Page 96 of Pretty Vengeance

War moves with his signature economy and stealth to position himself between her and the exit.

When Sawyer spots him in her path, she says, “Stay out of this, War. It’s got nothing to do with you.”

I shift positions, so I’m near him and can whisper without being overheard. “You’ll make it worse, mate.”

His blazing anger stares daggers at me. He didn’t want her here at all, let alone for us to have an explosive fight. Also, a woman ignoring War’s order to do something never sits well with him.

“Leave it alone.” My voice is low but steady.

War stands his ground.

Sawyer has taken the opportunity to grab her bag and phone. Her fingers slide across the device’s screen. A moment later, the ping of an answering text message fills the air. “Ash is coming to get me.”

War’s narrowed eyes move from Sawyer to me. When he speaks, his tone is grim. “For fuck’s sake.” That War would like to slam his fist into my jaw is a given. Instead, he stalks past me to the stairs.

Sawyer opens the door and walks out. I follow her, hit full force by the cold the instant I cross the threshold.

“Sawyer.”

As soon as I’m close enough to grab her, she spins to face me and puts out her hands. “Don’t. Don’t grab me again.”

My outstretched arms and how long it takes me to lower them are a clear indication that that’s exactly what I want to do.

“Someone implied something about my brother’s murder.” Her eyes bore into me like a drill. “That his death didn’t have anything to do with things he’d done as a fraternity member. It was actually because he’d angered an organization called C Crue. Is that right? And are you part of that gang?”

It’s as though the air is being siphoned from my lungs. C Crue is not something I can talk about with her, especially in the midst of a blowout argument.

“I want to show you something my brother drew. I’m pretty sure you’ll?—”

“Can you answer my question, Jamie? Are you working for some kind of organized crime syndicate?”

Clenching my jaw, I stare straight into her eyes. The silence stretches on until she grimaces.

“Are you… a killer?” Her whisper is almost lost in the wind. “Were you involved in what happened to my brother?”

“That’s your biggest concern? Even after he denounced you publicly and abused you privately? Do you even consider him a brother?”

“I’m not—this is not about how I felt about Brad. You’re right. He was a toxic person. That doesn’t mean you or anyone had a right to murder him in front of me. I’m having nightmares about the back of his head being blown apart by a bullet. I can still see the blood.”

“I’m sure whoever pulled the trigger never meant for there to be a witness. He probably didn’t know you were there.”

“Did he think I was still in Foxgrove?” she whispers. “Because I said I wasn’t going to Florida? And so it was safe to go down there and do it then, when I should’ve been a thousand miles away?”

Shivering, I fold my arms across my chest. I need to get her back inside before I freeze to death. “I didn’t say that.”

She shudders and takes a step back. “Are they—my dad and my brother—the reason you got involved with me from the start? To get close to them?”

“No.”

“You can answer that directly, huh? But not the rest?”

“Listen, if you stay, we can talk this through. Let me get my coat. Text Ash to say you don’t need her to drive you. When we’re finished speaking,I’lltake you to the dorm if that’s what you want.”

The roar of a motor fills the air.

And Sawyer says the words I’m thinking. “It’s already too late.”

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