AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her gaze darts to my mouth, then quickly moves back up to my eyes. “What do you want from me, Crew?”
“Everything.”
“It’s too late,” she says with contempt in her tone. “You lost Maddie and you’ve lost me, too.”
Her words slice through me, depriving me of oxygen. “I only ever wanted you. It’s always been you.”
She swallows hard, her eyelids fluttering. “You hurt me.”
“I know I did and I’m so fucking sorry. I wish I could make you understand what it’s like being on this side of things. It’ll never make sense so all I can do is ask you to trust me.”
Her head moves slowly before escalating to quick shakes. “I don’t think I can ever trust you again. Not when your loyalty is tied to Neo. And your loyalty willalwaysbelong to him. Has since you were a kid.”
“Just give me a chance.”
Her posture slumps and all she says is, “I can’t.”
Hope diminishes in that instant. I can’t pretend I don’t see the emptiness in her eyes. They no longer hold the wonder and lust for me they once did.
I’ve lost her. But I won’t give up trying to get her back.
“Okay,” I tell her with slow nods, “I’ll go, but nothing’s changed, Scar. If you want us to help you, you have to do what we ask. Pack your things this weekend, so you can be in the house Sunday night.”
ChapterTwenty-Four
SCARLETT
I wokeup this morning to a note beside the door addressed to me. I’ve been pacing the room, convincing myself not to open it, while curiosity about what it says eats away at my stomach. Or maybe my stomach is eating my intestines because I’m so fucking hungry.
“Just open it,” Riley says from her vanity where she’s applying her makeup.
“It’s seven in the morning. Who does this shit this early?”
“The Lawless. That’s who. You’re playing their game, remember?”
Yeah. I remember. And I’ve only got thirty-six hours to go until I’m free. But will I ever truly be free? I’ve been asked to move into their house, and while I haven’t decided, I also haven’t told Riley. If I accept, it means protection, but it also means I leave her behind. If I decline, it means I’ll have to try to catch this person myself. Which seems almost impossible since they’ve been ahead of me since long before I arrived.
“Okay. I'm just gonna open it and get this over with. It’s just a note. No big deal.”
“No big deal?” Riley chuckles. “Anything from them is a big deal.”
I snarl at her. “You’re not helping.”
“Just open it!”
My finger slides under the flap. It’s the same envelope, addressed to me the same way as the one that was at the river, so there’s no doubt it’s from the guys.
I pull out the letter and read it silently.
The end zone is near. Just a couple more plays and you score a new rank.
Unfortunately, when one wins, another loses.
Go to the laundry room at the athletic center and pick up the cheerleaders’ uniforms. Your instructions will be waiting for you.
You have thirty minutes.
My heart sinks into my stomach as I quickly fold the letter up and stuff it back in the envelope.
