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Prologue
“Murder. That is what the headline is going to read. So unless we get on top of this both of your careers might be ruined,” Mia’s eyes are large and tears form in them. For just having a baby a few months ago she looks beautiful, but she has been extra easy to cry. My heart clenches knowing its because of me this time.
Well…us.
“Have Sara call me,” Onyx rolls his shoulders back as if the whole thing isn’t bothering him.
“Its past that point, Onyx,” Mia’s hands push up on the table as she stands. “You aren’t getting it. Whoever this anonymous source is, claims that you murdered someone. And you used the Bedroom Tour to hide it.”
ChapterOne
Jade
13 years old
“Your mommy’s a whore,” Jackson Pritcher sneers at me from where we’re standing off behind the baseball fields.
Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them back and pray they don’t fall. I can already feel my cheeks turning red, and my body vibrates with anger. It’s not actually true. My mom isn’t a whore. She’s not a sex worker. She doesn’t have boyfriends that stick around. Sometimes she gets dressed up and goes on a date but only when she isn’t working. And that is where the misunderstandings start. I may be thirteen, but I’ve heard enough from my mom’s phone calls to her sister who lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, about two hours from our home in Nebraska. My mom, Ruby, is always telling my aunt about a man she went on a date with or a guy she just wants to be friends with. Usually, she ends up crying and retelling my aunt how my dad did a number on her when they were together, before she had me. She doesn’t know I hear these conversations; it’s not her fault I spy on her or sneak to her door when I should be sleeping just to listen. I don’t know why I do it either. I guess it makes me feel better to hear her tell my aunt the truth, so when horrible boys like Jackson Pritcher call her a whore to my face, I feel confident defending her.
Just because his dad was found cheating on his mom with one of the other bankers at his work, doesn’t mean it’s my mom’s fault. It’s not my mom’s fault she's beautiful or that she works at the same bank. In fact, my mom works two jobs, just so we can keep our apartment and I can dance at the studio in town. But, apparently, to stuck-up idiots like Jackson, my mom has to get her money from other means and that makes my mom a whore. I hate that word. I hate even more that he towers over me. I’m thirteen and in middle school. Jackson is sixteen and a sophomore in high school. He’s never liked me though. Not since my project took first place, over his, at our school district science fair three years ago. He hated that he lost let alone to a young kid who was a few grades below him. The fact that he’s towering over me right now, with spit flying out of his mouth, and his eyes looking all evil, makes my stomach cramp. I knew I should have taken the long way home on the main road, but I wasn’t in the mood today.
My shoulders roll back and I take in a deep breath, hoping to mask the nervousness I feel. Movement in the tall grass catches my eye and I notice two of Jackson’s friends walking toward us, with far more swagger than the situation warrants. I also don’t miss the blank expression in the one boy’s eyes. I recognize him. Chase Mathews. There was a rumor earlier this year amongst the girls in my class that he took Savannah Miller’s virginity at a party. She’s only a year older than me and she doesn’t remember if it happened. Chills run down my spine when I realize I’m outnumbered in body weight and muscle by these guys, and they’re blocking my path to get home. I could turn and run, but their legs are longer than mine and they would probably catch me easily. It’s stupid, but I also don’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me run, of being afraid. Still, I need to make a move and fast. My legs twitch right as I decide to run when--
“Seriously Pritcher?” A chuckle sounds behind me. I turn and almost stop breathing. Corey Patterson is only inches behind me. “You can’t take the heat about your old man being a dog at work so you’re going to take it out on a middle schooler?” He scoffs and Jackson’s face turns red.
“And you, Matthews, are you even supposed to be within spitting distance of underage girls right now?” Corey turns his cocky smirk to Chase and my eyes widen. Chase’s jaw locks and he looks seconds away from trying to punch Corey.
Chase reaches behind his back and I freeze, my eyes watching, while he pulls out something silver. With a flick of his wrist, a blade slips out. I step back, smacking into Corey, who glances down at me, a hard expression in his eyes, before looking back at Chase. I feel a warm hand slide around my wrist.
“The hell, Matthews, you can’t bring a blade to a fist fight.” Corey’s voice drawls, while at the same time, he manages to slide me behind his wall of a body.
“This has nothing to do with you, Patterson,” Jackson takes a step toward us, “You’re in my territory.”
“And she’s one of mine. You know damn well Jade lives in the complex in my neighborhood. You picking a fight with her means you’re fighting with me.” Corey takes another step between me and Jackson. His words finally register and I realize that the rumors must be true: there’s a divide amongst the students and the inhabitants in this town. Not that Corey and Jackson are leaders of gangs, but the story is that they keep their own safe and keep their own to themselves. It's rare for kids on my side of town to socialize with the rich, towny-kids. Unless it's a party or when it comes to sports. Then any territory is free-game.
Our town isn’t that large, and it’s mostly rural with a few crop farms and windmill farms on the outskirts of the main highway. Jackson and his family live on the wealthier side of town, where most of the bigger business owners live. Mom and I live in the apartment complex on the side of town that is closer to the school, but also next to the trailer court. Therefore, everyone calls that the poor side of town, carrying on the stigma that not owning a home makes you dirt poor. I like our trailer court. It mostly consists of older folks, who travel over the winter, and single-family homes. Mom and I lived there for a few years before she took on a second job and we moved to the apartments.
I have seen Corey before in our building, but we’ve never spoken to each other. I didn’t even know he knew my name. Corey Patterson is a year older than me in school and respected by our peers and adults in town. The guys in his grade want to be friends with him, and if they live on my side of town, they are very close and hang out or play basketball together. My eyes flick over the back of his head, taking in the shaggy blond hair, his athletic and tall stature, for even a fourteen-year-old. I know his piercing blue eyes are probably narrowed, with a hint of sarcasm. Corey’s cute, I guess. I’ve heard the girls in his grade giggling over him every now and then. Missy Nielson even bragged he held her hand over the summer. Everyone likes Corey. Everyone knows Corey. Why Jackson thinks it’s a good idea to continue picking a fight with him just confirms that Jackson is a mindless idiot.
I swing my gaze back to Jackson, who’s looking from me to Corey. His cheeks flush an angry red and I know Corey’s won. “Put the knife away, Matthews!” Jackson spews at his friend. We all watch while Chase slowly pockets his knife, like it’s painful for him to do so, as Corey stays in a protective position in front of me until we can’t see the knife anymore.
Jackson shoots forward, slapping Chase in the back of the head. “Let’s go.”
I glance around Corey’s back to watch Jackson and his two goons disappear back into the woods toward the school. The tension leaves my body with their retreat and a sigh falls from my lips. That was too close.
“Do you not value your life?” Corey laughs, stepping away from me.
My head tilts to the side. “What?”
“Why would you provoke him?”
“Me?” My words sputter. “How did I provoke that imbecile?”
His eyes drag over my form. I’m shorter than he is, and I feel like he’s judging me now. “By being alone and vulnerable. Jackson Pritcher is a clown and everyone knows how much of a fuck-up his daddy is now. Being out here alone is like wearing a target on your back. You’re short, small and a girl.”
I toss his words around in my brain and try to make some sense of them. “That's the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” I spit back, my arms crossing over my chest.
Corey’s head tilts back with a laugh. “No one said Jackson was smart. Come on, I’ll take you home.”
