Page 44 of Twisted Fate

“Hey, I had to ask.”

We stripped down to our bra and panties before climbing into the pool, leaning against the side to sip our beers.

She finally spoke once we’d gotten comfortable.

“There was talk when you first started coming to school. About Max. Ty told me Max used to hurt you. Was he really like that?”

I scowled at the thought of Tyler talking to her about my private things, but I nodded.

“He’d sell his own mother to pay off a debt he’d caused, if he’d had the chance.”

“Is it true that Skeeter killed him?” She asked, curiosity in her tone that I didn’t like one fucking bit.

I gave her an irritated glance, sipping on my beer casually.

“Why would Skeet kill my dad? And where the hell did you even hear that?”

She looked around nervously as if my psychopath boyfriend might’ve been hiding in the bushes, before mumbling, her voice tight.

“It’s all around school. That he killed Max to protect you.”

“How the fuck can it be all around the school when I haven’t heard it?”

“It just is, okay? I heard people talking about it in the bathroom days ago. Everyone is petrified that if you find out you’ll tell Skeet, then he’ll start killing people and…”

I laughed loudly, startling her enough that she almost dropped her beer into the water.

No wonder people thought I was fucking crazy.

“Skeet doesn’t just walk around campus waving a gun around, so that’s bullshit. Don’t believe everything you hear. Besides, I was with Skeet the night Max was killed.”

Technically, it wasn’t a lie.

“And Tristan Holloway? He showed up dead before Max did, and we all know about your history with him. I know the cops put it down to some bad business gone wrong, but I don’t believe that, do you?” She asked, putting me on edge.

What the fuck was with all the questions?

I shrugged lazily, keeping my face blank.

“Pretty sure he was at home with Caden and the guys when Tristan was killed.”

“Where were you then?”

I levelled my gaze with her, speaking bluntly.

“I was with Slash.”

“Didn’t think you were meant to hang around him? Did you know there’s another crew in town? Usually when crews come to town, it’s not a good thing. You might get hurt,” she said with a raised eyebrow.

I downed a mouthful of beer before giving her a frown.

“I’m not, but I do whatever I want. Slash is kind of like a friend, I guess. Other crews aren’t my fucking problem.”

Why hadn’t Skeeter or Slash told me about another crew rolling in?

“Just a friend?” She grinned, getting on my nerves.

“Yes, just a friend. Why does everyone think I’ve got a thing for Slash?”