Empire High Betrayal Read online

  Empire High Betrayal

  Empire High Book 3

  By Ivy Smoak

  Copyright 2020 Ivy Smoak

  All Rights Reserved

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  To all those awkward high school moments.

  Who knew they’d be useful?

  CONTENTS

  Title

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Temptation

  A Note From Ivy

  Chapter 1

  Saturday

  Nunca.

  With each step I took, the more determined I became. I couldn’t let Isabella win. Not like this. Not ever. Someone needed to stand up to her. And that someone was going to be me.

  I tried to ignore the cold autumn air biting at my skin. I tried to ignore the rough pavement on my bare feet. I tried to keep my head held high.

  But when Isabella’s limo sped off, splashing water all over me, my shoulders crumpled forward and my tears started to fall again.

  Who was I kidding? I’d been given plenty of chances to stand up to Isabella, and all I had ever done was cower. Just because I was half Pruitt didn’t mean I could play the same evil games as her. Isabella would always have the upper hand. She’d always win.

  Stop it. My mom raised me to believe in myself. To believe that people could get through hard times. Then why isn’t she here with me? Why’d she have to die?

  My tears wouldn’t stop. For some reason crying brought up all the memories. My last moments holding my mom’s hand in her hospital bed. The image morphed in my head, and instead of my mom in a hospital bed it was my uncle.

  What the hell was I fighting for when I’d already lost everything?

  I swallowed hard. Matt. Kennedy. Myself. I was fighting for myself. I wiped away the stubborn tears off my cheeks. I was fighting for my freaking self.

  I was still standing after everything that I’d been through. And I’d keep standing through this too. I just needed to figure out what to do next. I was naked in the middle of the city with no money.

  Shit. What was I supposed to do all night? The bus station that Isabella had mentioned wasn’t a bad option. If I could sneak into the terminal in my skivvies without being seen, then maybe I could hide in the bathroom all night. It would be warm and relatively safe. The only people that hung out in bus station terminals at night were homeless. And that was me. I’d fit right in. And I’d have plenty of time to figure out how I could make sure Kennedy was safe without alerting Isabella that I hadn’t left town.

  I opened up the soggy map that Isabella had dropped at my feet. You horrible witch. It was a map of the city, but she’d crossed out tons of landmarks to make it harder to figure out where I was. I didn’t see a single bus station listed either. And even if there had been one, it would have been hard to decipher because across the map in big bolded letters, she’d written SORRY NOT SORRY.

  What is wrong with her? I turned the map in my hands, trying to find something that made sense. She’d said 10 blocks, right? I scanned the map again, squinting in the dark. There was no bus station listed that I could make out. Unless it was one of the things she’d crossed out. And I didn’t even know where the hell I was, so I had no idea which direction to start walking. Knowing Isabella, she probably dropped me in the middle of nowhere.

  I heard a crashing noise behind me and spun around. “Hello?” I pulled the map in front of me, even though I was more worried about being murdered than showing off my underwear.

  There was no response.

  A bus station was fairly safe. An abandoned parking lot surrounded by rundown industrial buildings? Not so much. Another crashing noise made me turn around again. There was nothing there. But I’d heard it. I backed away slowly and tripped over something. Whatever it was sliced into my skin as I fell onto the hard pavement.

  Damn it. I looked down at the line of blood on my ankle. I was naked and bleeding and now I had tetanus. I heard another loud noise and tried not to cry out. If there was someone out there, I didn’t want them to know where I was. I’d already called hello like an idiot. I stayed low and crawled away from the spot. Staying low was good. That was a thing, I was pretty sure. Or was it serpentining? Ow. My left knee just nicked something too.

  I looked down and something glinted in the moonlight. Peeking out the top of my bra was the keycard that James had given me. Oh thank God. It felt like a miracle. How had I forgotten about the keycard? James being an asshole was the best thing that had ever happened to me! Now I had somewhere to go that was safe. I could head back to the hotel.

  How long had we been driving since leaving homecoming? Twenty minutes maybe? In New York traffic that was like…just a few miles, right? I could get back to the hotel and ask James for help. As far as I was concerned, he owed me. I could swear him to secrecy so he wouldn’t tell Isabella I was still in New York. It was the perfect plan.

  I didn’t know where I was, but I’d recognize something eventually. I just needed to start moving. And I needed to get as far away from here as possible.

  I looked behind me to make sure I couldn’t see anyone. The coast was clear. I pushed myself up and started running as fast as I could. Luckily for me, I’d been training for my mile run in gym class. If I could just figure out how to get back to the hotel, everything would be fine. And maybe if I ran fast enough, I wouldn’t get arrested for public indecency.

  ***

  I ducked into an alley a few buildings away from the hotel. New York was nothing like Delaware. Apparently a girl running through the city in a makeshift dress made out of a soggy map in the middle of October wasn’t such a strange sight. The lack of shoes and blood didn’t phase them either. For the most part, everyone just ignored me. A few people laughed and rolled their eyes like I was the new crazy lady in town. A few men whistled at me, which made me increase my pace. But mostly, I was ignored. Or maybe they’d called the cops on me and I was just gone before they’d arrived. All I knew was that if I’d run around like this back home, I would have been arrested for sure. I’d be sitting in a jail cell…safely. Crap, was that a better plan than sneaking into the hotel? At least I’d be safe and warm in jail. But I’d be in jail…

  I tightened the map around my naked body as I peered around the corner at the hotel. I just needed to think this through. I couldn’t run into anyone from the dance or they might alert Isabella. But as I tried to come up with a plan on how to get in, my mind felt as frozen as the res
t of me. I shivered as I stared at the front entrance. Trying to get a cop to notice me and lock me up was looking like a pretty good choice as I stared at the ornate doors.

  The doors. There were more entrances to the hotel than just the main lobby. The first time I’d been to this hotel, I’d gone around to the staff entrance. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t thought of it before. Probably because I was exhausted and cold and minutes away from just curling up to cry myself to sleep in a dumpster. Stop. I was not dumpster diving tonight. I was going to go to James’ room and demand he let me stay there for the night. Just until I knew for sure Kennedy was home safe. It was a great plan.

  I tried to stand up a little straighter and the map slipped out of my hands. Oops. I pulled it back around me as I made my way out onto the sidewalk. I walked as fast as I could up to the hotel and then made a quick left down the side alley.

  I almost started crying when I saw the door propped open. The last time I’d been in the kitchen it had been hot. They were probably excited to have the frigid autumn breeze coming in. I ducked inside. I wasn’t surprised that I didn’t see anyone. There’d only be a few stragglers on cleaning duty this late. I looked around for an apron or a chef jacket or something to cover myself better. But there was nothing in sight. My map dress would have to do.

  I opened the door to the ballroom and immediately closed it. There were still students slow dancing. Was this the never-ending homecoming from hell? I took a deep breath and looked down the hall. This kitchen had to connect to more than just the ballroom. I made my way down the hall, checking door after door until I reached a staircase. Thank God.

  As I climbed the stairs all I could think about was room 315. I kept saying it over and over again. My thighs screamed from overexertion. My body was still shaking from the cold even though the stairwell was warm. And when I reached the third floor I did everything I could to hold back my tears. I was so freaking close.

  I pushed open the door but immediately pulled it shut when I saw someone I recognized. It was one of the football players that had danced with Matt. I think. I pushed the door open again, slower this time, and peered down the hall. The football player was opening up a door and the girl next to him was laughing.

  Was this whole floor filled with students from Empire High? I bit the inside of my lip. If one of them saw me, it would ruin everything. Isabella couldn’t know that I was here. I couldn’t risk Kennedy’s safety. Maybe it would be better to just stay in this stairwell all night. I looked behind me to see if there was anywhere I could hide out.

  Oh my God. I’d left a trail of bloody footprints behind me. Leading from the kitchen all the way to this floor. It would only be a matter of time before someone followed this mess. I got down on my hands and knees and tried to wipe up the blood, but it just smeared everywhere. And more blood got onto the pristine floors from my knee.

  It took every ounce of strength I had left to push myself back up to my feet. And now that I knew how cut up the soles of my feet were, each step hurt. But I couldn’t stay here all night. I was a sitting duck. I peered into the third floor again. The football player and his date were still talking outside his hotel door.

  Come on. Just get in there already! Didn’t he know how to close the deal? He just needed to tell her how pretty she was. Promise not to lie to her or pretend she was invisible. Basically just act like Matt minus the whole Isabella blackmail thing. I stared daggers at the happy couple.

  “Hello?” Someone’s voice echoed in the stairwell. “Is someone in here?”

  Shit balls!

  I heard their footsteps getting louder as they made their way up to me.

  I looked back out at the third floor. That stupid couple was still standing there. Damn it. I had to get to James’ room right this second before I got kicked out of the hotel. I could only imagine how many students would see me as I was dragged out kicking and screaming.

  Close the deal already! I silently cursed at the couple who didn’t even see me.

  The footsteps were getting closer.

  God, it was now or never. I didn’t know either of them. At least it wasn’t one of Isabella’s minions. Hopefully they wouldn’t recognize me. Besides, I didn’t exactly look like myself. I reached up and touched my hair. My loose curls had transformed into a messy rat’s nest during my run. And I could only imagine what my face looked like. Justin’s promise of my makeup lasting until midnight probably didn’t take into account that I’d be crying and running around.

  I took a deep breath and ran out onto the third floor, clutching my map dress to my skin. I ran as fast as I could, biting down on my lip so I wouldn’t scream from how much my feet hurt.

  They stared at me like I was crazy.

  “Oh my God, is that a prostitute?” the girl said in a disgusted voice.

  There was so much wrong with her statement. First…slut shaming. What a jerk. And second…didn’t prostitutes look classy? I was literally bleeding on the floor with no clothes or shoes. I looked homeless. If anything, I was a beat-up prostitute. They should have been helping me, not staring at me like I was diseased. But if they thought I was a prostitute, at least they didn’t know I was a fellow student. My best bet was to play along so they wouldn’t recognize me.

  “Yes, I’m a prostitute!” I said as I searched for room 315. “You caught me!” I glanced at the door next to me. 302. I was close. I picked up my pace. Fortunately room 315 was still pretty far away from them. I stopped in front of the door and pulled the keycard out of my bra. The map slipped again and I held it to my stomach, not even caring anymore. “I’m having sexy time with the gentleman in this room. So stop staring at me and let me do my job.”

  The football player laughed and the girl looked disgusted. But neither of them seemed to know who I was.

  “Isn’t that James’ room?” the girl asked.

  I ignored them. But I was relieved that I’d remembered the number correctly. I didn’t waste any time knocking. Any second now they could figure out who I was. I slid the keycard into the door and shoved it open. I stumbled into the room.

  But instead of breathing a sigh of relief for being safe, I threw my hand over my mouth at the scene in front of me. Kill me now.

  Chapter 2

  Saturday

  Rachel was kneeling in front of James. His fingers were buried in her hair, guiding her head up and down as he lazily stared down at her. His shirt was still on, but the buttons were undone. He was basically fully clothed, his pants just unzipped enough for Rachel. But Rachel was completely naked.

  My pain and exhaustion morphed to horror. I shouldn’t be seeing this. I can’t be here. But I stood there frozen. Where the hell else was I supposed to go? I opened my mouth, but no words came out.

  The door closed with a thud behind me.

  James looked up. For a second we just locked eyes and neither of us said a word. Rachel kept bobbing up and down.

  James groaned, his fingers tightening in Rachel’s hair. He closed his eyes, as if he thought he’d just envisioned me and I wasn’t actually standing there. Which apparently just turned him on. Because his breathing grew heavier.

  Oh God, why am I watching this? I backed up until my butt hit the door.

  James opened his eyes. And then blinked. And blinked again. He suddenly didn’t look so relaxed. He lowered both his eyebrows. “Brooklyn?”

  I was pretty sure Rachel said, “What the fuck?” But it was mumbled because her mouth was full.

  “What the hell!” James yelled, as he pulled away from Rachel. He grabbed himself and stared down at her. “Did you just bite me?”

  Rachel stood up and poked him hard in the middle of his chest. “You said her name. Are you freaking kidding me? You were thinking about her when I was…”

  “She’s standing right there.” He grimaced, still holding his junk.

  I wanted to laugh. I wanted to cry. I wanted to be anywhere in the world rather than here as Rachel turned toward me and screamed at the top of her lu
ngs. She flung herself on the bed, trying to wrap herself in the sheets.

  “Shit,” James said under his breath, looking down at himself.

  “I’m so sorry,” I croaked. “I’ll just…” I couldn’t leave. I didn’t have anywhere else to go. I put my hand out in front of me, blocking them from my sight. But it was a little late for that.

  “What the hell are you doing in here?” Rachel screamed. “Get out!”

  “I’m sorry,” I said again. “I…”

  “How the hell did you even get in here? Oh my God, James, did you give her a key to our room?”

  “I thought you slept with Matt,” he said, his voice laced with pain.

  “It was just one kiss. It didn’t mean anything! I told you that! And instead of believing me, you were going to sleep with her? Are you kidding me right now?”

  I lowered my hand slightly to make sure she wasn’t about to attack me.

  She had pulled the comforter around her and was staring at me like she was going to kill me. “Get out of here you slut!”

  The word was a punch in my gut. First a prostitute. Now a slut? I was in pain. I could barely stand. How could she not see that? How could everyone have just ignored me on the street like I was nothing? It was all too much. Her unkind words made me burst into tears.

  “Are you deaf?” she screamed.

  I closed my eyes. Maybe if I closed them tight enough I could wake up somewhere else. Why did I think I could just come in here? Of course he’d be with Rachel. They’d made up. Let this all be a dream. Please, please.

  “Rachel, cut it out,” said James as he zipped his pants up.

  “Excuse me?”

  “She’s hurt, Rachel.”

  “I don’t care if she’s…”

  “She’s bleeding,” he said. “Just sit down and give me a minute to figure out what the hell is going on.”

  This isn’t happening. It’s just a bad dream. I didn’t just see any of that.

  “What happened?” James asked as he gripped my shoulders.