Page 43 of Play Dirty

From behind me, Thiago calls out, “I have people looking into The Pulse IP. I’ll keep you posted, trust me.”

I flip him off and continue to walk.

Trust him.

As if I could ever trust anyone but the woman this fucking school killed.

After the walk back to the dorm, some warm noodles and a shower, I sit on our small cloud sofa. My eyes fixate on June’s empty bed, I figured Tati would be here by now. However, my dear friend is one toparty and enjoy being around people. She's changed a lot throughout the years.

My phone pings with a message, and I look at the screen. It’s a message from Tati. A selfie of her by the pool.

Tatiana

How about some night swimming? We can play detective if you want. Stop being a Debby downer and get a moving ice queen. Love u. Kiss Kiss.

I roll my eyes, holding back the urge to smile; however, I don’t go out. Instead, I get up and do the only thing that feels right. Going through June’s belongings. Grabbing the empty totes left in the closet, I open the aqua color one and gasp when I see a small journal.

Alongside clips of newspapers.

“What were you doing, June?” I whisper, grabbing the leather notebook and manila folder that contains the clippings.

Investigation on the way. Missing Bajo Bay area woman.

Why was June looking into this— all of it was information about the missing Jane Doe from Bajo Bay, but why would June care? How would she have met someone from Bajo Bay? We don't really go into those areas due to the high crime rate.

It wasn’t safe.

Nico.

He’s from that area, and so is Zayden.

Biting into the corner of my manicured hand, my free hand shakes as I open the journal. Plopping down on her bed, I open the diary to read the first entry. My stomach knots,making me queasy. It feels wrong to invade her privacy, but I need answers. And who better than her to givethem to me?

June.

My tears fall on the paper, smudging the blue ink as my hand moves to my mouth. Placing the journal beside me, I gather deep breaths into my lungs. The room feels suffocating, but being around anyone right now feels like a prison.

I jump to my feet, grabbing my phone and keys. Heading to the only place I know peace.

Chapter Seventeen

Nico

Ilook at Thiago as he steps out of the shower, a blue towel hanging loosely around his hips as he uses another for his dark hair. “You know it wouldn’t hurt to not continue to complicate things.”

Not this again.

Since this afternoon, he’s been on a mission to talk me into taking Shiloh’s offer. To just work with her as if it were that easy for me. I tried to explain it, and he called it exposure therapy. I scoff at the thought.

“Not happening. But she is right, we need to do something about the Pulse.”

“I already have people on it. These kinds of things take time, according to Ted.”

“I know. Have you heard anything about the professor?”

Unlike me, Thiago’s wealth allows him access to what happens behind the scenes in Velarium. The rest of us only clean up the elite’s messes, can’t have the rich and powerful getting caught up in anything scandalous— that’s what we are for. And getting fucked when they want us to. He shakes his head. “Not at all, but I heard Wyatt did a number on him.”

I smile. “Good.”