Maybe I’d gone too far because Brian was quiet on his end. I couldn’t let it get to me though, I had to be a stone cold bitch to get him to let go of me.
“You mean the robbery you were an accomplice in? The vids you’re on too?” he countered.
I laughed. “Oh please. I’m the professional.
You think I’d be reckless enough to get caught on video? Oh no, those vids have you and you alone on them. I was nowhere near those cameras; not even my shadow came close to being videoed. Remember who taught who.”
“You threatening me, Taryn?”
“It’s Taryn now? Not Tar? Not babe? Is Liza crawling all over your lap?”
“You’re pushing me,” he warned.
“Then stay away from me, Brian. I mean it or else I’ll get my hands on that shit and hang you out to dry. Don’t think I won’t and don’t you dare think I can’t, because you know more than anyone exactly what I’m capable of doing.”
He knew I was right. Brian had watched in amazement as I could slip through any crack, and make my way under any security program. By the time I was reunited with Brian, I was already at a professional level.
“Fine. I’d forgotten how much of a bitch you are,” he bit out.
“Oh no, baby. I was your equal. That makes you a bitch just as much as me,” I said smoothly and hung up.
Oh my God. I’d burned one of the sturdiest bridges I had ever had in my life and I didn’t know if it was worth it. I was still gambling with how this new family would work out.
“Holy hell,” Jasmine breathed out.
Whirling, I paled seeing the entire gang on the patio. Amber had shown up at some point and looked shocked.
Tray was staring at me with an unnamed emotion, one (I shivered) I didn’t know if I wanted to identify.
Mandy looked like she wasn’t breathing.
“Mandy,” I said, faltering self-consciously. “I—”
“Mom and Dad told me some stuff, but they don’t know about any of that. That’s some…that’s like some serious stuff.”
“It wasn’t me. Most of it was…Brian.”
“Yeah, I remember hearing Mom talking about him to a parole officer.”
“Look,” I let the parole officer slide by, I wasn’t really surprised at her lack of knowledge, “it’s why I don’t want to steal whatever it is you want for you. This life, with you guys, is a fresh start for me. Yeah, I’m good at stealing stuff, but I don’t want to do that anymore.”
Everyone was quietly processing what they’d heard; when I looked at their faces I saw their emotions range from disgust, fear, and awe. When I looked into Tray’s eyes, I saw condemnation.
He knew I was lying.
CHAPTER TWO
At school the next day, all of them gave me a wide berth—not that that was different from before, but even Mandy held back when she normally would invade my space time and time again. I caught Tray watching me when I glanced over my shoulder in lit class. As I walked out to my car, I glanced to the side and saw him walking beside me, eyeing me but he passed by swiftly, not saying a word to me as he got into Grant’s car, the passenger door already open with Bryce and Jasmine in the back.
The rest of the week passed that way and the rest of the school took notice. Apparently any social graces I had been given because Mandy was my sister had been stripped away. Even some of the nerdy girls looked at me sympathetically.
Friday I found myself walking, alone (what a surprise), to my car when I felt someone fall in line beside me.
Tray.
“Oh, you guys are actually speaking to me now? Not like you used to before.” I couldn’t help myself, but sarcasm seemed to have returned to my voice. It had always been there, I just stuffed it down in an attempt to be the new me.
“It’s not like that. Come on.”