u201d\tI\tbreathed.\t\u201cYou\tshould\tsee\tmy\tschedule.\tAnd\tthe\tclasses!\u201d \u201cAvery,\u201d\t Max\t said\t sternly.\t \u201cIt\t is\t my\t understanding\t that\t you\t have\t inherited roughly\ta\tbazillion\tdollars,\tand\tyou\twant\tto\ttalk\tabout\tyour\tnew\tschool?\u201d There\twas\tso\tmuch\tI\twanted\tto\ttalk\tto\ther\tabout.\tI\thad\tto\tthink\tto\tremember what\tshe\tknew\tand\twhat\tshe\tdidn\u2019t.\t\u201cJameson\tHawthorne\tshowed\tme\tthe\tletter his\t grandfather\t left\t him,\t and\t it\u2019s\t this\t insane,\t twisty\t puzzle-riddle\t thing. Jameson\u2019s\tconvinced\tthat\u2019s\twhat\tI\tam\u2014a\tpuzzle\tto\tbe\tsolved.\u201d \u201cI\t am\t currently\t looking\t at\t a\t picture\t of\t Jameson\t Hawthorne,\u201d\t Max announced.\tI\theard\ta\tflush\tin\tthe\tbackground\tand\trealized\tshe\tmust\thave\tbeen\tin the\tbathroom\u2014at\ta\tschool\tthat\twasn\u2019t\tas\tlax\tabout\tstudent\tfree\ttime\tas\tthis\tone. \u201cGotta\tsay.\tHe\u2019s\tfaxable.\u201d It\ttook\tme\ta\tsecond\tto\tcatch\ton.\t\u201cMax!\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tjust\tsaying,\the\tlooks\tlike\the\tknows\this\tway\taround\ta\tfax\tmachine.\tHe\u2019s probably\t really\t great\t at\t dialing\t the\t numbers.\t I\t bet\t he\u2019s\t even\t faxed\t long- distance.\u201d \u201cI\thave\tno\tidea\twhat\tyou\u2019re\teven\ttalking\tabout\tanymore,\u201d\tI\ttold\ther. I\t could\t practically\t hear\t her\t grinning.\t \u201cNeither\t do\t I!\t And\t I\u2019m\t going\t to\t stop now\tbecause\twe\tdon\u2019t\thave\tmuch\ttime.\tMy\tparents\tare\tfreaking\tout\tabout\tall\tof this.\tNow\tis\tnot\tthe\ttime\tfor\tme\tto\tbe\tskipping\tclass.\u201d \u201cYour\tparents\tare\tfreaking\tout?\u201d\tI\tfrowned.\t\u201cWhy?\u201d \u201cAvery,\t do\t you\t know\t how\t many\t calls\t I\u2019ve\t gotten?\t A\t reporter\t showed\t up\t at","our\t house.\t My\t mom\u2019s\t threatening\t to\t lock\t down\t my\t social\t media,\t my\t email\u2014 everything.\u201d I\u2019d\t never\t thought\t of\t my\t friendship\t with\t Max\t as\t particularly\t public,\t but\t it definitely\twasn\u2019t\ta\tsecret,\teither. \u201cReporters\twant\tto\tinterview\tyou,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\ttrying\tto\twrap\tmy\tmind\taround\tit. \u201cAbout\tme.\u201d \u201cHave\tyou\tseen\tthe\tnews?\u201d\tMax\tasked\tme. I\tswallowed.\t\u201cNo.\u201d There\t was\t a\t pause.\t \u201cMaybe\u2026\t don\u2019t.\u201d\t That\t piece\t of\t advice\t spoke\t volumes. \u201cThis\tis\ta\tlot,\tAve.\tAre\tyou\tokay?\u201d I\tblew\ta\thair\tout\tof\tmy\tface.\t\u201cI\u2019m\tfine.\tI\u2019ve\tbeen\tassured\tby\tmy\tlawyer\tand my\thead\tof\tsecurity\tthat\ta\tmurder\tattempt\tis\thighly\tunlikely.\u201d \u201cYou\thave\ta\tbodyguard,\u201d\tMax\tsaid,\tawed.\t\u201cSon\tof\ta\tbeach,\tyour\tlife\tis\tcool now.\u201d \u201cI\thave\ta\tstaff,\tservants\u2014who\thate\tme,\tby\tthe\tway.\tThe\thouse\tis\tlike\tnothing I\u2019ve\tever\tseen.\tAnd\tthe\tfamily!\tThese\tboys,\tMax.\tThey\thave\tpatents\tand\tworld records\tand\u2014\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tlooking\tat\tpictures\tof\tall\tof\tthem\tnow,\u201d\tMax\tsaid.\t\u201cCome\tto\tmama,\tyou delicious\tmustards.\u201d \u201cMustards?\u201d\tI\techoed. \u201cBastions?\u201d\tshe\ttried. I\tlet\tout\ta\tsnort\tof\tlaughter.\tI\thadn\u2019t\trealized\thow\tbadly\tI\u2019d\tneeded\tthis\tuntil she\twas\tthere. \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry,\tAve.\tI\thave\tto\tgo.\tText\tme\tbut\u2014\u201d \u201cWatch\twhat\tI\tsay,\u201d\tI\tfilled\tin. \u201cAnd\tin\tthe\tmeantime,\tbuy\tyourself\tsomething\tnice.\u201d \u201cLike\twhat?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cI\u2019ll\tmake\tyou\ta\tlist,\u201d\tshe\tpromised.\t\u201cLove\tyou,\tbeach.\u201d \u201cLove\tyou,\ttoo,\tMax.\u201d\tI\tkept\tthe\tphone\tup\tto\tmy\tear\tfor\ta\tsecond\tor\ttwo\tafter she\twas\tgone.\tI\twish\tyou\twere\there. Eventually,\t I\t managed\t to\t find\t the\t cafeteria.\t There\t were\t maybe\t two\t dozen people\t eating.\t One\t of\t them\t was\t Thea.\t She\t nudged\t a\t chair\t out\t from\t her\t table with\ther\tfoot. She\u2019s\tZara\u2019s\tniece,\tI\treminded\tmyself.\tAnd\tZara\twants\tme\tgone.\tStill,\tI\tsat. \u201cI\u2019m\tsorry\tif\tI\tcame\ton\ta\tlittle\tstrong\tthis\tmorning.\u201d\tThea\tglanced\tat\tthe\tother girls\tat\ther\ttable,\tall\tof\twhom\twere\tjust\tas\timpossibly\tpolished\tand\tbeautiful\tas she\twas.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tjust\tthat,\tin\tyour\tposition,\tI\u2019d\twant\tto\tknow.\u201d","I\trecognized\tthe\tbait\tfor\texactly\twhat\tit\twas,\tbut\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tkeep\tmyself\tfrom asking.\t\u201cKnow\twhat?\u201d \u201cAbout\tthe\tHawthorne\tbrothers.\tFor\tthe\tlongest\ttime,\tevery\tboy\twanted\tto\tbe them,\tand\teveryone\twho\tlikes\tboys\twanted\tto\tdate\tthem.\tThe\tway\tthey\tlook.\tThe way\t they\t act.\u201d\t Thea\t paused.\t \u201cEven\t just\t being\t Hawthorne-adjacent\t changed\t the way\tthat\tpeople\tlooked\tat\tyou.\u201d \u201cI\t used\t to\t study\t with\t Xander\t sometimes,\u201d\t one\t of\t the\t other\t girls\t said. \u201cBefore\u2026\u201d\tShe\ttrailed\toff. Before\twhat?\tI\twas\tmissing\tsomething\there\u2014something\tbig. \u201cThey\twere\tmagic.\u201d\tThea\thad\tthe\toddest\texpression\ton\ther\tface.\t\u201cAnd\twhen you\twere\tin\ttheir\torbit,\tyou\tfelt\tlike\tmagic,\ttoo.\u201d \u201cInvincible,\u201d\tsomeone\telse\tchimed\tin. I\t thought\t about\t Jameson,\t dropping\t down\t from\t a\t second-story\t balcony\t the day\t we\u2019d\t met,\t Grayson\t sitting\t behind\t Principal\t Altman\u2019s\t desk\t and\t banishing him\t from\t the\t room\t with\t an\t arch\t of\t his\t brow.\t And\t then\t there\t was\t Xander:\t six foot\tthree,\tgrinning,\tbleeding,\tand\ttalking\tabout\trobots\texploding. \u201cThey\taren\u2019t\twhat\tyou\tthink\tthey\tare,\u201d\tThea\ttold\tme.\t\u201cI\twouldn\u2019t\twant\tto\tlive in\ta\thouse\twith\tthe\tHawthornes.\u201d Was\t this\t an\t attempt\t to\t get\t under\t my\t skin?\t If\t I\t left\t Hawthorne\t House\u2014if\t I moved\tout\u2014I\u2019d\tlose\tmy\tinheritance.\tDid\tshe\tknow\tthat?\tHad\ther\tuncle\tput\ther up\tto\tthis? Coming\tinto\ttoday,\tI\u2019d\texpected\tto\tbe\ttreated\tlike\ttrash.\tI\twouldn\u2019t\thave\tbeen surprised\tif\tthe\tgirls\tat\tthis\tschool\thad\tbeen\tpossessive\tover\tthe\tHawthorne\tboys, or\tif\teveryone,\tmale\tand\tfemale,\thad\tresented\tme\ton\tthe\tboys\u2019\tbehalf.\tBut\tthis\u2026 This\twas\tsomething\telse. \u201cI\tshould\tgo.\u201d\tI\tstood,\tbut\tThea\tstood\twith\tme. \u201cThink\twhat\tyou\twant\tto\tabout\tme,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cBut\tthe\tlast\tgirl\tat\tthis\tschool who\t got\t tangled\t up\t with\t the\t Hawthorne\t brothers?\t The\t last\t girl\t who\t spent\t hour after\thour\tin\tthat\thouse?\tShe\tdied.\u201d","CHAPTER\t25 I\t left\t the\t cafeteria\t as\t soon\t as\t I\u2019d\t choked\t down\t my\t food,\t unsure\t where\t I\t was going\tto\thide\tuntil\tmy\tnext\tclass\tand\tequally\tuncertain\tthat\tThea\thad\tbeen\tlying. The\t last\t girl\t who\t spent\t hour\t after\t hour\t in\t that\t house?\t My\t brain\t kept\t replaying the\twords.\tShe\tdied. I\t made\t it\t down\t one\t hallway\t and\t was\t turning\t toward\t another\t when\t Xander Hawthorne\t popped\t out\t of\t a\t nearby\t lab,\t holding\t what\t appeared\t to\t be\t a mechanical\tdragon. All\tI\tcould\tthink\tabout\twas\twhat\tThea\thad\tjust\tsaid. \u201cYou\tlook\tlike\tyou\tcould\tuse\ta\trobotic\tdragon,\u201d\tXander\ttold\tme.\t\u201cHere.\u201d\tHe thrust\tit\tinto\tmy\thands. \u201cWhat\tam\tI\tsupposed\tto\tdo\twith\tthis?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cThat\tdepends\ton\thow\tattached\tyou\tare\tto\tyour\teyebrows.\u201d\tXander\traised\this one\tremaining\teyebrow\tvery\thigh. I\ttried\tto\tsummon\tup\ta\treply,\tbut\tI\thad\tnothing.\tThe\tlast\tgirl\twho\tspent\thour after\thour\tin\tthat\thouse?\tShe\tdied. \u201cAre\tyou\thungry?\u201d\tXander\tasked\tme.\t\u201cThe\trefectory\tis\tback\tthat\tway.\u201d As\t much\t as\t I\t hated\t letting\t Thea\t win,\t I\t was\t wary\u2014of\t him,\t of\t all\t things Hawthorne.\t\u201cRefectory?\u201d\tI\trepeated,\ttrying\tto\tsound\tnormal. Xander\tgrinned.\t\u201cIt\u2019s\tprep\tschool\tfor\tcafeteria.\u201d \u201cPrep\tschool\tisn\u2019t\ta\tlanguage,\u201d\tI\tpointed\tout. \u201cNext\t you\u2019ll\t be\t telling\t me\t that\t French\t isn\u2019t\t one,\t either.\u201d\t Xander\t patted\t the robotic\tdragon\ton\tits\thead.\tIt\tburped.\tA\twisp\tof\tsmoke\trose\tup\tfrom\tits\tmouth. They\taren\u2019t\twhat\tyou\tthink\tthey\tare,\tI\tcould\thear\tThea\twarning\tme. \u201cAre\tyou\tokay?\u201d\tXander\tasked,\tand\tthen\the\tsnapped\this\tfingers.\t\u201cThea\tgot\tto you,\tdidn\u2019t\tshe?\u201d I\thanded\tthe\tdragon\tback\tto\thim\tbefore\tit\tcould\texplode.\t\u201cI\tdon\u2019t\twant\tto\ttalk about\tThea.\u201d \u201cAs\tit\tso\thappens,\u201d\tXander\tsaid,\t\u201cI\thate\ttalking\tabout\tThea.\tShall\twe\tdiscuss your\tlittle\tt\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eate\twith\tJameson\tlast\tnight\tinstead?\u201d","He\tknew\tthat\this\tbrother\thad\tbeen\tto\tmy\troom.\t\u201cIt\twasn\u2019t\ta\tt\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eate.\u201d \u201cYou\t and\t your\t grudge\t against\t French.\u201d\t Xander\t peered\t at\t me.\t \u201cJameson showed\tyou\this\tletter,\tdidn\u2019t\the?\u201d I\t had\t no\t idea\t whether\t or\t not\t that\t was\t supposed\t to\t be\t a\t secret.\t \u201cJameson thinks\tit\u2019s\ta\tclue,\u201d\tI\tsaid. Xander\t was\t quiet\t for\t a\t moment,\t then\t nodded\t in\t the\t opposite\t direction\t from the\trefectory.\t\u201cCome\ton.\u201d I\t followed\t him\t because\t it\t was\t either\t that\t or\t find\t myself\t another\t random empty\tclassroom. \u201cI\tused\tto\tlose,\u201d\tXander\tsaid\tsuddenly\tas\twe\trounded\ta\tcorner.\t\u201cOn\tSaturday mornings,\t when\t my\t grandfather\t set\t us\t to\t a\t challenge,\t I\t always\t lost.\u201d\t I\t had\t no idea\twhy\the\twas\ttelling\tme\tthis.\t\u201cI\twas\tthe\tyoungest.\tThe\tleast\tcompetitive.\tThe most\tapt\tto\tbe\tdistracted\tby\tscones\tor\tcomplex\tmachinery.\u201d \u201cBut\u2026,\u201d\tI\tprompted.\tI\tcould\thear\tin\this\ttone\tthat\tthere\twas\tone. \u201cBut,\u201d\t Xander\t replied,\t \u201cwhile\t my\t brothers\t were\t trying\t to\t take\t one\t another down\tin\tthe\trace\tto\tthe\tfinish\tline,\tI\twas\tgenerously\tsharing\tmy\tscones\twith\tthe old\t man.\t He\t was\t awfully\t chatty,\t full\t of\t stories\t and\t facts\t and\t contradictions. Would\tyou\tlike\tto\thear\tone?\u201d \u201cA\tcontradiction?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cA\tfact.\u201d\tXander\twiggled\this\teyebrows\u2014eyebrow.\t\u201cHe\tdidn\u2019t\thave\ta\tmiddle name.\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d\tI\tsaid. \u201cMy\tgrandfather\twas\tborn\tTobias\tHawthorne,\u201d\tXander\ttold\tme.\t\u201cNo\tmiddle name.\u201d I\t wondered\t if\t the\t old\t man\t had\t signed\t Xander\u2019s\t letter\t the\t same\t way\t he\t had signed\t Jameson\u2019s.\t Tobias\t Tattersall\t Hawthorne.\t He\u2019d\t signed\t mine\t with\t initials \u2014three\tof\tthem. \u201cIf\t I\t asked\t you\t to\t show\t me\t your\t letter,\t would\t you?\u201d\t I\t asked\t Xander.\t He\u2019d said\t that\t he\t usually\t came\t in\t last\t in\t their\t grandfather\u2019s\t games.\t That\t didn\u2019t\t mean he\twasn\u2019t\tplaying\tthis\tone. \u201cNow,\t where\t would\t the\t fun\t be\t in\t that?\u201d\t Xander\t deposited\t me\t in\t front\t of\t a thick\t wooden\t door.\t \u201cYou\u2019ll\t be\t safe\t from\t Thea\t in\t there.\t There\t are\t some\t places even\tshe\tdares\tnot\ttread.\u201d I\tglanced\tthrough\tthe\tclear\tpane\ton\tthe\tdoor.\t\u201cThe\tlibrary?\u201d \u201cThe\t archive,\u201d\t Xander\t corrected\t archly.\t \u201cIt\u2019s\t prep\t school\t for\t library\u2014not\t a bad\t place\t to\t hang\t out\t during\t free\t mods\t if\t you\u2019re\t looking\t to\t get\t some\t time alone.\u201d","Hesitantly,\tI\tpushed\tthe\tdoor\topen.\t\u201cYou\tcoming?\u201d\tI\tasked\thim. He\tclosed\this\teyes.\t\u201cI\tcan\u2019t.\u201d\tHe\tdidn\u2019t\toffer\tany\tmore\texplanation\tthan\tthat. As\the\twalked\taway,\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tshake\tthe\tfeeling\tthat\tI\twas\tmissing\tsomething. Maybe\tmultiple\tsomethings. The\tlast\tgirl\twho\tspent\thour\tafter\thour\tin\tthat\thouse?\tShe\tdied.","CHAPTER\t26 The\t archive\t looked\t more\t like\t a\t university\t library\t than\t one\t that\t belonged\t in\t a high\tschool.\tThe\troom\twas\tfull\tof\tarchways\tand\tstained\tglass.\tCountless\tshelves were\t brimming\t with\t books\t of\t every\t kind,\t and\t at\t the\t center\t of\t the\t room,\t there were\ta\tdozen\trectangular\ttables\u2014state\tof\tthe\tart,\twith\tlights\tbuilt\tinto\tthe\ttables and\tenormous\tmagnifying\tglasses\tattached\tto\tthe\tsides. All\tthe\ttables\twere\tempty\texcept\tfor\tone.\tA\tgirl\tsat\twith\ther\tback\tto\tme.\tShe had\tauburn\thair,\ta\tdarker\tred\tthan\tI\u2019d\tever\tseen\ton\ta\tperson.\tI\tsat\tdown\tseveral tables\taway\tfrom\ther,\tfacing\tthe\tdoor.\tThe\troom\twas\tsilent\texcept\tfor\tthe\tsound of\tthe\tother\tgirl\tturning\tthe\tpages\tof\tthe\tbook\tshe\twas\treading. I\twithdrew\tJameson\u2019s\tletter\tand\tmy\town\tfrom\tmy\tbag.\tTattersall.\tI\tdragged my\t finger\t over\t the\t middle\t name\t with\t which\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t had\t signed Jameson\u2019s\t missive,\t then\t looked\t at\t the\t initials\t scrawled\t on\t mine.\t The handwriting\t matched.\t Something\t nagged\t at\t me,\t and\t it\t took\t me\t a\t moment\t to realize\t what\t it\t was.\t He\t used\t the\t middle\t name\t in\t the\t will,\t too.\t What\t if\t that\t was the\tcatch\there?\tWhat\tif\tthat\twas\tall\tit\ttook\tto\tinvalidate\tthe\tterms? I\t texted\t Alisa.\t The\t reply\t came\t immediately:\t Legal\t name\t change,\t years\t ago. We\u2019re\tgood. Xander\thad\tsaid\tthat\this\tgrandfather\twas\tborn\tTobias\tHawthorne,\tno\tmiddle name.\t Why\t tell\t me\t that\t at\t all?\t Deeply\t doubting\t that\t I\t would\t ever\t understand anyone\t with\t the\t last\t name\t Hawthorne,\t I\t reached\t for\t the\t magnifying\t glass attached\tto\tthe\ttable.\tIt\twas\tthe\tsize\tof\tmy\thand.\tI\tplaced\tthe\ttwo\tletters\tside\tby side\tbeneath\tit\tand\tturned\ton\tthe\tlights\tbuilt\tinto\tthe\ttable. Chalk\tone\tup\tfor\tprivate\tschools. The\t paper\t was\t thick\t enough\t that\t the\t light\t didn\u2019t\t shine\t through,\t but\t the magnifying\t glass\t made\t quick\t work\t of\t blowing\t the\t writing\t up\t ten\t times\t its normal\tsize.\tI\tadjusted\tthe\tglass,\tbringing\tthe\tsignature\ton\tJameson\u2019s\tletter\tinto focus.\t I\t could\t see\t details\t now\t in\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\u2019s\t handwriting\t that\t I\t hadn\u2019t been\table\tto\tsee\tbefore.\tA\tslight\thook\ton\this\tr\u2019s.\tAsymmetry\ton\this\tcapital\tT\u2019s. And\t there,\t in\t his\t middle\t name,\t was\t a\t noticeable\t space,\t twice\t that\t between\t any","two\tother\tletters.\tMagnified,\tthat\tspace\tmade\tthe\tname\tappear\tas\ttwo\twords. Tatters\t all.\t Tatters,\t all.\t \u201cAs\t in,\t he\t left\t them\t all\t in\t tatters?\u201d\t I\t wondered\t out loud.\t It\t was\t a\t leap,\t but\t it\t didn\u2019t\t feel\t like\t much\t of\t one,\t not\t when\t Jameson\t had been\t so\t sure\t that\t there\t was\t more\t to\t this\t letter\t than\t met\t the\t eyes.\t Not\t when Xander\t had\t made\t it\t a\t point\t to\t tell\t me\t about\t his\t grandfather\u2019s\t lack\t of\t a\t middle name.\t If\t Tobias\t Hawthorne\t had\t legally\t changed\t his\t name\t to\t add\t in\t Tattersall, that\tstrongly\tsuggested\the\u2019d\tchosen\tthe\tname\thimself.\tTo\twhat\tend? I\t looked\t up,\t suddenly\t remembering\t that\t I\t wasn\u2019t\t alone\t in\t this\t room,\t but\t the girl\t with\t the\t dark\t red\t hair\t was\t gone.\t I\t shot\t off\t another\t text\t to\t Alisa:\t When\t did TH\tchange\this\tname? Did\t the\t name\t change\t correspond\t to\t the\t moment\t he\u2019d\t decided\t to\t leave\t his family\tin\tthe\tbillionaire\tversion\tof\ttatters,\tto\tleave\teverything\tto\tme? A\t text\t came\t through\t a\t moment\t later,\t but\t it\t wasn\u2019t\t from\t Alisa.\t It\t was\t from Jameson.\tI\thad\tno\tidea\thow\the\u2019d\teven\tgotten\tthe\tnumber\u2014for\tthis\tnew\tphone\tor my\tlast. I\tsee\tit\tnow,\tMystery\tGirl.\tDo\tyou? I\tlooked\taround,\tfeeling\tlike\the\tmight\tbe\twatching\tme\tfrom\tthe\twings,\tbut\tby all\tindications,\tI\twas\talone. The\tmiddle\tname?\tI\ttyped\tback. No.\tI\twaited,\tand\ta\tsecond\ttext\tcame\tthrough\ta\tfull\tminute\tlater.\tThe\tsign-off. My\tgaze\twent\tto\tthe\tend\tof\tJameson\u2019s\tletter.\tRight\tbefore\tthe\tsignature,\tthere were\ttwo\twords:\tDon\u2019t\tjudge. Don\u2019t\tjudge\tthe\tHawthorne\tpatriarch\tfor\tdying\twithout\tever\ttelling\this\tfamily he\t was\t sick?\t Don\u2019t\t judge\t the\t games\t he\t was\t playing\t from\t beyond\t the\t grave? Don\u2019t\t judge\t the\t way\t he\t had\t pulled\t the\t rug\t out\t from\t underneath\t his\t daughters and\tgrandsons? I\tlooked\tback\tat\tJameson\u2019s\ttext,\tthen\tto\tthe\tletter,\tand\tread\tit\tagain\tfrom\tthe beginning.\t Better\t the\t devil\t you\t know\t than\t the\t one\t you\t don\u2019t\u2014or\t is\t it?\t Power corrupts.\t Absolute\t power\t corrupts\t absolutely.\t All\t that\t glitters\t is\t not\t gold. Nothing\tis\tcertain\tbut\tdeath\tand\ttaxes.\tThere\tbut\tfor\tthe\tgrace\tof\tGod\tgo\tI. I\t imagined\t being\t Jameson,\t getting\t this\t letter\u2014wanting\t answers\t and\t being given\tplatitudes\tinstead.\tProverbs.\tMy\tbrain\tsupplied\tthe\talternate\tterm,\tand\tmy eyes\tdarted\tback\tdown\tto\tthe\tsign-off.\tJameson\thad\tthought\twe\twere\tlooking\tfor a\t wordplay\t or\t a\t code.\t Every\t line\t in\t this\t letter,\t barring\t the\t proper\t names,\t was\t a proverb\tor\ta\tslight\tvariation\tthereon. Every\tline\texcept\tone. Don\u2019t\t judge.\t I\u2019d\t missed\t most\t of\t my\t old\t English\t teacher\u2019s\t lecture\t on","proverbs,\t but\t there\t was\t only\t one\t I\t could\t think\t of\t that\t started\t with\t those\t two words. Does\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t judge\t a\t book\t by\t its\t cover\u201d\t mean\t anything\t to\t you?\t I\t asked Jameson. His\t reply\t was\t immediate.\t Very\t good,\t Heiress.\t Then,\t a\t moment\t later:\t It\t sure as\thell\tdoes.","CHAPTER\t27 We\t could\t be\t making\t something\t out\t of\t nothing,\u201d\t I\t said\t hours\t later.\t Jameson and\t I\t stood\t in\t the\t Hawthorne\t House\t library,\t looking\t up\t at\t the\t shelves\t circling the\troom,\tfilled\twith\tbooks\tfrom\teighteen-foot\tceiling\tto\tfloor. \u201cHawthorne-born\t or\t Hawthorne-made,\t there\u2019s\t always\t something\t to\t be played.\u201d\tJameson\tspoke\twith\ta\tsingsong\trhythm,\tlike\ta\tchild\tskipping\trope.\tBut when\t he\t brought\t his\t gaze\t down\t from\t the\t shelves\t to\t me,\t there\t was\t nothing childlike\tin\this\texpression.\t\u201cEverything\tis\tsomething\tin\tHawthorne\tHouse.\u201d Everything,\tI\tthought.\tAnd\teveryone. \u201cDo\t you\t know\t how\t many\t times\t in\t my\t life\t one\t of\t my\t grandfather\u2019s\t puzzles has\t sent\t me\t to\t this\t room?\u201d\t Jameson\t turned\t slowly\t in\t a\t circle.\t \u201cHe\u2019s\t probably rolling\tin\this\tgrave\tthat\tit\ttook\tme\tthis\tlong\tto\tsee\tit.\u201d \u201cWhat\tdo\tyou\tthink\twe\u2019re\tlooking\tfor?\u201d\tI\tasked. \u201cWhat\t do\t you\t think\t we\u2019re\t looking\t for,\t Heiress?\u201d\t Jameson\t had\t a\t way\t of making\teverything\tsound\tlike\tit\twas\teither\ta\tchallenge\tor\tan\tinvitation. Or\tboth. Focus,\tI\ttold\tmyself.\tI\twas\there\tbecause\tI\twanted\tanswers\tat\tleast\tas\tmuch\tas the\t boy\t beside\t me\t did.\t \u201cIf\t the\t clue\t is\t a\t book\t by\t its\t cover,\u201d\t I\t said,\t turning\t the riddle\tover\tin\tmy\tmind\t\u201cthen\tI\u2019d\tguess\tthat\twe\u2019re\tlooking\tfor\teither\ta\tbook\tor\ta cover\u2014or\tmaybe\ta\tmismatch\tbetween\tthe\ttwo?\u201d \u201cA\tbook\tthat\tdoesn\u2019t\tmatch\tits\tcover?\u201d\tJameson\u2019s\texpression\tgave\tno\thint\tof what\the\tthought\tof\tthat\tsuggestion. \u201cI\tcould\tbe\twrong.\u201d Jameson\u2019s\t lips\t twisted\u2014not\t quite\t a\t smile,\t not\t quite\t a\t smirk.\t \u201cEveryone\t is\t a little\twrong\tsometimes,\tHeiress.\u201d An\t invitation\u2014and\t a\t challenge.\t I\t had\t no\t intention\t of\t being\t a\t little\t wrong\u2014 not\t with\t him.\t The\t sooner\t my\t body\t remembered\t that,\t the\t better.\t I\t physically turned\taway\tfrom\tJameson\tto\tdo\ta\tthree-sixty,\tslowly\ttaking\tin\tthe\tscope\tof\tthe room.\t Just\t looking\t up\t at\t the\t shelves\t felt\t like\t standing\t at\t the\t edge\t of\t the\t Grand Canyon.\t We\t were\t completely\t encircled\t by\t books,\t going\t up\t two\t stories.\t \u201cThere","must\tbe\tthousands\tof\tbooks\tin\there.\u201d\tGiven\thow\tbig\tthe\tlibrary\twas,\tgiven\thow high\tthe\tshelves\twent\tup,\tif\twe\twere\tlooking\tfor\ta\tbook\tmismatched\tto\tits\tcover sleeve\u2026 \u201cThis\tcould\ttake\thours,\u201d\tI\tsaid. Jameson\tsmiled\u2014with\tteeth\tthis\ttime.\t\u201cDon\u2019t\tbe\tridiculous,\tHeiress.\tIt\tcould take\tdays.\u201d We\tworked\tin\tsilence.\tNeither\tone\tof\tus\tleft\tfor\tdinner.\tA\tthrill\tran\tthrough\tmy body\t each\t time\t I\t realized\t that\t I\t was\t holding\t a\t first\t edition.\t Every\t once\t in\t a while,\tI\u2019d\tflip\ta\tbook\topen\tto\tfind\tit\tsigned.\tStephen\tKing.\tJ.\tK.\tRowling.\tToni Morrison.\t Eventually,\t I\t managed\t to\t stop\t pausing\t in\t awe\t at\t what\t I\t held\t in\t my hands.\tI\tlost\ttrack\tof\ttime,\tlost\ttrack\tof\teverything\texcept\tthe\trhythm\tof\tpulling books\toff\tshelves\tand\tcovers\toff\tbooks,\treplacing\tthe\tcover,\treplacing\tthe\tbook. I\t could\t hear\t Jameson\t working.\t I\t could\t feel\t him\t in\t the\t room,\t as\t we\t moved through\t our\t respective\t shelves,\t closer\t and\t closer\t to\t each\t other.\t He\u2019d\t taken\t the upper\tlevel.\tI\twas\tworking\tdown\tbelow.\tFinally,\tI\tglanced\tup\tto\tsee\thim\tright\ton top\tof\tme. \u201cWhat\tif\twe\u2019re\twasting\tour\ttime?\u201d\tI\tasked.\tMy\tquestion\techoed\tthrough\tthe room. \u201cTime\tis\tmoney,\tHeiress.\tYou\thave\tplenty\tto\twaste.\u201d \u201cStop\tcalling\tme\tthat.\u201d \u201cI\t have\t to\t call\t you\t something,\t and\t you\t didn\u2019t\t seem\t to\t appreciate\t Mystery Girl\tor\tthe\tabbreviation\tthereof.\u201d It\t was\t on\t the\t tip\t of\t my\t tongue\t to\t point\t out\t that\t I\t didn\u2019t\t call\t him\t anything.\t I hadn\u2019t\t said\t his\t name\t once\t since\t entering\t this\t room.\t But\t somehow,\t instead\t of offering\tthat\tretort,\tI\tlooked\tup\tat\thim,\tand\ta\tdifferent\tquestion\tcame\tout\tof\tmy mouth\tinstead. \u201cWhat\t did\t you\t mean\t in\t the\t car\t today,\t when\t you\t said\t that\t the\t last\t thing\t I needed\twas\tfor\tanyone\tto\tsee\tus\ttogether?\u201d I\tcould\thear\thim\ttaking\tbooks\toff\tshelves\tand\tcovers\toff\tbooks\tand\treplacing them\tboth\u2014again\tand\tagain\u2014before\tI\tgot\ta\tresponse.\t\u201cYou\tspent\tthe\tday\tat\tthe fine\t institution\t that\t is\t Heights\t Country\t Day,\u201d\t he\t said.\t \u201cWhat\t do\t you\t think\t I meant?\u201d He\talways\thad\tto\tbe\tthe\tone\tasking\tquestions,\talways\thad\tto\tturn\teverything around.","\u201cDon\u2019t\t tell\t me,\u201d\t Jameson\t murmured\t up\t above,\t \u201cthat\t you\t didn\u2019t\t hear\t any whispers.\u201d I\t froze,\t thinking\t about\t what\t I\t had\t heard.\t \u201cI\t met\t a\t girl.\u201d\t I\t made\t myself continue\t working\t my\t way\t through\t the\t shelf\u2014book\t off,\t cover\t off,\t cover\t on, book\treshelved.\t\u201cThea.\u201d Jameson\tsnorted.\t\u201cThea\tisn\u2019t\ta\tgirl.\tShe\u2019s\ta\twhirlwind\twrapped\tin\ta\thurricane wrapped\t in\t steel\u2014and\t every\t girl\t in\t that\t school\t follows\t her\t lead,\t which\t means I\u2019m\tpersona\tnon\tgrata\tand\thave\tbeen\tfor\ta\tyear.\u201d\tHe\tpaused.\t\u201cWhat\tdid\tThea\tsay to\t you?\u201d\t Jameson\u2019s\t attempt\t to\t sound\t casual\t might\t have\t fooled\t me\t if\t I\u2019d\t been looking\t at\t his\t face,\t but\t without\t the\t expression\t to\t sell\t it,\t I\t heard\t a\t telltale\t note underneath.\tHe\tcares. Suddenly,\t I\t wished\t I\t hadn\u2019t\t brought\t Thea\t up.\t Sowing\t discord\t was\t probably her\tgoal. \u201cAvery?\u201d Jameson\u2019s\tuse\tof\tmy\tgiven\tname\tconfirmed\tfor\tme\tthat\the\tdidn\u2019t\tjust\twant\ta response;\the\tneeded\tone. \u201cThea\tkept\ttalking\tabout\tthis\thouse,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tcarefully.\t\u201cAbout\twhat\tit\tmust\tbe like\tfor\tme\tto\tlive\there.\u201d\tThat\twas\ttrue\u2014or\ttrue\tenough.\t\u201cAbout\tall\tof\tyou.\u201d \u201cIs\tit\tstill\ta\tlie,\u201d\tJameson\tasked\tloftily,\t\u201cif\tyou\u2019re\tmasking\twhat\tmatters,\tbut what\tyou\u2019re\tsaying\tis\ttechnically\ttrue?\u201d He\twanted\tthe\ttruth. \u201cThea\tsaid\tthere\twas\ta\tgirl\tand\tthat\tshe\tdied.\u201d\tI\tspoke\tlike\tI\twas\tripping\toff\ta bandage,\ttoo\tfast\tto\tsecond-guess\twhat\tI\twas\tsaying. Overhead,\t the\t rhythm\t of\t Jameson\u2019s\t work\t slowed.\t I\t counted\t five\t seconds\t of utter\tsilence\tbefore\the\tspoke.\t\u201cHer\tname\twas\tEmily.\u201d I\t knew,\t though\t I\t couldn\u2019t\t pinpoint\t how,\t that\t he\t wouldn\u2019t\t have\t said\t it\t if\t I\u2019d been\table\tto\tsee\this\tface. \u201cHer\tname\twas\tEmily,\u201d\the\trepeated.\t\u201cAnd\tshe\twasn\u2019t\tjust\ta\tgirl.\u201d A\t breath\t caught\t in\t my\t throat.\t I\t forced\t it\t out\t and\t kept\t checking\t books, because\t I\t didn\u2019t\t want\t him\t to\t know\t how\t much\t I\u2019d\t heard\t in\t his\t tone.\t Emily mattered\tto\thim.\tShe\tstill\tmatters\tto\thim. \u201cI\u2019m\t sorry,\u201d\t I\t said\u2014sorry\t for\t bringing\t it\t up\t and\t sorry\t she\t was\t gone.\t \u201cWe should\tcall\tit\ta\tnight.\u201d\tIt\twas\tlate,\tand\tI\tdidn\u2019t\ttrust\tmyself\tnot\tto\tsay\tsomething else\tI\tmight\tregret. Jameson\u2019s\t working\t rhythm\t stopped\t overhead\t and\t was\t replaced\t with\t the sound\t of\t footsteps\t as\t he\t made\t his\t way\t to\t and\t down\t the\t wrought-iron\t spiral stairs.\tHe\tpositioned\thimself\tbetween\tme\tand\tthe\texit.\t\u201cSame\ttime\ttomorrow?\u201d","It\t suddenly\t felt\t imperative\t that\t I\t not\t let\t myself\t look\t at\t his\t deep\t green\t eyes. \u201cWe\u2019re\t making\t good\t progress,\u201d\t I\t said,\t forcing\t myself\t to\t head\t for\t the\t door. \u201cEven\tif\twe\tdon\u2019t\tfind\ta\tway\tto\tshortcut\tthe\tprocess,\twe\tshould\tbe\table\tto\tmake it\tthrough\tall\tthe\tshelves\twithin\tthe\tweek.\u201d Jameson\tleaned\ttoward\tme\tas\tI\tpassed.\t\u201cDon\u2019t\thate\tme,\u201d\the\tsaid\tsoftly. Why\t would\t I\t hate\t you?\t I\t felt\t my\t pulse\t jump\t in\t my\t throat.\t Because\t of\t what he\u2019d\tjust\tsaid,\tor\tbecause\tof\thow\tclose\the\twas\tto\tme? \u201cThere\u2019s\ta\tslight\tchance\tthat\twe\tmight\tnot\tbe\tdone\twithin\tthe\tweek.\u201d \u201cWhy\tnot?\u201d\tI\tasked,\tforgetting\tto\tavoid\tlooking\tat\thim. He\t brought\t his\t lips\t right\t next\t to\t my\t ear.\t \u201cThis\t isn\u2019t\t the\t only\t library\t in Hawthorne\tHouse.\u201d","CHAPTER\t28 How\t many\t libraries\t did\t this\t place\t have?\t That\t was\t what\t I\t focused\t on\t as\t I walked\taway\tfrom\tJameson\u2014not\tthe\tfeel\tof\this\tbody\ttoo\tclose\tto\tmine,\tnot\tthe fact\t that\t Thea\t hadn\u2019t\t been\t lying\t when\t she\u2019d\t said\t that\t there\t was\t a\t girl\t or\t that she\u2019d\tdied. Emily.\t I\t tried\t and\t failed\t to\t banish\t the\t whisper\t in\t my\t mind.\t Her\t name\t was Emily.\t I\t reached\t the\t main\t staircase\t and\t hesitated.\t If\t I\t went\t back\t to\t my\t wing now,\tif\tI\ttried\tto\tsleep,\tall\tI\twould\tdo\twas\treplay\tmy\tconversation\twith\tJameson, again\tand\tagain.\tI\tglanced\tback\tover\tmy\tshoulder\tto\tsee\tif\the\u2019d\tfollowed\tme\u2014 and\tsaw\tOren\tinstead. My\thead\tof\tsecurity\thad\ttold\tme\tI\twas\tsafe\there.\tHe\tseemed\tto\tbelieve\tit.\tBut still,\the\ttrailed\tme\u2014invisible\tuntil\the\twanted\tto\tbe\tseen. \u201cTurning\tin\tfor\tthe\tnight?\u201d\tOren\tasked\tme. \u201cNo.\u201d\tThere\twas\tno\tway\tI\tcould\tsleep,\tno\tway\tI\tcould\teven\tclose\tmy\teyes\u2014 so\t I\t explored.\t Down\t one\t long\t hall,\t I\t found\t a\t theater.\t Not\t a\t movie\t theater,\t but something\tcloser\tto\tan\topera\thouse.\tThe\twalls\twere\tgolden.\tA\tred\tvelvet\tcurtain obscured\twhat\thad\tto\tbe\ta\tstage.\tThe\tseats\twere\ton\tan\tincline.\tThe\tceiling\tarced, and\twhen\tI\tflipped\ta\tswitch,\thundreds\tof\ttiny\tlights\tcame\tto\tlife\talong\tthat\tarc. I\tremembered\tDr.\tMac\ttelling\tme\tabout\tthe\tHawthorne\tFoundation\u2019s\tsupport of\tthe\tarts. The\t next\t room\t over\t was\t filled\t with\t musical\t instruments\u2014dozens\t of\t them.\t I bent\t to\t look\t at\t a\t violin\t with\t an\t S\t carved\t to\t one\t side\t of\t the\t strings,\t its\t mirror image\ton\tthe\tother. \u201cThat\u2019s\ta\tStradivarius.\u201d\tThose\twords\twere\tissued\tlike\ta\tthreat. I\t turned\t to\t see\t Grayson\t standing\t in\t the\t doorway.\t I\t wondered\t if\t he\u2019d\t been following\t us\u2014and\t for\t how\t long.\t He\t stared\t at\t me,\t his\t pupils\t black\t and fathomless,\t the\t irises\t around\t them\t ice\t gray.\t \u201cYou\t should\t be\t careful,\t Ms. Grambs.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m\tnot\tgoing\tto\tbreak\tanything,\u201d\tI\tsaid,\tstepping\tback\tfrom\tthe\tviolin. \u201cYou\tshould\tbe\tcareful,\u201d\tGrayson\treiterated,\this\tvoice\tsoft\tbut\tdeadly,\t\u201cwith","Jameson.\tThe\tlast\tthing\tmy\tbrother\tneeds\tis\tyou\tand\twhatever\tthis\tis.\u201d I\tglanced\tat\tOren,\tbut\this\tface\twas\timpassive,\tlike\the\tcouldn\u2019t\thear\tanything that\tpassed\tbetween\tus.\tIt\u2019s\tnot\this\tjob\tto\teavesdrop.\tIt\u2019s\this\tjob\tto\tprotect\tme\u2014 and\the\tdoesn\u2019t\tsee\tGrayson\tas\ta\tthreat. \u201cThis\t being\t me?\u201d\t I\t shot\t back.\t \u201cOr\t the\t terms\t of\t your\t grandfather\u2019s\t will?\u201d\t I wasn\u2019t\tthe\tone\twho\u2019d\tupended\ttheir\tlives.\tBut\tI\twas\there,\tand\tTobias\tHawthorne wasn\u2019t.\tLogically,\tI\tknew\tthat\tmy\tbest\toption\twas\tto\tavoid\tconfrontation,\tavoid him\taltogether.\tThis\twas\ta\tbig\thouse. Standing\tthis\tclose\tto\tGrayson,\tit\tdidn\u2019t\tfeel\tnearly\tbig\tenough. \u201cMy\t mother\t hasn\u2019t\t left\t her\t room\t in\t days.\u201d\t Grayson\t stared\t at\t and\t into\t me. \u201cXander\t nearly\t blew\t himself\t up\t today.\t Jameson\t is\t one\t bad\t idea\t away\t from ruining\this\tlife,\tand\tnone\tof\tus\tcan\tleave\tthe\testate\twithout\tbeing\thounded\tby\tthe press.\tThe\tproperty\tdamage\tthey\u2019ve\tcaused\talone\u2026\u201d Say\tnothing.\tTurn\taway.\tDon\u2019t\tengage.\t\u201cDo\tyou\tthink\tthis\tis\teasy\tfor\tme?\u201d\tI asked\tinstead.\t\u201cDo\tyou\tthink\tI\twant\tto\tbe\tstalked\tby\tthe\tpaparazzi?\u201d \u201cYou\t want\t the\t money.\u201d\t Grayson\t Hawthorne\t looked\t down\t at\t me\t from\t on high.\t\u201cHow\tcould\tyou\tnot,\tgrowing\tup\tthe\tway\tyou\tdid?\u201d That\t was\t just\t dripping\t with\t condescension.\t \u201cLike\t you\t don\u2019t\t want\t the money?\u201d\t I\t retorted.\t \u201cGrowing\t up\t the\t way\t you\t did?\t Maybe\t I\t haven\u2019t\t had everything\thanded\tto\tme\tmy\tentire\tlife,\tbut\u2014\u201d \u201cYou\t have\t no\t idea,\u201d\t Grayson\t said\t lowly,\t \u201chow\t ill\t prepared\t you\t are.\t A\t girl like\tyou?\u201d \u201cYou\tdon\u2019t\tknow\tme.\u201d\tA\trush\tof\tfury\tsurged\tthrough\tmy\tveins\tas\tI\tcut\thim off. \u201cI\t will,\u201d\t Grayson\t promised.\t \u201cI\u2019ll\t know\t everything\t about\t you\t soon\t enough.\u201d Every\t bone\t in\t my\t body\t said\t that\t he\t was\t a\t person\t who\t kept\t his\t promises.\t \u201cMy access\t to\t funds\t might\t be\t somewhat\t limited\t currently,\t but\t the\t Hawthorne\t name still\t means\t something.\t There\t will\t always\t be\t people\t tripping\t over\t themselves\t to do\t favors\t for\t any\t one\t of\t us.\u201d\t He\t didn\u2019t\t move,\t didn\u2019t\t blink,\t wasn\u2019t\t physically aggressive\t in\t any\t way,\t but\t he\t bled\t power,\t and\t he\t knew\t it.\t \u201cWhatever\t you\u2019re hiding,\tI\u2019ll\tfind\tit.\tEvery\tlast\tsecret.\tWithin\tdays,\tI\u2019ll\thave\ta\tdetailed\tdossier\ton every\tperson\tin\tyour\tlife.\tYour\tsister.\tYour\tfather.\tYour\tmother\u2014\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t\t talk\t about\t my\t mother.\u201d\t My\t chest\t was\t tight.\t Breathing\t was\t a challenge. \u201cStay\taway\tfrom\tmy\tfamily,\tMs.\tGrambs.\u201d\tGrayson\tpushed\tpast\tme.\tI\u2019d\tbeen dismissed. \u201cOr\t what?\u201d\t I\t called\t after\t him,\t and\t then,\t possessed\t by\t something\t I\t couldn\u2019t","quite\tname,\tI\tcontinued.\t\u201cOr\twhat\thappened\tto\tEmily\twill\thappen\tto\tme?\u201d Grayson\t jerked\t to\t a\t halt,\t every\t muscle\t in\t his\t body\t taut.\t \u201cDon\u2019t\t you\t say\t her name.\u201d\t His\t posture\t was\t angry,\t but\t his\t voice\t sounded\t like\t it\t was\t about\t to crumble.\tLike\tI\u2019d\tgutted\thim. Not\tjust\tJameson.\tMy\tmouth\twent\tdry.\tEmily\tdidn\u2019t\tjust\tmatter\tto\tJameson. I\tfelt\ta\thand\ton\tmy\tshoulder.\tOren.\tHis\texpression\twas\tgentle,\tbut\tclearly,\the wanted\tme\tto\tleave\tit\talone. \u201cYou\t won\u2019t\t last\t a\t month\t in\t this\t house.\u201d\t Grayson\t managed\t to\t pull\t himself together\t long\t enough\t to\t issue\t that\t prediction\t like\t a\t royal\t issuing\t a\t decree.\t \u201cIn fact,\tI\u2019d\tlay\tmoney\tthat\tyou\u2019re\tgone\twithin\tthe\tweek.\u201d"]
Search
Read the Text Version
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
- 88
- 89
- 90
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
- 110
- 111
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- 117
- 118
- 119
- 120
- 121
- 122
- 123
- 124
- 125
- 126
- 127
- 128
- 129
- 130
- 131
- 132
- 133
- 134
- 135
- 136
- 137
- 138
- 139
- 140
- 141
- 142
- 143
- 144
- 145
- 146
- 147
- 148
- 149
- 150
- 151
- 152
- 153
- 154
- 155
- 156
- 157
- 158
- 159
- 160
- 161
- 162
- 163
- 164
- 165
- 166
- 167
- 168
- 169
- 170
- 171
- 172
- 173
- 174
- 175
- 176
- 177
- 178
- 179
- 180
- 181
- 182
- 183
- 184
- 185
- 186
- 187
- 188
- 189
- 190
- 191
- 192
- 193
- 194
- 195
- 196
- 197
- 198
- 199
- 200
- 201
- 202
- 203
- 204
- 205
- 206
- 207
- 208
- 209
- 210
- 211
- 212
- 213
- 214
- 215
- 216
- 217
- 218
- 219
- 220
- 221
- 222
- 223
- 224
- 225
- 226
- 227
- 228
- 229
- 230
- 231
- 232
- 233
- 234
- 235
- 236
- 237
- 238
- 239
- 240
- 241
- 242
- 243
- 244
- 245
- 246
- 247
- 248
- 249
- 250
- 251
- 252
- 253
- 254
- 255
- 256
- 257
- 258
- 259
- 260
- 261
- 262
- 263
- 264
- 265
- 266
- 267
- 268
- 269
- 270
- 271
- 272
- 273
- 274
- 275
- 276
- 277
- 278
- 279
- 280
- 281
- 282
- 283
- 284
- 285
- 286
- 287
- 288
- 289
- 290
- 291
- 292
- 293
- 294
- 295
- 296
- 297
- 298
- 299
