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“I need to show Coop and Colt,” I stammer, snatching the note off the ground, running out of my room, down the stairs, and across campus with no regard for my safety. My singular focus is to get to them and let them know their sister was murdered.

My stomach twists at the fact I’m solely responsible for the death of my best friend, and it’s not because of my brother. Instead, it's because of someone’s distorted obsession with me.

Who the fuck could be so far off their rocker that they’d do this?

The question nags me the entire journey to Coop and Colt’s door.

Wiping my face with the back of the hoodie, I reach for my key and unlock the door. I’ve never used it before tonight, but now I’ve used it twice in the span of just a few hours.

I hear voices animatedly conversing upstairs.

“Coop. Colt,” I call out, but no one answers me.

Refusing to wait, I take the steps two at a time.

“Despite some of the hiccups along the way, the plan to get revenge on the Pierce family is moving along smoothly.”

I stiffen at Colter’s words.

Plan? Revenge?

“We may need to stick a pin in it.” I recognize Liam’s voice. “Tonight was a clusterfuck and I don’t think she can take much else.”

Creeping closer, I stop short of the cracked door.

“You have to admit, the plan was genius,” Colt begins. “The pig’s blood, the recordings, all the bullying, plus you two playing the good guys to force her into signing the contract. It was a master class on manipulation.”

The sickness that has dissipated on my run here returns, but I push it down and burst through the door. Four sets of shocked gazes land on me.

“E—”

I hold my hand up. “Save it,” I snarl, fighting back tears. “You’re all fucking assholes. I knew I owed you, but not to the point of insanity. I gave you parts of me no one’s ever seen, and I thought your darkness called to mine.”

A rye laugh escapes me. “Did you enjoy my pain?” I seethe. “Was it all worth it?” But they remain silent, recognizing the raging storm in my eyes.

Stopping in front of Cooper, I slap him first. “That’s for bullying me.”

Mason’s next. The crack that echoes in the air when my palm connects with his cheek is more satisfying than an orgasm. “That’s for pretending to be a safe fucking space.”

Liam’s head hangs, but he doesn’t move when I hit him either. “That’s for playing with my heart.”

Once I reach Colter, his lips part, but I don’t want to hear a goddamn excuse out of his mouth. My hand connects with his face, and I smile. “And that’s for taking advantage of my grief. I fucking hate all of you.”

Then, without a backward glance, I drop the note on the floor and race out of their house, ignoring their calls for me to stop.

54

eva

There were somany times when I desperately wanted life to swallow me whole—I count those moments in breaths.

Inhale… you just need to get by…

. . .

Exhale.

Inhale… you just need to survive…