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“You can do this, Ry,” Dad encourages, lifting my chin. I didn’t even recognize my head was bowed. “You’re one of the strongest people I know, and you won’t be alone.” Then, he stands and presses a kiss on the top of my head before giving me some much needed space.
Leaning back, I close my eyes, waiting for the plane’s wheels to hit the tarmac, signaling the close of one chapter and the beginning of a metamorphosis.
My eyes pop open as we touch land, with Granddad’s words playing on a loop. ‘We’ve been on defense for too long. Now, it’s their turn, and we won’t stop until they’re all dead.’
Edgewood won’t know what hit them.
8
SEBASTIAN
“There’s been another reported death in the Bronston area, bringing the total number of victims killed in recent months to eight. Maxfield Rothberg was discovered early this morning, nailed to his front door.”
I shake my head as I put my Porsche 911 into park in front of the house the guys are staying in on campus. The murders in the Colorado city have been all over the national news.
Shutting off the engine, I open my door and step outside. Then, I make my way up the front stairs.
I’m here to check on Owen. The rest of the guys are out. When Owen didn’t respond to any of the group text messages, I knew I needed to stop by before heading to Le Toucher to meet with Matthieu.
As I enter the house, all I can think is how the entire summer has been shit. Senator Baker has given power to one of the most vindictive bitches I know. Samantha Davenport makes all my issues with Vivian seem like minor disagreements. And the person struggling the most with our current circumstances is Owen.
Not only was he kidnapped and tortured for weeks, but he was also dropped off on the side of the road with an explosive in his arm, barely alive.
Climbing the steps, I ruminate on how devastated he was once he discovered Ariah was gone. Part of me is glad he wasn’t around to see the utter heartbreak on her face when Wes chose Samantha.
It’s an image burned into my memory, haunting me in my daydreams and nightmares. Ariah opened me to the possibilities of life after heartbreak—to pouring love into someone who doesn’t take advantage, instead returning it in spades.
I’m about to knock on Owen’s door when I hear her voice.
“You broke me. Each of you stole pieces of my heart and carelessly discarded them.”
I wait for his reply, but I’m greeted with an anguished cry.
“How could I have been so foolish to believe that any of you were ever genuine? H-h-how?” Ariah chokes out. “This is my fault. I lowered my guard with the whispered promises of forever, and we all know that a promise is a comfort to a fool. And guess what? I’m that fool.”
My eyes snap shut at the hurt in every word as I wait for Owen to rebuff her—to chastise her for the asinine thought that she’s foolish. It never comes.
“This is the last time I’ll ever reach out to any of you. It’s time for me to make peace with how stupid I am for ever believing, for ever trusting the sweet poison that was your I love yous.”
Her words slice through me.
“I need you to hear this and pass the message on to the rest of your cowardly friends.”
My breath hitches, resting my palm against the wall, waiting for the fatal blow.
“I may be down, but I’m far from out. You and your fiancée can have this moment because it’ll be the last one I ever give any of you. You’re all dead to me.”
My eyes spring open, and I fight the urge to drop to my knees. The finality in her tone spears me through my chest, sending chills down my spine.
“Nooooo,” Owen shouts, his broken screams the perfect representation of the torment coursing through me. “No. . . no. . . no! You don’t mean that, Angel. I’ll fix this—we’ll fix it. I promise. Owen mutters almost incoherently.
I burst through the door. “Ariah,” I growl as I take in the scene before me.
“Press one to delete this message. Press two to save this message. Press three to replay this message. Press four to return to the main menu.”
It’s a voicemail.
Owen’s so lost in his phone that he doesn’t acknowledge my presence, and the message begins to play again.
