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“Not this time,” Ridge tells him. “You went too far.”
Lev’s eyebrows rise. “And you haven’t?”
Ridge’s defenses kick in high gear. “What the hell does that mean?”
“You’re not innocent here.” He spins on his heel and walks toward the road. Once he’s halfway there, he slows his steps and turns back. “I didn’t kill those other men. So you might wanna check each other before you start pointing fingers at me. I’m not the only one who was keeping secrets.”
Lev’s words send a chill down my spine. The surety in his tone is unnerving.Does he know?
A text comes through on my phone that’s now lying face up on the ground in front of me, covered in snow. I bend down, sweep it off and read it.
Dad: Stay in your dorm, son. There’s been another murder. This one is a member and student at BCU. They’re searching for the Cross girl. With the evidence from the previous murders, her connection with the governor, and the boy who fell out her window, this one only adds to suspicion. Her trial has been set with The Elders. A Punisher has been assigned. Her fate will be sealed.
My gut wrenches. This can’t be happening.I look at Riley crying into Ridge’s shoulder. This sweet girl who stacked the odds against her by taking the governor's life, when all she was doing was protecting herself and the rest of the world from a monster.
Before I can respond to my dad, another text comes through.
Dad: I just got word. It was Cade Pemberley whose remains were found.
My breath catches in my throat.
They think it was her.
I thought with Cade out of the picture, I was keeping Riley safe. I thought I could love her the way Ridge loves her. I wanted to protect her the same way Ridge always seems to protect her. But instead, I made everything worse.
She looks at me with tears in her eyes. "I don't know what’s happening, but I didn’t do this stuff I’m being accused of,” she says, her voice sounding defeated.
I know she didn't kill Cade. Because I did.
The End
