Page 72 of Brutal Little Secrets

She blinks at me, but she gives me a small nod. I’ll take it because I’m not letting this girl go, and I need to convince the others this is what’s best for all of us. That she’s what’s best for us.

She blows out a breath. “There is something.”

“Whatever it is I’ll help if I can.”

“I need to talk to you and Hawk.” She sighs. “It’s about Damon.”

I pull out my phone and text Hawk. “He can be here in ten.”

We study for a little until Hawk walks in. He runs his hand through his hair as he checks out us working.

“I’m guessing this isn’t a bootie call?” Hawk smirks at Evan.

Fuck, he’s going to get me in trouble. He needs to knock that shit off in case my dad comes by.

I shake my head. “You know my parents are still up, right?”

Hawk shrugs and sits on the edge of the couch. “Come here, Annie.”

She stands and walks over to him. He pulls her down onto his lap and hugs her. I follow her over and sit down next to them.

“What’s going on?” Hawk asks.

Evan blows out a breath. “Today during lunch, Olivia confronted me in the bathroom.”

“I told him not to encourage her.” Hawk growls softly as he rubs her back. “What did she do?”

She laughs bitterly. “She wanted to pay me off. Give me money to have me discourage Damon from coming after me.”

“How much did you get?” Hawk asks.

“I didn’t take it,” Evan says offended.

I shake my head. “Money is what Olivia is used to. She figures everyone has a price. She’s fucking desperate for him. That’s the part that doesn’t make sense. It’s not like she couldn’t get another guy to fuck her.”

“She said she gets the best and he’s the best.” Evan shrugs. “She said she cheated with Chase over the summer, even gave him road head.”

“Fuck.” I stand and put my fingers against my lips. “Did you tell Damon?”

Will this change his strategy at all? I’m not on board with leaving Evan.

Nodding, she blows out a breath. “That’s the thing. She was trying to pay me off, which I’m not down for, but then Damon comes into the girls’ bathroom.”

My gaze collides with Hawk’s and his widen.

“He’s apparently tracking me and said my phone hadn’t moved, so he wanted to make sure I was okay.” She takes a breath and looks at both of us. “Not really surprised given there are cameras all over our rooms. But he told Olivia I was his andthat he was mine. When she left, he said he wanted to protect me. He called me his girlfriend.”

She meets my eyes. “Did he tell you guys?”

I shake my head and sink down onto the couch next to her and Hawk. Fuck. What would that even mean? We talked a little about how to protect her from Jackson, but we decided it might be best not to poke the bear.

Jackson’s always been jealous of what Damon has.

“I don’t think it’s gone further than Olivia because she wouldn’t spread it. It would just make her look bad.” She glances at Hawk. “How do I tell Damon this is a bad idea?”

Hawk looks at me, but I shake my head. Damon’s off script.

Hawk sits back and pulls Evan to rest against his chest. “I don’t know that you can convince him, but it would be better to get through the weekend before we claim you. If that’s even advisable. I’m not convinced that our having you isn’t half of why Riordan is after you again. If he’s really watching you, he has to know about all of us.”