Page 89 of Barinov

“Bells, you forget that we had you under surveillance. I know you and him—”

“You watched us?!” I cut in, my stomach doing cartwheels.

“Not by fucking choice!” he mutters.

I cringe. “Gross. But still, that doesn’t mean I can’t make you an extensive list of all the shit Mar’s put us through.”

“Stop,” he warns, dragging a hand down his face. “You and I both know why she left.”

“Yeah.” I fold my arms. “Because she’s a little bitch of a Daddy’s girl who doesn’t know how to grow a spine.”

“You mean she left because Nate had me steal their Black Book,” he counters, “and she eventually couldn’t handle the punishment for it. A brutal and bloody punishment that was inflicted by a ruthless cartel boss with zero concern for human fucking decency. Even toward his own daughter.”

“Same difference.”

“No, it’s not and you—”

“Why are you defending her?!” I cut in, slapping his chest. “It’s almost like you—”

I freeze.

“No. Fucking. Way,” I gasp, narrowing my eyes on my brother who’s looking more guilty by the second. “You’re still in love with her.”

“No I’m not,” he says way too quickly and refuses to look at me.

“Yes, you are.”

“No,” he repeats. “I’m not.”

I stare at him. “Wow. I really thought you’d end up with Ellie,” I mutter, twirling a strand of hair. “But then I guess we’d both be dating siblings again like the Prep School twins and that would probably—”

“Stop,” Zeke cuts me off, shaking his head. “Enough about Marisol! Plus, Whitmore has a boyfriend anyway.”

I gape at him. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”

He rubs the back of his neck. “You don’t know about Caleb?”

“Caleb?” I echo.

“Briggs?”

My jaw actually drops. “Are you saying that Ellie, as in my best friend in the entire world, is dating Caleb Briggs?!”

He nods.

“When the hell did that happen? And how do you know about it before me?”

“How do you think, sis?” he deadpans. “Surveillance, remember?”

“Okay, but still, when did this happen? How did this happen? Oh my God, does Cade know?” I ask him, practically vibrating from the news.

“After your Donor Fight,” he confirms. “And I don’t know all of the details, Bells. You’ll have to ask her when we get out of here.”

“Well what do they look like together?” I press. “Why didn’t she tell me? Ugh! I have so many questions and—”

“Just let it go!” Zeke barks, dragging in a breath before resting a hand on my knee. “That’s not the point right now anyway.”

I don’t budge.