Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
I nodded, wiping my eyes. I needed him right then—telling me that all wasn’t lost. That I hadn’t failed Winter again.
Something he said finally penetrated. “Wait, hold on. Wilder checked all of their accounts and didn’t find a thing on the club?”
“So far nothing,” he said.
“How can that be? Winter was bullied by practically the entire class. If they were all doing it because of the club, how does that stay a secret? Someone would’ve slipped up, blurted the wrong thing while drunk, or just flat-out bragged like the nasty pieces of shit that they are.”
“I don’t get it either, and we’ve been arguing about it for half the night.” From the noises on his end, the arguing was still going on. “Wilder can dig up the life-ruining secrets we put on those truth lists, but he can’t find a single mention of this club. If the Royals can cover their tracks this well, why the fuck haven’t they been doing it?”
A very good question. We can find out Wesley tortured innocent animals, but not that he’s in some child’s game club?
“Maybe because it’s not online. They don’t text about it. They don’t send emails. These people have been going to school with Wilder long enough to know what he can do. It’s possible they got smart and learned to play their games in person.”
“If that’s true, we’ll have to play our game differently too. If we can’t rely on Wilder’s hacking skills, then it’s up to my interrogation skills. We need Owen, Levi, or Wesley to crack, and that won’t be easy.”
“Why not?”
“Because they found out last night what happens to those who talk.”
I fell silent, swallowing hard. We all learned that lesson. A killer stood over me, helpless and unconscious, they could’ve ended my threat to them right there. They more than proved they were capable with Giovanni.
I was certain the only reason I wasn’t found floating in that pool is because they needed someone to take the fall for Giovanni’s death. If two bodies were found stunned and drowned, the cops would’ve closed down the party and interrogated everyone. As it was, they accepted I didn’t take a stun gun to myself, but they only did that after they let everyone at the party go home. If there was something to be found on the killer—pool water, Giovanni’s DNA, any evidence—they’ve had hours to get rid of it.
“Am I safe, Lucien? Is my mom or my stepdad?” I rasped. “It was horrible enough when I thought this was bullying that got out of control, but now there’s a fucking mastermind. Winter was murdered. Giovanni was murdered. I was almost framed. A real, actual killer targeted my family and what if they don’t plan to stop until this secret is buried for good?”
“I’ve never lied to you, Lady Luna, and I won’t start now. I don’t know what all this means or what this person plans to do next but... no. You’re not safe.” My chest squeezed. “Someone who has gone as far as they have isn’t going back now. But this is what I do know,” he said, making me lift my head.
“No one is going to lay a fucking finger on you. That’s a promise, Luna. We will protect you.”
“Thank you, Lucien.” My voice was small. “I want to give some speech about being tough and strong and able to take care of myself... but I only feel any of those things because you guys are with me. I couldn’t imagine doing this alone.”
“But you were going to, and you would’ve for Winter. You were tough and strong before you ever met us—”
“Luna?”
“—don’t let that monster make you think otherwise.”
“Luna, baby? Where are you?”
I glanced over my shoulder, seeing Mom turn the corner and head for me fast.
“I have to go, Lucien, but thank you. I miss you guys. I promise we’ll see each other soon.”
“Very soon in Cato’s case. I hear he’s going to sleep with you tonight no matter what bed you’re in.”
A tiny smile played on my lips. “When you don’t care about a little grand larceny, breaking and entering is nothing.”
We said goodbye and hung up as Mom stepped out onto the deck.
“Who were you talking to? That boy who was with you last night?”
I shook my head. “I was talking to Lucien. My roommate and... maybe more. He was just checking to see how I’m doing.”
“How are you doing?” She kissed my temple, pulling up the seat next to me. “Oh, Luna, it must’ve been awful. Was that boy, Giovanni, a friend of yours?”
“No, we weren’t friends. He’s a class ahead of me, but it was a party and we started talking,” I said, repeating the vague response I gave the cops. “I can’t face what happened to him, Mom. I just wish I could’ve saved him.” That I said honestly.