Page 29 of Tell No Lies

Brandon’s one stipulation was that I never went anywhere alone. Even when I was on campus, he wanted me to have someone with me. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. I hadn’t realized it before, but I had a friend in every class, except for chemistry. Mckayla walked with me to that anyway, so I just had to get in the habit of asking someone to meet up with me at the end of the day.

I left after school with Cassie to go to dance, my only sanctuary. I was worried Brandon would limit where I went and make me quit until things were figured out, but it was part of his plan to act normal. He was doing what was best for me, I knew, but I could already tell this was going to get old fast.

I spent those two blissful hours focusing only on the task at hand. I’d pushed myself to my limits and felt it by the end. I was tired and sore as I got into my car and set off for home. I was looking forward to a bubble bath and a good book to distract me for the night.

When I walked through the front door, I froze at the sight of Carter and Brandon silently waiting for me in the kitchen. I tried to read their expressions, but they gave nothing away.

“Hi, guys.”

Brandon tilted his head toward the stools.

I set my bags down by the door and slid onto the seat. I watched them, waiting for one of them to say something. “You’re freaking me out. What’s going on?”

They stood across from me, both with their arms folded. Brandon’s jaw clenched once before he answered me. “We’ve been looking into the messages and trying to track the source. Carter got pretty close today.”

This information wasn’t enough to clarify. I waited silently for him to continue.

“The messages were sent from the area. Whoever is doing this is from here, Aubrey.”

My jaw dropped. “What do you mean? Morgan is in Chicago.”

“It’s not him. There is someone else out there following you. It looks like it’s most likely someone you know.”

Thoughts were spinning around in my head. Another person was doing this? How was that possible?

“I’ve hired a private investigator to dig further into this. I’m confident that we can find out who it is, and knowing it’s someone local gives us an advantage.”

“How? How is knowing it’s someone close to me an advantage?” My voice was almost a shriek. I felt tears pooling in my eyes, and I didn’t care enough to hide it.

“We’re closer to finding them. We’re going to be on high alert from now on.”

Carter had been silent through all of this. When I looked at him, he was staring intently at me.

A single tear escaped, and suddenly I broke down.

Who would do this to me? How could someone already hate me enough to torture me?

I felt arms envelop me, and I clung to them. “It’s going to be okay, Aubrey. Remember my promise.”

I looked up at Carter through my tears and shook my head. “How can this be happening again? I thought it was done.”

I felt him stroking my hair. While it was soothing, it wasn’t enough to calm me down. There was nothing that could make this better. Sobs wracked my body as I buried my face in his chest and clenched his shirt for support.

“I’m going to stay here with you tonight, okay?”

I nodded against him, not bothering an attempt at talking. I felt him scoop me up and hold me against him as he walked to the living room. He sat down and kept me sitting in his lap, curled into him. I didn’t care what Brandon thought about us. I just needed Carter.

☼ ☼ ☼

After I picked up Mckayla on the way to school the next day, she took one look at me and knew something was off.

“What happened?” She scrunched her eyebrows together in concern.

I focused my attention on the road, hoping she would let it go but knowing she wouldn’t. I remained silent until I pulled into the student lot and parked. Mike and his normal group of body guards were missing. I wasn’t sure how that miracle happened, but I was grateful.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and turned to her. “The notes have started again.”

Her head shot back in surprise. “When? Why didn’t you tell me?”