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Jagger shakes his head. “Like hell you are. We don’t know what’s waiting down there.”
His pace has picked up and I’m trying not to spill my drink while walking and talking at the same time. “Since when are you worried about my safety? In case you’ve forgotten, you guys had me dumped in the river and sent a mob of cheerleaders in my direction. Why’d you do that, anyways, if you planned to tell them to back off?”
“To make a point.”
“Well,” I drawl, “I personally missed that point, so if you wouldn’t mind telling me—”
“You sure do like to talk, don’t you? I don't remember that about you from our childhood. You were always so quiet. What happened?”
“And you always deflect when I ask a question. But if you must have an answer, you three happened. You guys made me what I am today.”
“You should be thanking us for the backbone then.”
“Thanks. Now answer my question. What was the point with the cheerleaders?”
We’ve reached The Ruins and Jagger hasn’t forced me away yet, so it's safe to assume I’m going down with him. Not that he could stop me anyway.
Crouched down, he sticks a key in a padlock and flips it open, before lifting the one side of the metal hatch, then the other.
“How far down do you think he is?”
“No fucking clue.”
Jagger’s feet go in first, and once he’s halfway down, I lower myself, too.
It’s well lit, and for that I’m grateful. It still has the same smell, same look, same feel. Only something about being down here again feels eerie, like someone is watching us.
We’re traveling down the familiar passageway when Jagger finally answers my question about the uniforms. “We had to make sure they knew you were off-limits. Melody’s a bitch and once she caught wind that you were moving into The Lawless house, she would’ve fucked with you.”
“And that’s a problem?”
“It is now.”
Right. Because I ammoving in with them.I never even agreed to this and they’re already making plans like it’s happening. I still don’t understand why it needs to happen or what their sudden interest in protecting me is. Sure, I asked Crew for his help, but I didn’t think Neo, of all people, would agree. Jagger, maybe. He’s been decent to me the last couple days. But Neo? Not a chance.
About ten feet in front of us and walking in our direction is Crew. He’s shaking his head, covered in dirt, and beyond irate.
“I’m gonna kill someone. Whoever did this shit is fucking dead!” His tone is chilling, even I’m nervous for the offender. “What is she doing here?”
“I came to make sure you were okay.”
“She followed me down,” Jagger says, answering for me, even though I just answered for myself.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug my shoulders. “I guess I was worried. Maybe a little nosey.”
Crew walks past me, bumping my shoulder with his, while Jagger walks next to him. “All right. Start from the beginning. What the hell happened?”
“I don’t even know. I was leaving The Foxes’ Den when I was hit over the head. Next thing I know, I’m waking up down here with this.” He hands Jagger a note.
“Wait,” I cut in. “That’s the same envelope I was getting for my orders with the games. Is that just a coincidence?”
Jagger opens the envelope while Crew talks. “Definitely not a coincidence. Neo ordered this stationary online and had it delivered here.”
This has Neo written all over it, but I don’t say that because I know these guys will defend him.
Jagger reads the note out loud. “Blood is thicker than water.” He looks at Crew, eyebrows raised. “What’s that even supposed to mean?”
