The place reeks of mold and is cramped, but I’ve already been sent to the headmaster twice, and Athol said that if I get called in again, he won’t let me go home for summer break.
I thought we’d exit through the library, but instead they keep going the opposite way, into another maze of corridors.
We reach some kind of room, and to my surprise, it’s fully equipped. There’s even food and drinks.
“How the hell did you get a place like this?”
“Welcome to our lair, Rodrick,” the same dark-haired boy says.
“How do you know my name when we don’t share any classes?”
“We know everything,” he replies, offering a handshake. “I’m Kaled[2].”
I stare at him and then at his extended hand. Handshakes are gestures of friendship, but do I even want friends? I’m not sure.
I don’t need any, of course—I don’t need anyone but myself—but maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the days when I actually feel like talking.
At least they don’t look like idiots.
I finally decide and stretch out my hand. The others watch us.
Kaled’s grip is as firm as Athol’s. Like an adult’s.
“That’s Ricco and Vicenzzo” he says, pointing to two boys on his right, then continues introducing the rest of the group.
I nod because I’m not used to being friendly with people, especially those my age.
“Why’d you bring me here? I mean, I’d probably be headed to the headmaster’s office right now if I hadn’t come with you, but you guys could get in trouble because of me. Actually,” I say, almost smiling, “I’m the trouble, in case you didn’t notice.”
“Then you’re exactly where you belong, Rodrick,” the one introduced as Vicenzzo says, laughing.
Through all the years we were at that school, we were inseparable.
It wasn’t a movie-style friendship, polite and formal, but the kind where you yell when you’re pissed and occasionally exchange a few insults. Even that couldn’t pull us apart.
We didn’t interact with other people simply because we didn’t feel like it. We were enough for each other.
Students who couldn’t break into our closed circle—and even the teachers—had their own ideas about us. Not because we were knights in shining armor with all that fancy etiquette and waiting for our turn to speak like the Swiss school tried to teach us, but because we never allowed outsiders to get close.
After we graduated, our friendship outgrew the school walls.
We gained worldwide fame in celebrity magazines, and a legend was born—one about how ruthless we were in business and behind closed doors with whatever company we chose for the night.
Through all of it, an unbreakable bond formed.
Real love, true loyalty, and the most genuine friendship I never thought could exist.
And it’s in the name of that friendship that I’m holding myself back from spanking the ass of Kaled’s youngest sister, Jazmina Faheem, who’s currently dancing on top of a table on Vicenzzo’s yacht.
Jesus Christ, tonight is going to be long.
Chapter 2
Europe
Earlier that Night
Party time, finally! I can’t believe Kaled actually brought us to a real celebration. I don’t even know what we’re celebrating here on Vicenzzo’s yacht, but judging by what the celebrity magazines say about my brother and his friends, they don’t need a reason.