Page 93 of Frankie and the Fed

Fucking hell.

Clifford’s words from the party hit my ears like drums.

Even Olive doesn’t know that Anna was raped. No one knows. Only my parents, Ryan, and now also Ayala. They didn’t tell anyone, and certainly not that son of a bitch. So how does he know?

My whole body contracts in pain, and my fists tighten on the steering wheel. He’s going to die.

I press the Call button. “It was Clifford.”

“What?” Ryan doesn’t understand, and I forget he’s not in my head.

“He told me at the New Year’s Eve party that even after Anna wasrapedand I got into trouble and didn’t finish school, his father still preferred me to him.”

“Well, he’s screwed in the head. Who cares what his father thinks—”

“No one knows that Anna was raped, Ryan. No one.”

A loud silence falls when he realizes what I’m saying. “Fuck.”

I growl loudly. “I’m going to kill him.”

“Don’t go there.”

“Do you think I can sit quietly while I know that son of a bitch raped and killed my sister?” My fists close tightly on the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white, and I step harder on the gas.

“You should go to the police and report it. Let them take care of him.”

“They won’t do anything. She’s dead, and I have no proof. My parents never reported what happened. He got away with it. I can’t let him get away with it, Ryan.” Rage consumes me, breaking all the barriers. All these years, our parents have been friends, invited to the same parties. They stand and smile at me, asking to see me. I even hired that shit as a favor to them. If he hadn’t tried to destroy my company, he would still be working for me. I hired the person who raped my sister. I press hard on the brakes, ignoring the beeps and honks from the cars behind me, and pull over, get out of the car and throw up on the ground, unable to bear the thought.

It’s not a faceless boy anymore. This is someone I know. Someone who studied with me did this to her.

I hear a voice from inside the car and realize that I didn’t disconnect the call.

“Ethan!” Ryan shouts.

I get back into the car and lean my face on the steering wheel. “I’m here.”

“Don’t do it. Don’t ruin your life because of him. Everything you’ve built, all the women and men you’ve helped, everything will go to waste.”

“He already ruined my life.” I hang up.

I close my eyes and open them again. He’s going to pay.

CHAPTER38

Ayala

Ineed this distance, even though it feels like I’m punishing both of us right now. I realize Ethan’s has nightmares and that he’s not sleeping. I know how it feels because I’ve experienced it, too. He also admitted everything right away when I asked. He is trying.

But it’s hard not to compare him with Michael. He apologized, and I forgave him. Over and over again. I let my guard down, and evil slipped in. I woke up when it was too late. How can I trust the same thing is not happening now?

Because it’s Ethan.

He would never do to me what Michael did. Ethan’s not trying to hold me back, imprison me, or separate me from my friends. He was patient with me, waiting for me every step of the way until I was ready for him. I have to at least give him the same patience I got from him. Now it’s time to talk.

“Hey Ryan,” I answer the call with a smile, ready for the lecture that will surely come now. Ethan’s sent his best friend to convince me to return to him. Luckily, I have already decided.

“Ayala, I need you to come with me,” he says.