When we wheeled into the parking lot of The Parker, the ritzy restaurant shouldn’t have been a surprise. The sign I saw as we walked in, however, was. There was a large image of James Kade hung behind the hostess counter.

Cassandra must’ve caught my gaze because she stepped close. “You didn’t know your new stepdaddy owned this place?”

I turned heated eyes on her. “I hope you’re not expecting me to use my name for a seat.” My smile slipped to a snarl. “Because hell will freeze over before I do that.”

Her smile was forced, but she raised a hand in the air and snapped her fingers. “Not at all.” The hostess zeroed in on her with a gracious smile and menus in hand. “Miss Sullivan and her friends. We were expecting you. Follow me, please.”

We were shown to a back room and had our own staff of attendants. No order was placed, but dishes and drinks were served the second we sat down. I found myself seated between Becky and Mark and expelled a silent sigh in relief. They were the two I got along with the most. Emily was across from me, but Adam and Peter sat beside her. While Adam’s eyes were filled with too much warmth, Peter had yet to acknowledge I was in the room. His eyes darted away, and a strained look crossed them every moment we might’ve spoken. The silence was awkward, but Adam or Mark would jump in where a statement was dropped that Peter should’ve made.

Nothing important was discussed among the Elite. I wasn’t sure if it was because of my presence or in spite of it. Towards the end, everyone grew silent when Miranda White made her entrance. She wore a yellow dress with a white pea coat wrapped around her form. Despite the chilly air, she wore classic white sandals with enclosed toes, and a frosty smile on her face. She wrung out her gloves and laughed. The sound took over the room. All eyes were on her, and she knew it.

She struck a pose with a hand on her hip. “I know you guys didn’t intentionally exclude me—” Her eyes fell on me and she froze. Then her mouth fell open, and she screeched with a hand pointed in my direction. “Are you kidding me?!”

Cassandra sent me a dark glare but shot to her feet. “What are you doing, Miranda?”

“You invited her but not me?” Her chest rose up and down at a rapid pace. “I can’t believe this! She’s the reason why Logan dumped me. You—” She started towards me with a growl, but Adam stood and pushed her back.

“Stop, Miranda.”

Cassandra added with a smirk, “It’s not a good look for you.”

“Adam, you hate them too. What are you doing with her?! She is one of them. They can’t be trusted—”

“Mason and Logan can’t be trusted. Sam’s different.”

Cassandra rolled her eyes. “And it’s not like you didn’t do this to yourself, Miranda. You screwed one of them for two months.”

She tried to surge out of Adam’s hold, but he held her back. She screeched, “You all did! And I dated Logan. I dated him. There’s a huge difference.”

Amelia stood. “Not from what I heard.”

Miranda paled and fell quiet. She started to tremble. “What…what did you hear?”

Amelia looked bored as she inspected her fingernails. “That Logan Kade screwed you for two months. He used you, but he never liked you. Tell me something, did he ever actually take you on a date?” When Miranda staggered back, Amelia’s sneer was in place. “Like I said, he wanted to take you down a peg, and it worked. Look at you—”

Cassandra snorted beside her. “You’re pathetic. We don’t want you here anymore.”

Miranda turned and pleaded. “Peter…”

He shot from the table and stormed out. He never looked at her. Cassandra started to laugh. “Are you kidding me? He’s mine, Miranda. You’re the laughingstock of our school, of the town. All of our parents have heard what happened to you. You’re a shell of what you used to be and who can we blame for that? Logan Kade did this to you and it was his intention from the beginning.”

Adam said quietly as he still held her arms in place, “He did it to protect Sam. We’ve all heard about it.”

Her eyes filled with hostility and they snapped to me. “You!”

I stood in slow motion and knew my face was guarded. I lifted my chin, holding her gaze as I narrowed my eyes. “My turn now? Let’s have it.”

I was aware of Becky’s presence beside me. Something kept tapping on the table.

“This is all because of you. They’re right.” She looked shattered as she admitted it. “They’re right. Logan did this to me to protect you. He knew I could hurt you…and…I…it’s all because of you.”

I threw my hands in the air. “Are you serious?” I felt like Logan in that moment. “You’re more stupid than he told me you were. None of this had anything to do with me. I was a side benefit. They did this to you—they—not just Logan, but they. Logan, Mason, and Nate. All three did this to you because you—” I clamped my mouth shut and drew in a staggering breath. I felt my blood drain from my face as I realized what I had almost done.

“Because why, Sam?” Adam prodded in a soft voice.

I tore away and grabbed my coat.

“Sam?” He started to meet me as I rounded the table. When his arms would’ve caught me, I sidestepped and pivoted around. “Sam!”

I shook my head when I paused in the doorway but caught Miranda’s tear-stained gaze. “Logan didn’t hurt you because of me, but I’m glad he did. You’re a vindictive bitch, and if he hadn’t gone after you, I know you would have gone after me. So yeah, I’m happy. You’ve made others suffer so you’re due for your own batch.” I scanned the group with a hard look. “And f**k all of you.”

“Sam!” Becky yelled after me, but I shoved out the private room and hurried through the restaurant.

CHAPTER FOUR

I slept alone that night and received a few text messages from Mason. The dinner with their mother went as well as he assumed. Horrible. She didn’t like our relationship. Mason didn’t care. I asked if Logan said anything, and he responded with a bunch of curse words. That brought a smile to my face, but I’ll admit that the night was still lonely.

At school the next morning, I was surprised when Peter and Emily sat beside me in my first class. They’d never done it before and when I asked why, Emily grinned. “You’re in the Elite. What do you expect?”