Page 152 of River of Deceit

“Do. You. Understand?” Blaze asks.

“Yes!” Brock shouts. “I’m sorry! Blaze, I promise, I won’t tell anyone, I won’t, I swear?—”

Blaze steps back and tosses a phone onto Brock’s chest. “Good. Don’t think about going to the authorities either. Remember what happened last year.”

Brock’s crying gets louder, but he nods. “Y-yes.”

Blaze turns his attention to me. “Are you satisfied with this?”

“No,” I tell him, staring down at Brock’s pathetic figure on the ground. “But it’s going to have to be enough.”

Blaze opens the door to his car. “I’ll drop you off. For realthis time.”

I let out a harsh laugh as I slide into the back seat. “You don’t have Tate hidden away somewhere too?”

“I’m gonna make him wet himself in anticipation, don’t worry.” Blaze waits until Asch gets in, then starts up the car. “I’ve got a few ideas.”

We drive back in silence. As Blaze gets close to the dorms, I say, “Drop me off here. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”

Blaze stops in front of one of the buildings. He turns to look at me. “You’ll walk the rest of the way, huh?”

Asch glances at the building and shakes his head. “This might not be a good idea, River.”

“It’s fine,” I say. “I need the air.”

I need more than the air.

I need Pandora.

I jog into the building, and I skip the elevator to take the stairs up. When I get to the door, I start pounding on it.

“Pandora!” I shout. “Let me in!”

I keep pounding on the door, until it opens mid-knock.

Pandora is standing there in nothing but tiny shorts and a tank top, white with a green snake pattern. No makeup, and her hair is loose. She’s blinking hard against the light from the hallway.

“River? If you want a booty call, you missed your window like three hours ago.”

“I don’t—” I begin, but a sob rips its way from my throat. I step forward and pull her into my arms, burying my face in the crook of her neck. “Fuck. Fuck, Pandora. I can’t…”

I can’t fall apart right here.

I can’t let anyone see me break.

But right now? I don’t think I can stay whole.

28

PANDORA

I wrap my arms around River, words lodged in my throat.

I have no idea what’s going on, but hearing him sob makes something scratch the insides of my chest.

“I can’t,” River repeats.

“Okay,” I say.