Page 11 of Dark Tangled Truths
“Fuck, goody.” Cam sits down on the other side of Hawk. “I love it when you wear things I give you. Can I buy you more things to wear?” He gives her a cocky grin. “I mean, Damon practically dresses you every chance he gets. I’m sure some lingerie isn’t out of the question.”
Some heads turn from the table next to ours. Curious assholes. I narrow my eyes on the students, and they turn back to their own food. Fuck, sometimes I hate this school.
We’re at a table of our own, away from the other people out in the courtyard. It’s not like we wouldn’t let someone sit with us. We did last week with some teammates and even Mia. But I’m wary of letting anyone close to Evan today. Someone got to her when we were watching. Hurt her.
It’s not happening again.
Evan makes a small hissing noise and her brow furrows as she sets her hand in her lap. I noticed it in history too. Her hand hurts.
I take her pain meds from her backpack where I put them this morning and shake out a pill for her. She doesn’t want to take medicine all day, but she can take the edge off at least.
Her blue-gray eyes meet mine and she smiles softly. “Thanks.”
The rest of the courtyard is normal. Well, as normal as it can be with Olivia gone. There are rumors she’s being transferred to an elite boarding school, which means she was asked not to come back to Deimos. By making it sound like it’s voluntary, her family saves face.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer bitch. She may not get time for what she did to Keira, but at least we don’t have to deal with her. Putting that video out on social media means no one can sweep it quietly under the rug.
No one has really stepped into the vacancy as top bitch. Her friends Megan and Gemma sneer at us and talk behind their hands, but they aren’t Olivia. They’re still popular, but they’re not as conniving as Olivia was. And while they hold some power, they aren’t as rich as Olivia either. They were always second best to her.
The apparent queen bees of Anteros sit a little taller, talk a little louder. Maybe they think they can fill the void. They also make sure to ignore Evan like it’s their job. Not that we even stoop to pass their table on the way to ours.
Mia sits with those girls today. Evan doesn’t seem to mind, but if it becomes a problem, ifMiabecomes a problem, we’ll handle it. I still don’t trust her. If she stabs Evan in the back, Evan will have one less friend, and I’ll make sure the whole school knows what we think of Mia.
At the end of lunch, Mia comes over to claim Evan and take her to her acting seminar. I let her go reluctantly. I’d sit beside her all day if I didn’t need to keep my grades up in my other classes.
Besides, I have the tracking app open on both Evan’s ring and her phone all afternoon. It’s the next best thing to having her on a camera. Which I would prefer, but Evan insisted wireless cameras would interfere with the sound equipment in the theater room.
I don’t like any of this. Jackson hurt her. It has to be him. And if it is him, it means he isn’t working alone. We’ve been worried about him trapping her somewhere, but we never expected this. He punished her by inflicting pain.
Not knowing when and how the stalker’s going to strike next drives me nuts. It would be easier if I knew why he’s so focused on her, but I can’t figure out his motive. Why hurt her? Because of us? Assuming it’s Jackson, what’s his goal? Scare her into being with him?
Or is it just to scare her period? What kind of fucked up game is he playing?
My mind keeps twisting the puzzle around to try to find the solution. The problem is, this could be revenge. It might not have been Jackson. Chase could have done it, because of what we did to him. Hawk said Chase looked genuinely concerned when he carried Evan out, but was that an act? He is an actor.
Fuck. I need eyes on her. Maybe I’ll check with my tech guy to see if he can hack the cameras in the school.
Right now, though, I have practice. That means no phone. I hate not being able to check in on Evan, but I have to focus. The towel guy, Rich, should be around here somewhere.
I nudge Cam. “Give Rich your phone to watch Evan while we’re playing.”
Cam nods and opens the apps. “I think you’re paranoid but fuck it. I’m not risking it. Not after yesterday.”
Hawk glances toward us. His face is solemn. He was there for her again when she needed someone. I’m grateful this doesn’t all fall on me, but part of me wishes I hadn’t been tied up working out. That I could have been the one to protect her and hold her when she was hurt.
Not that I could have.
It might have been a fucking disaster when Heather showed up at the urgent care. I don’t know if I would have been able to control myself. To pretend like Evan was like a sister to me. Fuck that shit.
During practice, all three of us will be on the ice. No one can protect Evan if she needs us. It’s a prime opportunity for whoever is after her. I run a hand through my hair and lock up my phone. But Rich will let us know if she moves outside the Anteros hallway.
As I make my way to the ice, Coach stops me.
“Storm, talk to me.” He pulls me aside and jerks his head across the ice where some guys sit in the stands. “There’s a coach who’s interested in talking to you after practice. Show them what you’re made of today, yeah?”
He claps me on the shoulder.
“Yes, Coach.” I take the ice for warm-ups and glance over at the men watching. He didn’t say what school they’re from, but Crowne Mawr isn’t far away. The Yale coach was in town this weekend though, so maybe it’s him. Either way, I’ll do what I’ve trained for years to do. Impress the fuck out of them.
