Greyson's POV

After the diner, I pull up to Marco's place. He lives with his parents but I could count on one hand how many times they had actually been home. They both work for the Dayton Gang just like my parents used to. They're obviously smarter about it seeing how they're still alive. My mom isn't exactly dead, but she might as well be and my dad, well he got out with a bullet which left me as the man of the house. In Daytonville, you pay your dues and you can stay. If you don't you won't live long enough to get out. With my dad being a snitch it has taken me a lot to prove that I'm not worthless. Unfortunately, that means I'm deeper in the gang than I ever planned to be. Sure, my mom made it apparent that I would die because of our life, but I still didn't imagine I'd be practically running the town.

"You're up early," Marco claps me on the back and lets me inside. He's my second in command and the only person that I can trust if you could call the fact that I am never honest with him trust. In my life there isn't anyone I can trust, even my sister who is my whole world can't know what I do and know. I've worked damn hard to keep her out of it all. She knows some, but just enough to not push me.

"Work," I shrug and take a swig of his orange juice. "I need to assign a couple of tasks."

"I'm ready." He pulls out a notepad that he always has with him. He writes in a code that only he knows and that is part of why I trust him more than most people.

"There was a new car in town early this morning," I give him the license plate info that Kevin sent to me. "I need you to have someone look into it. They were only here for about 30 minutes but we can never be too careful. He stopped at the house the new girl moved into. I need to know if they're going to cause trouble. There was nothing about a guy in the report we got from the parole officer."

"What about the girl and her mom?" He asks.

"Leave them for now," I say a bit too quickly. "I'm watching them personally."

He nods and scribbles away. I wait for him to stop before continuing. "I need you to get Olivia to school and make sure any of the idiots there know not to touch her."

"You know she can handle herself right?" He says and then bites his lip. "Sorry. I'll do it."

"Good." I run my fingers through my hair. "Finally, remind Jacob about tonight."

"Always do." Marco opens the door again and I walk out. "Have fun at work."

"You too," I hurry to my bike knowing that this stop has put me behind schedule.

I ease my bike into the school parking lot a minute before I need to be clocked in. I jump off of my baby as soon as I have the kickstand down and run to the door. The only door that's unlocked this early is the one by the principal's office which means that I'll have to pass his office. I slow to a walk when I'm inside and make my way down the hall. I look into his office and can't see him so I let out a sigh of relief. He won't see me get here. He won't have to know that I was late.

"You're late, again." Principal Johansson looks down from over his nose that's stuck up at me.

If I were a jumpy guy my head would have hit the ceiling. I hadn't heard him walk up behind me. I turn around to face him and plaster an innocent look on my face.

"I'm sorry, sir. I assure you that it won't happen again." I have to force myself to not fight him. He seems to be one of the only people who have no idea what I'm capable of or if he does he damn well doesn't care.

"See that it doesn't. One more screw up and you'll be out of here." He sneers.

"Yes, sir." I grab my job list for the day and walk away still feeling his eyes on me. Just as I'm walking to the janitor's closet to get my uniform I see her. It surprises me to see her with a backpack on. I just assumed that she wasn't in school from the fact that she's been in the diner every morning and I haven't seen her here before.

She's walking right towards me and I have never felt this nervous. I never feel nervous. Girls are easy for me. They fawn over me and I decide whether or not I want to use them. If I do then I put on the charm; if not then I walk away. It might be cruel but it works for me.

"Excuse me; do you know where the office is?" Her voice is strong yet soft. She gives me a warm smile and waits for me to speak.

I clear my throat while trying to find my voice. What is happening to me? "It's just down the hall. Take the first right."

"Thank you, Greyson." She says before walking off in the direction that I pointed.

When she says my name a bunch of red flags pop up. I start walking behind her and grab her arm when I get close. "How do you know my name?"

"The diner. I heard Diane call you that once." She answers before pulling her arm from my grasp. Wow, she's a lot stronger than she looks. She is someone that I need to keep an eye on and not just because I like the view. There is clearly something that she is hiding and being who I am I have to know what it is.

"Oh, sorry," I say while letting her pull back from me. "And you are?"

"I'm Ryane." She says and gives me a warm smile.

"Welcome to Daytonville. If you need anything else just let me know. I'll be around." I shake the hand that she holds out to me.

"Thank you. I'll see you around." She saunters off down the hall without a second glance which I'm thankful for because I am staring after her retreating form. The worst part is that I'm not checking her out just because she's hot; I think I actually want to get to know her. When I shook her hand I hadn't wanted to let go. That has never happened to me. I'm in trouble. I need to tell the others about her because whenever someone new shows up we are supposed to look into them but I want to keep her to myself for a little bit longer.