“Now you know why I had to tell you. What am I supposed to do? Just go on pretending that I don’t have this huge secret, that I don’t have a sister? I’m not sure I can do that. I want to see her, to meet her. I don’t know how long I can wait.”
Mads reached over and turned off the running water. “Secrets always have a way of coming out, especially when we least want them to.”
No longer able to sit, I stood up and leaned against the wall. “To make matters worse, I think Carter might know.”
Her gray eyes widened further. “What? Wait, back up a minute. When did you talk to Carter?”
Shit. I forgot. “That’s another story,” I mumbled, the fairly large bathroom feeling small.
Mads shook her head. “Jesus, you went back home, didn’t you? Now the handcuff comment makes sense. I thought Brock was just trying to be kinky. Do know what might have happened?”
“I already got the lecture from his highness.” All jokes aside, it could have been bad. Whether I liked it or not, I had to see Carter. Perhaps not at home, because I had no plans to ever go back there, but at school.
“And your mom?”
“Angie,” I corrected.
She seemed to understand. “You can’t tell her what happened and go to the police?” It was a rational course of action, one most sane people would have already taken.
There was nothing sane about my family.
The back of my head hit the wall. “I wish. I’d be wasting my breath. Angie only cares about how perfect her new family appears. Involving the police or pressing charges against Carter will cause too much unwanted attention.Elmwood’s newest scandal,stepbrother kidnaps and assaults stepsisterisn’t the kind of headlines my mother is looking to make. She won’t be any help. I’m on my own.”
Mads reached out and took my hand, squeezing it. “You’re never alone. I’m here. Ainsley too. And you have the Elite.”
My lips pouted. “I thought you were supposed to make me feel better.”
Mads laughed, jumping off the counter. “What are friends for?” Her fingers reached for the doorknob as she threw me an evil smile. “Holy shit. I just realized we’re related, bitch.”
I grinned, tossing an arm over her shoulders. “Yes, we are, cuz.”
* * *
It was a wonder what an hour with my best friend could do for my anxiety. By the time Mads left, the pressure in my chest felt lighter.
I should have known it was too good to last.
At just around midnight, my phone buzzed. The damn thing had been going off most of the night, drunk rambling texts from the mother of the year that ran from threats to sloppy “I love yous.”
A jolt of anger rippled through me.Can’t she just leave me alone for five minutes?Grabbing my phone, I thought about turning the damn thing off. If I weren’t worried Mads or Ainsley might text me, I would have. A quick glance at the screen, and my hand froze. Not Angie, but a text from the devil himself.
Was it possible Carter did know my secret? Had he uncovered the truth that I had a brother and sister?
Revealing the information would hurt Angie and his father. It would drag the name his dad prided himself on through the mud. He didn’t like Angie, but would he turn her in? I wasn’t worried about Angie. I was worried Grayson’s parents would find out about it on the front page of theElmwood Herald. I did not want that to happen.
I had to tell Grayson. Brock too… eventually. Grayson first.
It was time my brother and I had a little chat.
Chapter Five
Light dappled through the curtains as I tied the laces on my black combat boots.
“Where do you think you're going?” Brock demanded, his shadow falling over me.
I cranked my neck up while I finished securing the laces. “Out,” I replied flatly, straightening up. “Unless you're keeping me prisoner here.”
Dark brows lifted, a gleam of something wicked flashing in his aqua eyes. “The idea has merit.”