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deepened, his eyes sparking with mocking amusement. “Emptor Academy has a state-of-the-art security system, classes taught by some of the world’s most brilliant minds, and political connections that make the Ivy League green with jealousy. I’m sure there are benefits to the public school system.” He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “You have plenty of time to prepare yourself for a future of staggering mediocrity.”
    I hated him.
    More than anything, I wanted to come up with a clever put-down. Something so deliciously snarky it would wipe that smile right off his face. Except I wasn’t sure what to say. My high school
did
suck. The classes were packed past capacity and the teachers could barely keep their heads above water. Still, it was
my
shitty education.
    But I didn’t say a word as the full impact of my conversation with Detective O’Brian finally sank in.
    Somebody wanted me dead and the cops appeared more intent on dangling me as bait than, y’know, protecting and serving. Given that Emptor Academy housed the children of diplomats and rock stars, they probably had an impeccable security system in place. Something that would keep the Starbucks Killers of the world far, far away from me.
    “I can’t afford it,” I mumbled, hating to admit the truth. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all probably served on fine china and prepared by master chefs. Any one of those meals would decimate my nearly nonexistent college fund. I didn’t want to guess how much they charged for residency in their fancy dorms. The answer would only depress me.
    “We happen to have an excellent scholarship program.” Sebastian leaned back in his chair as if he offered tuition to girls sitting in police precincts all the time.
    Heyyy, wanna transfer to my prep school? I’ll pick up the tab, girl. No worries.
    I nearly snorted out loud. No worries. That was a good one.
    “What do you get out of this?”
    This whole conversation was giving me flashbacks of my eighth birthday when my mom’s unemployed boyfriend du jour, Pierre, had handed her twenty bucks and suggested a girls-only burger dinner. My mom and I had searched her closet for the most ridiculously colorful outfits we could find. She’d paired a floor-length gown with dozens of beaded necklaces, sneakers, and hot pink lipstick. I remember thinking she was the most beautiful woman in the whole world as she took my hand and shared a conspiratorial smile with me. As if the two of us were playing an elaborate joke on everyone who gave us funny looks. We had strolled into a tiny diner and giggled together over our milkshake and fries—only to come home to a burglarized apartment. Pierre had hocked our television, toaster, everything that wasn’t nailed down before making his exit. My mom had quietly surveyed the damage before walking straight into the bathroom and scrubbed at her face until every last speck of makeup had been removed. She didn’t leave her bedroom for any reason except work over the next two days. I sat cross-legged where the couch had been only a few hours earlier, scrunched my eyes shut, and wished that my mom would stop dating losers. I wished that she’d give up on men and be happy with me. Only me.
    It hadn’t happened.
    That was the day I’d learned never to trust someone who acts out of character. Especially when that someone has nothing to gain by this seemingly random act of generosity. A lesson that made it impossible for me to simply accept Sebastian’s offer at face value.
    “I’m bored. I might as well see how this plays out,” Sebastian replied slowly, too casually, and I knew that he was hiding something. Something big that involved
me
.
    “You don’t offer favors, Sebastian. That’s even harder to believe than the ‘goodness of your heart’ bullshit.”
    His lips quirked up into a smile. “Interesting. So you
do
have some instincts. Given your crappy taste in friends I assumed you were that stupid about everyone. I’m feeling