Greyson's POV

I clench my fist to keep from slugging Gunnar right in his pretty-boy face after I was forced to see him with Ryane. I already hate him but seeing him flirt with Ryane is just too much. When they walk off down the hallway I hear her giggle and I have to hold steady. I watch them closely as they join Olivia in English. She's even friends with him. I want to kill Gunnar. He's on the wrestling team and football team which means he sees himself as a golden boy and so does the whole town. It doesn't help that practically everyone in this stupid town worships him and his family already.

He is the boy who was born with a silver spoon and I'm the boy on the wrong side of the tracks. Granted I actually did great in school. Not many people know about that because I had and still have a part to play. That's why I took this job as a janitor. As soon as Olivia graduates though, we can get out of here. We'll leave and never look back. I already have most of our meager belongings packed, just waiting for the right time to run.

It's another of my secrets. If anyone in this town found out that I planned to leave without coming back I would be six feet under the ground and Olivia would be worse off than me. My uncle tried to leave and let's just say we never heard from him again and the cops didn't even waste their energy on a manhunt.

A couple of weeks after he disappeared I was promoted to his position. I can remember that moment like it was yesterday rather than five years ago.

"Curley, get in here!" Nate yelled from inside his office. I was fourteen and mostly just cleaned for them. Every once in awhile Nate or his second in command, Luke, would take me out with them on jobs. There was a certain thrill that made me like going on those jobs, but later I realized that the thrill was their hook. They planned which jobs to take me on to get me begging for more. I only know that now because they have me do just that to young recruits.

"Curley!" Nate yelled again.

"I'm coming," I called back. I ran to the office to keep him from getting angry.

"Close the door and sit down." He said without turning around to face me.

"Yes, sir." I gently closed the door and took a seat in the chair that I just saw someone get tortured in an hour ago. I was terrified. I only could keep from shaking because I knew if I showed fear I'd be a liability. And in this business, there is no room for liabilities.

"Son, I have a job for you. As you know your uncle has left, leaving us without a bookkeeper. We would like you to take over for him. I know that you will not be a disappointment like he was." He said after turning around to look me in the eyes.

"Bookkeeper?" I asked in shock. I was barely in high school.

"Yes, I understand that you are very good with numbers. Amy tells me that you are advancing quickly. You are already taking college-level math courses. That's very impressive."

"Yes, sir I am. Who is Amy?" I asked after racking my mind for someone with that name and coming up empty.

"She is the Vice-Principal."

"Ms. Forest? You work with Ms. Forest?"

"More like she works with me. She helps cover up things for me occasionally and I make sure that she is protected. But, that doesn't matter. You cannot let anyone know about her or speak to her regarding this unless I tell you to. Understood?" He raised his eyebrow and I saw his hand clutch the pistol at his belt. He knew that I would never talk but it was his job to not trust anyone.

"Understood."

"Also, you cannot let anyone know about your new position. If anyone finds out it will be you who answers for it and I'd hate for Olivia to lose another family member. Wouldn't you?"

"Greyson?" O's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I look up at her and see that she's coming out of her English class and holding a plastic bag.

"Hey, O. How was class?" I ask as I continue to mop. I look behind her and see Ryane walking with Gunnar. She's laughing at something he's said and I want to snap his neck yet again.

"Better than yours clearly. I brought you some lunch." She tosses the bag to me and makes a point of looking over at Ryane. "She's nice."

"Thanks, O." I catch the bag easily. I see Principal Johansson watching us with his piercing eyes. "I better get back to work. See you around."

"Yes, duty calls. I'll see you at lunch?" She asks.

"Of course. I wouldn't miss lunch with my little sis, especially on her birthday." I reach forward and tousle her hair like I used to when we were little and like I do whenever I can especially on her birthday.

She smiles even when she tries to glare and sound angry. "Stop it. Gosh, I'm not five."

"I know. Love you."

"Love you too, big brother." She sticks her tongue out and walks off. I see Jacob out of the corner of my eye and nod to him so he knows to come over. "Jacob."

"Marco reminded me yet again about tonight." Jacob wants to roll his eyes, I can see it, but I also know that he's smart enough to keep it in his head. "Also, he gave me this for you."

"Thanks." I take the paper and walk away leaving him as quickly as I called him over. Once in the bathroom I go into a stall and open the note that I know Jacob wouldn't have read but also know will be encrypted so even if he did he wouldn't understand. I pull my phone out and call Marco. "I got it."

"Today would be a lovely day for a walk." He says and hangs up. I understand instantly. I get a pen out and use the word today as a key. Once I decode the note I'm able to read it clearly.

Car was stolen. Cops are unaware. Driver died a week ago. Do you want someone to check into it further?

I call him again. "Yes, with caution. Cameras are great to take on a walk because then you can check them to remember everything."

"Very true. I'll look into getting a good camera." He says and once again hangs up. I know from our conversation and the number of times we've spoken like this that he understands perfectly. He will check the cameras around the car to find out who took it and why they came to our town.