Page 49 of Pretty Vengeance

“No.” War’s arm stretches between them, blocking Crosby’s access to Ash. “That’s J or me.”

Ash cocks her head. “Can they really spare you, Security Monster?”

“Get moving,” he growls, giving her shoulder an impatient push that propels her forward. “You, too,” he says to me before taking the lead.

Jamie’s hand slides down to tap my ass in a subtle threat. “I’ll see you later.” His gaze traps mine.

I try to keep the rebellion from my eyes. And fail. It’s not my fault Brad is an asshole.

Jamie’s lips flatten into an annoyed line, but I don’t wince or shrink back. Ash and I had an amazing time. I don’t regret coming, despite how badly the night ended.

War forces people to clear a path.

Ash tugs me along, still holding my hand as though we’re five years old. Glowing and completely unruffled, she walks directly in War’s wake. “This is the most fresh air I’ve breathed all night.” Her tone is faintly amused. “Having a human tsunami lead us out is helpful.”

* * *

In our dorm room,we’re in the middle of changing clothes and removing makeup when my phone rings from an unknown caller. When I don’t pick up, I get a text.

Unknown: Come down with phone now or later you get what you get.

Realizing it’s Brad, I stiffen and all my earlier bravado falters. Even without video evidence, he’ll probably give a full report to our family. The slutty lingerie outfit and wild dancing… He might even claim I was drinking and using drugs. Most people were. There would be no way for me to prove I wasn’t.

“Fuck,” I say, scrubbing off my makeup and pitching the wipe into the trash. I need to tread carefully.

“What?” Ash pulls pins from her hair, and blond waves tumble down.

“Give me Brad’s phone.” I send a text to the borrowed phone he’s currently using.

Sawyer: I’ll bring it down.

Ash’s eyes narrow, but she makes no move to dig his phone from her bag.

Extending a hand, I bend my fingers in a “c’mon” gesture. “He’s threatening to make trouble if he doesn’t get it back right now.”

“Threats,” she murmurs with a roll of her eyes. “Idiot.” She shrugs. “But I’ll give it back.”

“Oh no, I’ll do it.”

As much as I love Ash’s attitude, I’m concerned about how wrong things could go if I let her do the handoff. If she lets him get too close, he could do something to hurt her. It would be subtle and something he could deny… “No, I didn’t twist and break her finger. She must have injured it earlier and is blaming me out of spite.” He has a psycho personality that allows him to go from menacing to blank-faced in an instant. In my experience, people always give Brad the benefit of the doubt.

Ash pulls on an oversized black sweatshirt. “We’ll go together. Safety in numbers.”

It is smart for me to have a witness. “Okay,” I finally say. “But you hang back. I’ll do the handover.”

“Sure.” Ash pulls his phone from her purse. “I don’t suppose you’d let me wipe it?” The twinkle in her eyes drags a nervous laugh from my lungs.

“Why do you wanna cause more trouble?”

“Because family doesn’t try to get dirt on each other to keep in a camera roll.” She clenches her jaw and, for an instant, looks halfway menacing. “Fuck that little traitor.”

I give her a hug. “Thanks for grabbing his phone and deleting the video.”

“You don’t need to thank me.” She drops the phone into my hand. “I wanted you to come out and you did. No way would I let anyone mess with you at a Crue party.”

A crew party? Was the event put on by the rowing team? No… because Brad’s on the team, and he wouldn’t threaten to get a teammate in trouble if it was the whole group’s underground party.

I fall silent as we leave the room. My heartbeat races, though I try not to show my anxiety at facing off against Brad.