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“And I care because?” I ask her, unsure where she’s going with this and almost certain after that kiss we just shared that she’s lying, but I’m also kind of curious about why she’s telling me this.
“Well, I wouldn’t want you to get hurt,” she threatens, and my mouth drops open in shock at her words before I can stop it. I sputter slightly, but she ignores me and continues. “He and Ryland are in each other’s pockets all the time, it’s just obvious, and Ryland has turned down all of Sophie’s advances too. I mean, the two of them would be a complete power couple, just like Max and Stella are.”
“Who?” I ask, completely confused by the crap that’s coming from her mouth. My mind was whirling on all the information I discovered from the other three girls, and then it stuttered to a halt when Miller kissed me, so it’s taking me a little more time to understand where she’s going with all this.
“Mr. Turner and Ms. Standish, the French teacher, dummy. Apparently they are hot and heavy. Sophie says Stella thinks he’s going to pop the question,” Jessica says in a bored tone. “I think she’s crazy. Mr. Turner has a wandering eye. I saw him checking you out today,” she accuses, but I ignore that bit.
“So, apart from Miller turning you down and Ryland turning down Sophie, you have no other proof that they are gay? Fuck, maybe they just have good taste.” I can’t believe I’m defending that asshole, but I hate it when girls accuse a guy of being gay if they aren’t interested. “Maybe they are just not that into you, Jessica. Have you ever thought of that?”
“Or maybe they are sucking each other’s cocks and don’t need us to do it,” she sneers meanly, and I shake my head.
“I pity you. Why don’t you go after Billy? He seems like a sure thing,” I retort, changing the subject, and her eyes narrow.
“Because even though Sophie doesn’t want him, she doesn’t want any of her friends looking at him either,” Jessica grumbles, turning back to her homework. “Besides, I saw the bruises he used to leave on her. They looked a lot like yours, but she hid them better.”
Huh, I don’t know how to unpack any of what Jessica just said.
“Look, trust me. You don’t want to get on Sophie’s bad side, or a lot of the other kids at this school. She can be mean, and not just rich girl mean. Keep your head down, otherwise an accident might happen.” Jessica is mumbling now, and her swing in attitude startles me. She started off defensive and fiery, and now she’s in a shell.
“Are you okay, Jessica? Is there anything I can do?” I step toward her, and she picks up a pen off the desk as she shakes her head. My gaze zeros in on the ring of bruises around her wrist. I can see fingerprints, but they look too dainty to be from a male. “Did Sophie do this to you?” I ask, pointing at the bruises, and she puts her wrist in her lap.
“Just stay away from me and the popular group, if you know what’s good for you. There are plans in the works for Miller, and you are just going to get in the way, and don’t think I didn’t notice how you didn’t have your stockings on when you got home, you skank. If you get knocked up, Martha will kick you out quicker than you can say ‘I’m pregnant,’” Jessica snaps before putting a pair of earbuds into her ears, telling me she’s done talking.
I breathe out a big sigh and sit down on my bed, dropping my backpack at my feet. I wince slightly as I feel the slight pull of the ring between my legs. I’ve been able to ignore it up until now, since the small bite of pain is nothing compared to the rest of the aches and pains in my body, but now I feel it rub against my clit, which is a little sensitive and slippery after Miller’s kiss. Nope, I’m not even going to think about that bipolar asshole.
I need a nap. I wonder if I can catch a couple of hours before we have to leave for the team meeting. Today has been a lot. I think I’m starting to work things out, or at least have an inkling thanks to the information from the girls, which was the most unexpected source. I’m not sure if Miller or the guys would have ever gotten that info, though it seems that Max and Anders may have an in with the possible bad guys.
I lean down and untie my boots, toeing them off before throwing myself backward on the bed and pulling a pillow over my head, blocking out the light. I’m feeling a little confused now. Martha didn’t seem enthusiastic about me working at Life Lounge, but James did. Maybe I misjudged the woman, and she’s not actually in on it. Maybe it’s just James. That would explain why she tried to invite her kids back for Thanksgiving. I mean, if she knew that they had been trafficked, wouldn’t she have just stayed quiet about it? There would have been no need to draw attention to the whole thing, unless she wasn’t the one who did it. I just assumed, but what if it was one of the girls? It may have been the smartest and safest thing they ever did. I need to make sure it stays that way.
I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself as I allow my mind to drift off to sleep. I’m going to need to keep my wits about me over the coming days, but I hope we’re one step closer to finding all those missing foster kids.
* * *
A deep rattling sound wakes me from my sleep, and I reach for the gun under my pillow. When my hand finds nothing but course sheets, I sit up, ready to fight off whatever woke me, but then I pause. It’s quiet, and I think maybe I was dreaming when the loud sound comes again. It sounds like a hibernating bear has made itself comfortable in Jessica’s bed.
“Holy fuck, I pity your future bed partners,” I whisper as I pull my phone out of my pocket and look at the time. Crap, it’s almost eleven. Miller better not have gone without me. I hurry, and as quietly as I can, I change my panties for fresh ones and put on a clean shirt before ditching the tartan skirt for a pair of skinny jeans. Riding the motorcycle with a skirt is just asking to get burnt. I pop some painkillers out of their packet and dry swallow them before grimacing. That’s never fun, but my entire body aches something fierce this evening. I’d been good at keeping up with the painkillers, but I forgot to take them before I fell asleep, and I’m really paying for it now. Smothering a groan, I bend down to pick up my Docs and backpack and sneak out of the room. Jessica is sleeping so deeply she hasn’t even stirred. Let’s just hope it stays that way while I’m up in Miller’s room.
I stick my head out to make sure the coast is clear. All the other bedroom doors are closed, so I sneak out of mine, pulling it shut behind me. The click of the latch is loud in the relative silence, but I’m sure no one heard it. I don’t have to go far before I get to the landing to the attic. The door is cracked slightly, so I push it and hurry up the stairs. The lights are off in the room, but there’s a bright glow on the bed. I can see Miller’s scowling face illuminated by his phone.
“About time. I didn’t think you were coming,” he grumbles, climbing out of bed.
“Sorry, I had to wait for Jessica to be solidly asleep,” I tell him. Yeah, I’m lying, but I’m not about to admit that I was sleeping. I’d never hear the end of it. I quickly pull on my shoes as he goes over and opens the window.
“It’s just a step across to that thick branch, and then there’s an easy climb down,” he tells me, climbing up on the sill to show me. I throw my backpack over my shoulders and step up to watch his descent. “Just don’t fuck it up, and I hope you know what you were talking about for transport, because I told Anders not to worry.” Without waiting for me to reply, he ducks out and is gone.
I watch as he nimbly climbs down the tree without hesitation, showing he’s done this a few times already. I wait for him to make it to the ground before I start my own climb. It’s easy, but my ribs still pull slightly, and my new jewelry addition gives some surprising but not completely unpleasant friction in my skinny jeans. I jump to the ground with a soft “oof.”
Miller grabs my arm to steady me. “Are you okay?” he asks, and although I can’t see his face in the heavy shadows, I can hear a hint of worry. There’s no way I’m going to admit what the issue is though.
“Ah, yeah, my ribs are still a little sore,” I whisper quietly before shaking him off. I pull my phone out of my pocket and pull up the map with the pin my dad sent me. “Okay, this way.”
I walk away from the house in the opposite direction of the driveway. Much like the woods that surround the school, this forest is fairly dense as well, and it takes me a while to forge a path to our destination, using our phones to light the way. Miller grumbles the whole time, but quickly shuts up once we arrive. Stashed next to a tree with a camo tarp over it is our transportation. I pull the tarp off, exposing a sleek, black Kawasaki Ninja 1000 with two helmets sitting on the seat and the keys in the ignition.
“Oh yes. Come to mama. Dad really knows how to look after me.” I grin ear to ear at the beautiful beast in front of me.
Miller whistles. “Now that is a bike. Dibs for driving.” He leans forward to grab a helmet, but I shove him to the side and dive for one, throwing my leg over the bike before he even realizes what happened. “What the fuck?” He gapes at me, and I shrug.
“You snooze, you lose. Also, nobody drives my bike but me. You get to ride bitch.” I pull the helmet over my head and flip the switch that turns on the helmet mic, blocking out whatever Miller is saying. From the look on his face, it’s not good. I put my hands up to say that I can’t hear him. He scowls and grabs the other helmet, shoving it onto his head, and the sound of him breathing heavily comes through the speakers in my helmet.
