Page 172 of Top Shelf

Silence.

Concern bleeds into my own form of violence.

My hand smacks against the tabletop. I point an accusing finger at Lucian. “You probably got yourself suspended. Your contract with the Serpents will absolutely be under review after that stunt you pulled.”

Rounding on Ronan and Silas, I continue, “And you two look like you’re planning a funeral. So someone better tell me what the hell is going on, right fucking now.”

There’s a beat before Silas steps forward, closing the space between us.

Despite just demanding answers, I swallow, suddenly anxious for what’s about to come. Whatever it is, it’s bad. I just can’t imagine what would be so awful that Lucian would risk his future over it.

He reaches for his pocket where I know he keeps his notebook, then he pauses, seeming to think before lifting his head and meeting my stare.

A moment passes between us.

When he finally speaks, I’m so taken aback by the fact that he’sspokenthat it takes me a second, where I soak up the thick, deep rasp of his voice, to registerwhathe said.

“That coin I had, the one from the night you were…it belongs to Isaac.”

I blink at him.

My gaze slides to Ronan, then Lucian, before returning to Silas.

For a second, I don’t understand.

“What?”

Silas’s jaw tightens. His throat works as though he’s trying to form more words, but can’t seem to find them.

Ronan moves closer, hands out at his sides as though approaching a cornered animal. “Before the game, Silas dropped the coin. Isaac recognized it as one he had lost. Freshman year.”

“That doesn’t…” I trail off, shaking my head instead.

“It’s him.” Despite being spoken softly, I flinch at Silas’s words. At the memories they invoke.

Loud music. A spinning room. A voice I’ve never been able to make out or recall.

…Couldthat voice have been Isaac’s?

I wrack my brain so hard that it hurts.

Shaking my head, I frown in frustration. “I don’t?—”

My voice breaks.

“Wren—” Lucian speaks for the first time, reaching for me.

I step back, shaking my head. I can’t handle comfort right now. My chest hurts.Everythinghurts.

Reaching blindly for a chair, I drop into it, staring at the gray carpet at my feet.

Silas found a coin by my body that night.

Isaac recognized that coin as his. One he lost that same year.

What are the chances it’s a coincidence? What are the chances that that coin isn’t his?

Zero. Nil. Zilch.