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“It’s Riley!” I blurt out, the taste of vomit on my tongue. “I saw her.”
Neo comes up behind them with a slow swagger, taking no care to hustle. “Ah. There she is.”
He must have gone and told them I was here. Did they not hear me? “It’s Riley,” I say again.
Then my eyes catch hers. Behind Neo, walking toward us with a perplexed look on her face. I point my finger and shout. “She’s behind you!”
She’s going to kill them. She’s going to kill all of us.
“It’s okay, baby,” Crew says, wrapping an arm around me. Jagger comes up to the other side and does the same, until I’m only standing with their help.
“It’s not okay! I saw her.” I shift my attention to Riley. “I saw you, you lying, deceitful little—”
“Scar,” Jagger cuts me off, “it’s not what you think.”
I know my head is a mess. My mind has been working overtime. But how is it not what I think?
Words fail to escape me as Jagger continues, “She’s not the BCA Stalker, and she’s not working for him.”
“But I saw her there. She was going through papers. I know it was her. Her nail polish. That black hoodie…”
“It was me,” Riley finally speaks. “But I’m not working with him. I’m working against him. We all are.”
“I…I don’t understand.”
Riley comes closer, but I take a step back, bringing Crew and Jagger with me.
“Do you remember when you asked me about the termGuardian?”
“I remember. You said you never heard of it in regard to The Society.”
“I lied.”
None of this is making any sense.“Why would you lie?”
“The Blue Bloods is comprised of dozens of watchmen, or watchwomen. They’re the protectors of The Society. They go through extensive training and the majority are descendants of prior Guardians. My father is a Guardian. My grandmother, and great-grandfather. And I’m now training to be one, too.”
“What?” I look from Riley to Jagger and from Jagger to Crew, then finally to Neo. “Why didn’t I know this?”
“No one does,” Neo says, kicking his foot on the wall and staring at the wall opposite him. He pops another toothpick in his mouth, or maybe it’s the same one. “And you're not supposed to either.”
Riley continues, “You’re not supposed to know until the final initiation after graduation from BCA. If students knew, we wouldn’t have a job. They’d be extra leery of us and hinder our ability to complete tasks. We’re here to keep you all safe, not just on the inside, but on the outside, too. Which is exactly why you can’t tell a soul. If word ever got around that a student outside of The Lawless knew, The Elders would lose their shit.”
My mind finally begins to settle down and I’m somewhat able to comprehend this conversation. Riley isn’t bad. She’s actually really fucking good.
Jagger removes his arm from my shoulder and takes my hand. “Let’s get you home.”
“Yes. I need to shower. And eat. Then you can all fill me in on this Guardian business because I am confused as hell.” I glance at Riley. “Is this why we roomed together when I got here? Did you know something was going on before we did?”
“Actually,” she shares a look with the guys, “they made it happen. Thought it would be best if you stayed with someone who had a connection to them. Little did they realize, I hated them and I liked you.”
Neo chimes in, three steps ahead of us. “Feeling’s mutual.”
“Yeah. Screw you,” Riley retorts.
“I just…” I shake my head, finding this so hard to believe. “I just don’t see you as the protective type, Ry. I’m sorry, but you’re so—”
“Delicate? Girly? Weak?”
