A sinister grin finds its way onto his lips. “No. I want you to stick around. Make sure they see who it was that set them up.”
“Got it.” I nod and grab the baggie from the edge of the desk. The contents of the bag must be light because it feels like there isn't anything inside it.
“Don't forget all they've done to us, sweetie.” My father's voice softens. “I wouldn't ask you to do these things if I didn't feel it was justified. I have to protect you, my businesses, my men and everything those filthy Bishops do is a direct attack against us.”
“I know, Dad.” My lips pull up into a reassuring smile. Even if I hate what I have to do, being a part of this rivalry, I know there isn’t anything I can do to change it. My last name is Lockwood, and it will always be family over honor.
It’s my job to protect my family’s legacy.
“I’ll get the job done,” I mumble and turn on my heels exiting his office.
Once in the hall I pause and lean against the wall.
I can do this. I will do this.
I remind myself of how Chloe and George Bishop stare down at me like I’m gum stuck to the bottom of their shoes every time we cross paths. Their three sons are not much better. Annoyingly handsome and full of themselves. Sullivan is the worst. He acts like he is the king of the world and everyone is beneath him, like it's our duty to bow to him.
Tonight, we’ll put an end to his reign.
Tonight, he’ll find out what happens when you mess with a Lockwood.
Chapter One
Present
Bayshore University is not the prestigious college that I thought I would be attending. My whole life I thought I would end up going to one of the best Ivy League schools in the country, like Yale or Harvard, just like every other rich kid from my high school. Instead, I chose to attend this place. A nice but lowkey University located on the west coast, hundreds of miles away from my hometown of North Woods. Most kids wouldn’t choose to be miles away from their parents, but I wasn’t most. I chose this college because it’s as far away from my family as I can get.
As soon as I turned eighteen and I got my hands on my trust fund, I was out of my parents’ house. There was no way I was going to stay another minute longer. I wanted to disappear, forget about my last name, and what it meant.
After finding out about the things my father had been up to, I didn’t want a single thing to do with the family business.
“This is college, and you’re acting as though someone has sentenced you to ten years hard labor.” Shelby laughs. My nose wrinkles as I look up at the fortress before me. Of course, the place would look more like a medieval castle set in the Scottish Highlands than a university. Ropes of thick green ivy climb the walls like they’re trying to escape.
“Maybe not ten years, but at least four, right?” I grin.
“College isn’t a dick, Harlow. Stop making it so hard.”
“Nice analogy. Where did you pull that one out of?”
“My ass.” She grins and slams her hips into mine. I roll my eyes like I’m annoyed with her when in reality I’m grateful she is here. She really had to talk her parents into letting her attend college here. I think the only reason her dad agreed is because he’s had a bad year at his law firm and the tuition is cheaper than Stanford, where Shelby was supposed to go originally. She doesn’t seem to care though.
Students rush past us in a flurry to get into their dorm rooms, while Shelby and I take our sweet time. We had most of our things shipped to the college, all except our personal belongings so there’s no rush for us. We spend most of our time taking in the surroundings. The University itself is beautiful, with huge oak trees, and sprawling areas of lush green grass, that I can picture myself sitting on with a blanket and a good book.
We make it to the crowded dorm and up the stairs to our room without incident. Once inside I exhale all the air from my lungs and sag down onto my small twin size bed. The dorms are small and leave very little room for privacy but that’s okay. The place is close to the ocean and has a view that most would dream of.
“Okay, so I was invited to a party by a couple of guys I met over at Starbucks,” Shelby says, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder.
“We’ve been here less than twenty-four hours and you want to go to a party already?” I knew parties were going to happen, but I’d hoped to avoid them.
“It’s a past time set forth by our ancestors, when you arrive at college you must party.”
“Sounds like it’s set forth by Shelby.” I roll my eyes.
Shelby juts out her bottom lip into a firm pout, “Oh, come on, Harlow, you only went to a handful of parties when we were in high school and now you don’t want to enjoy college. Your parents are out of the picture, you can basically do anything you want.”
She has no idea how wrong she is. Yes, I’ve managed to escape my father’s clutches for now, but I’m not going to be able to hide from him and my mother forever.
“If I go will you at least wait a whole month before inviting me to another one?”
Amusement twinkles in Shelby’s hazel eyes, “Mmm, two weeks tops.”
“Seriously.” I cringe.
“It’s college, Harlow, and I’m your certified fun helper.”
Shaking my head, I say, “You’re not a fun helper, you’re a get into trouble helper.”
She taps at her chin with her finger, “Trouble. Fun. All sounds the same to me. Now, what are you wearing? Better be something sexy. We’ve got to grab the boys’ attention right off the bat. You know college boys, all ADHD squirrel like.”
“I’m not catching anything, and especially not any boys’ attention.”
I’d garnered enough attention from the Bishop brothers back home. After what I did to Sullivan, I was surprised he could walk past me without wanting to murder me. Let’s just say it made social gatherings a little tense.
“Your parents aren't here. You don’t have anything to worry about. You’re free.” Shelby gets up from her bed and puts her arms out like a bird, flapping them until she reaches my bed, slamming herself down onto it, causing me to bounce and a bubble of laughter to escape my throat.
“I’m not worried about them,” I lie. I’m worried about them just as much as I’m worried about the Bishops.
Actually, I’m not worried. I’m terrified. For years I’ve helped my father spread rumors about the Bishops. I’ve helped ruin their lives and for what? Nothing, it was all for nothing. I didn’t know how horrible my father really was. He didn’t just want their business, he wanted them gone.
At one point my hate for the Bishops started to diminish, and in its place resentment towards my father bloomed. I didn’t want anything to do with my old life, the drama, the hate, the revenge. I wanted to forget that part of my life ever existed.
“Good, because it wouldn’t matter if you were. Now, up. Let me see what I have to work with and then what clothing you’ve brought with you.”
“Do we really have to go?” I bat my long eyelashes knowing damn well it won’t work. I can’t make myself look as innocent and sweet as Shelby does. Plus, I kind of owe it to her to at least go out once. She did, after all, move hundreds of miles away from her family to be a supportive friend.