"That's three strikes." Riko dragged a finger across his throat and rolled his head against his gesture. "I am disappointed in you, Kevin. You promised the master you would take care of this. Obviously you have not, and I am very curious as to why."

"He tried," Neil said. "It didn't take."

Riko pressed a thumb to Neil's cheekbone, in the same spot where the three had their numbered tattoos. "Do us all a favor and do not speak again. Your insolence has already cost you two teammates. You cannot even imagine what is coming next."

Hearing Riko confirm he'd orchestrated Seth's death made Neil sick with anger. Andrew and Kevin had said it, but Wymack had written it off as paranoia. Neil hadn't believed Andrew because he hadn't wanted to, but that what-if had followed him all semester.

Neil held up his free hand and showed Riko his steady fingers. "I'm shaking with fear."

"You should be," Riko said. "You think you can defy me because I am not your father, but you are forgetting one very important fact: I am the family your father was afraid of. And yes, Nathaniel, he was very afraid."

Neil lowered his hand and leaned close. "Not of you," he said, with fierce emphasis. "You're not part of that family, remember? You're the cast-off."

He hoped it would hit, but he didn't realize how deep it would cut. He'd never seen that look on Riko's face but he knew he'd signed his death warrant.

"Jean," Riko said without looking away from Neil, "take Kevin and leave us."

"Go see Matt," Neil said when Kevin hesitated.

"Now," Riko insisted.

Jean gave Riko a wide berth and seized Kevin's arm. Neil watched Jean drag Kevin away as fast as they could go without attracting too much attention. Dan and Matt noticed, of course, and moved to intercept them. Jean went still at their approach but held onto Kevin like his life depended on it. Matt started for Neil and Riko, but Kevin clapped a hand to his shoulder to stop him. When Matt roughly shrugged him off, Neil waved at Matt to keep back. The look on Matt's face said he didn't approve of this plan at all, but he kept his distance.

Neil dragged his attention back to Riko's face. "I think I hit a nerve."

Riko moved like lightning, smacking the cup from Neil's hand and catching hold of his wrist. He gave a brutal twist that sent knives up Neil's arm. Neil choked on a pained curse and grabbed Riko's arm to stop him. He couldn't pry Riko's hand off but if Riko turned his wrist another half-inch he'd break something. Every time Neil blinked he saw the white scars on Kevin's hands. It was all he could do to breathe around the panic beating at his lungs. He fought to keep his face calm and forced himself to meet Riko's eyes again.