When a harmless prank spirals out of control and infuriates her parents more than she ever thought possible, Eva Carmichael must adjust to her new life in the elite Syndicate Academy, while also going toe-to-toe with the principal who hates her.—The Syndicate or Swiss Academy, to the outside world is an elite school for the children of the rich. But inside, it's an Academy intent to straighten (discipline) the spoilt, hot-headed heirs of the leading Mafia families in the world.Eva Carmichael this time has bitten more than she can chew. When a harmless photo prank threatens to upheave her family's stellar image in the public eye, no one is happy with her. As a consequence, she's scheppled to the Syndicate Academy to be disciplined amidst her senior year.Eva hates the Academy. But Principal Oakley Byrne even more. He disarms her without even trying, and she can't help but tug at his strings, despite his cold treatment towards her. She wants him whole, but Oakley is broken long befor
I ring Doris, my secretary, to check if she knows. She answers on the second dial tone, her voice sleepy. “Sir, what is it?”“The building is on fire. Could anyone be in there?”“How awful.” She rummages around, and there’s a click as she turns on a light. “They show up at about three o’clock.”“Jane mentioned she’d be working late, but I’d guess she’d be home by now, right?” I ask, swallowing hard.Doris sucks in a worried breath. “Oh no, Jane regularly stayed in the early hours of the morning. I hope she isn’t, but it’s not impossible, Mr. Archer.”My hand tightens around my cell phone. “Thank you. Can you do me a favor?”“Of course, anything, sir.”I clench my jaw. “Can you call the cleaning agency and call them off tonight for me?”“Yes, I’ll do it right now, sir.”“Thanks, Doris. Nobody will need to come in tomorrow.“Leave it to me. I’ll handle it, sir.”I cancel the call, feeling panic take hold of me again that Jane might be in the building. I’ll never forgive those fucking Ca
Five years later…“I swear that isn’t me,” I say, standing in front of my father, who is holding a photo of someone who looks remarkably like me kissing the high school janitor. “Someone must have photoshopped it.”For a start, I don’t think I’ve ever even spoken to the high school janitor in my life. As I stare at the photo, the sight of him churns my stomach. Not that I’m vain, but he’s certainly not a man I’d be attracted to, weighing probably a hundred pounds more than he should and less hair on his head than I have on my legs.Second, I’ve never kissed a boy in my life, let alone some random, balding, middle-aged man. It’s hard to believe they think that’s me.“Eva Carmichael. You almost brought utter ruin on our family,” my mother chides, shaking her head in the corner. “Don’t think we’re stupid enough to believe that isn’t you.” She steps forward and glares at me with her hard, stony expression. “How long has it been going on?”I stare at my mother, dumbfounded, wondering if sh
My heart flutters in my chest as I stare up at the dark, intimidating building. Its cold stone and harsh lines only foreshadow what’s waiting for me inside. The columns that flank the entryway all along the many meters of facade only add to its imposing effect.I swallow hard, realizing I’m about to enroll in a school full of the spawn of murderous criminals who are probably exactly like my parents. “Please don’t leave me here, mother,” I say, pleading at her with my eyes.Her expression hardens as she glares at me with no emotion whatsoever. “The Syndicate Academy is the perfect place for you to learn discipline, Eva.” She tucks a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. “You need to learn what kind of behavior we expect of you as the sole heir to the Carmichael Clan.” I hate when my mother calls me the sole heir, as all it does is remind me of my loss–our loss, and yet the way she says it, you’d think her child wasn’t dead and buried.Karl, my older brother, died two years ago. Unli
I force one foot in front of the other and step into the dark office. It takes my eyes a moment to adjust. And then, it feels like my heart stops beating entirely. A pair of striking aquamarine eyes gaze at me. The man they belong to stands, drawing my attention to the bulging muscles straining against his simple white dress shirt. He has to be about six foot five tall as he towers over the desk. “Mrs. Carmichael, I presume?” he asks my mother, but his eyes don’t move from me for a second.“Yes, I’m ever so sorry that we’re late, Principal Byrne.” My mother shoots me an irritated glare as if it’s my fault our flight was delayed. “Unfortunately, you’re going to have your hands full with this one.”Unbelievable.I’m being punished for something I didn’t do. I’ve ensured I never stepped one toe out of line my entire life, and this is the thanks I get. They have uprooted me and turned my life upside down because of one stupid prank. As it is the only plausible explanation that I could com
My nails bite into my palm as I clench my hands tightly, using the dull pain to control myself. There’s a sinister part of me that craves to reach out, snatch Angela by her stupid ponytail, yank her over to me, and wrap my hands around her throat until I crush the life out of her right in front of her daughter.I close my eyes, drawing in a deep, calming breath. The mental picture of her life slipping from her eyes as I choke her while her daughter watches is satisfying, but it’s not time.There’s a simmering inferno building under my skin, provoking the beast that lies in wait. Vengeance has never been this close. I can practically taste it on my tongue, but killing her here and now wouldn’t come close to making her suffer enough.Nothing short of deliberately and painfully torturing her and her husband will suffice. When I’ve had my fun, I’ll delight in obliterating the Carmichael family from the face of this earth.“If that’s all.” She glances at her daughter. “Eva has a suitcase o
OakleyI watch as she moves forward and gently runs her fingers over the cream silk linen on the four-poster bed. There’s no denying that she is stunning, but it’s a mask to what lies beneath–darkness and rotten evil.“Listen to me, Eva,” I say, my voice stern.She spins around and meets my gaze, eyes wide. “Sorry, sir.”The word sir tugs at my insides as I feel myself thicken in my pants. No schoolgirls call me sir here, so perhaps the word appeals to the dominant side of me I buried long ago. My brow furrows as I stare at her, speculating why that word coming from this girl would affect me.“Listen carefully. You will conform to the rules here, whether or not you like it.” I close the gap between us, forcing her to step back against the wall. “I don’t cower away from corporal punishment for those who don’t obey.”Eva shudders, her eyes fluttering as a whoosh of air escapes her lungs.The satisfaction coils through me at the first sign that she does indeed find me intimidating. I gri
A knock at my door forces me to sit up straight. “Who is it?” I wonder if principal Byrne has returned, remembering his warning not to open the door.He’s the scariest man I’ve ever met, and I’ve met some nasty characters through my parents’ work, but he’s also the most beautiful man.“It’s your next-door neighbor,” a voice calls back.I stand and approach the door, considering opening it after Oak’s warning. “Oh, what do you want?” I ask.“I wanted to introduce myself. I’m on your left. There is a moment of silence.My brow furrows as I speculate why Principal Bryne would advise me not to open the door. If I wish to fit in, I have to be friendly, and refusing to open the door isn’t a good way to make acquaintances.I open the door to a small, pretty girl with red hair. “Hey.”She smirks. “Hi, you’re Eva Carmichael, right?”I clench my jaw and nod. “Yes, who are you?”“Jeanie Doyle,” she says, holding out a hand for me to shake.I regard it anxiously. “As in Doyle from Chicago?” I ask