“As long as it does the trick, I don’t care how skilled or sloppy the deed is done.” I rummaged through the bag, pulling out the switchblade before handing over the rest to Kenna.
She slipped the straps through her arms, securing my bag on her back. “Just distract him long enough for me to sneak up behind him. I’ll zap his ass. I can’t wait to see the shock on his face. This won’t knock him out, will it?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. But it will confuse and disorientate him for a time.”
“Bummer. It better hurt like a bitch. Come on. We’ll sneak out the back entrance,” she instructed, stepping up to the role of partner with ease.
It took another few minutes to backtrack and turn down the south hallway that led to the courtyard and then out to the rear parking lot. Kenna pushed the door open softly, careful not to make too much noise.
“Hang on,” she whispered as I went to walk through. Crouching in the doorway, she picked up a rock and tossed it at the overhead light above the door. The bulb shattered, blanketing this side of the school in darkness.
I gaped at her. Just who was Kenna Edwards? “Okay, you’re starting to scare me.”
She cut me a sharp smile, but I could also see the nerves she tried to hide. “Showtime. You’re up, sis.”
“Remember, if anything goes wrong, you call Brock,” I ordered, holding her gaze.
She made a cross over her heart. “Promise.”
I left Kenna at the corner as I stepped out from behind the building, forcing my feet to move one by one. It was like they were weighed down with wet sand.Don’t look behind you. Don’t look behind you,I told myself. It was my job to keep Kenna safe, to make sure she wasn’t discovered until just the right moment. Timing was key. I couldn’t fuck this up.
A wicked dose of anxiety knocked around in my chest, curdling like rotten potatoes, yet despite the sickening feeling in my gut, I shoved on. Carter’s head snapped up the second he heard me coming. Then his laugh pierced the night, a deranged and twisted sound. It made my ears tingle in a haunting way.
His teeth flashed. “You’re a little late, sis. I was starting to believe you weren’t coming.”
“I’m here. Now show me the proof,” I demanded, proud of how stable my voice remained, when inside I trembled.
His mouth twisted to the side in a crooked grin. “You never did like to beat around the bush. It’s what makes you boring.”
“And yet you get your rocks off playing with me as much as possible.” I angled my head to the side. “Tell me how that makes sense?” Being this close to Carter wreaked havoc on my nerves, but I didn’t want to let him see my fear.Stay calm, Josie. Keep him focused on you.I shifted my body in a way that forced Carter to have his back to the school.
He leaned against one of the spotlight posts along the side of the field, his phone clutched in his hand. “Life is messy. It isn’t meant to make sense.”
My fingers curled at my sides, the switchblade cool against my hand. “Cut out the philosophical bullshit. You’re the last person I’d take life lessons from.”
His lips twitched deviously, making my skin crawl, his eyes gleaming in crude satisfaction. “You came alone.” Unlike me, he wasn’t dressed for criminal activity. He wore just a pair of academy sweats and a hoodie, like he jogged his way to campus.
The way he reminded me that it was just him and me amped up the fear factor. He was good at subtle intimidation. I stiffened my chin. “I didn’t come unprepared,” I replied, flashing the blade clutched tightly in my hand. “Are you armed?” I asked, wondering if he had his rape kit in his car. He carried nothing and had no pockets to conceal a weapon that I could see.
Slowly, Carter lifted his arms, showing me his hands. One of them held his phone and the other was empty. After a moment, he dropped his arms, raking his free fingers through his windblown golden hair. It had grown longer over the last few weeks. “Whether you believe me or not, I won’t hurt you.”
A snort breezed through my nose. “Your past track record shows otherwise. Besides, you don’t need a weapon to hurt me.” There were other ways. Like fists and pictures of my boyfriend with my sister for example.
“True. Your mom came home, unfortunately. I heard it was your dad who turned her in. Savage.”
“How is she?” The words rushed out of my mouth, too eager, and I cursed myself. Inside I felt torn in two. Angie had done nothing but hurt, and yet, I couldn’t seem to stop myself from worrying about her. It probably stemmed from years of parenting her instead of her raising me. It sure as hell felt that way sometimes. Too many times I helped her stumble inside the house, had put her to bed, setting aspirin and water on the bedside for when she woke up foggy, with a wicked hangover.
“She misses you. Well, not as much as she missed the bottle. You should come home.”
Asshole. What a dirty play to pull on my heartstring only to slap her addiction in my face. “Nice try. I don’t belong there anymore. And I’ll never live in the same house with you again,” I spat, letting my contempt drip like venom in my voice.
He scoffed. “You should have picked me instead of him, then I wouldn’t have to break your little heart.”
I caught a flash of movement in the darkness behind Carter and knew Kenna was moving in for the kill, but I kept my gaze centered on Carter, not wanting him to pick up on her presence. “Oh, I’m sure you’d take just as much pleasure breaking my bones as you are in this.” No matter what he showed me on his phone, I chose to believe Kenna and Brock over any proof Carter might have, regardless of how damaging. And there was nothing pleasant about seeing your boyfriend with another girl. Or worse, seeing him with my sister.
“I warned you not to trust the Elite. I told you Brock would toss you aside.” He fumbled with his phone, unlocking the lock screen.
“Let's not pretend you give a shit about me. Everything out of your mouth is a lie. What the fuck should I believe? Pictures don’t tell the whole truth, particularly if they’ve been altered.”