This was one of those times I appreciated Brock making the decisions, except he wasn’t here.
We didn’t have to wait long for Brock and Fynn to show their faces. Josie rushed across the room and threw herself around Brock, who caught her in his arms without missing a beat. She promptly smacked him on the chest, scolding him for making her worry.
Seven of us were gathered around in the kitchen, all exhausted and ready to go to bed. Mads had come in from her smoke five minutes before I started to recount the events of tonight and went upstairs to my room, declaring she was tired. I wanted to follow her and tuck her in, hold in her my arms, but I said nothing, my eyes just trailing her as she climbed the stairs. It wasn’t until I heard the click of my door closing that I told my friends about the hidden cameras and TVs playing the live feed.
“You’re lying,” Kenna snapped, denial in her eyes after gasping several times while I gave them details on the room.
“I wish I was,” I responded to her outrage. I wasn’t sure there was any other way to feel about being secretly filmed than utter shock and fury. Once it sank in, all those other unpleasant emotions would make themselves present.
This should have been a place of safety and security, a time of happy memories, not a school of horror. It was fucking bullshit that any of the girls had to feel violated.
“And you’re sure it was our room?” Ainsley asked with a grain of hope.
“Does it matter?” Kenna barked. “Our room, the one down the hall, or one in another building. They have access to all those rooms.” She tossed her hands animatedly in the air with each statement.
Josie sat perched on Brock’s lap. “Do you think he knew Mads would be in that room before we moved in?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him.” Grayson’s response was low and thrumming with anger.
Dark energy radiated off Brock. “It’s not just Sterling but the entire fraternity.”
“We’re burning it to the ground,” Fynn said coldly. His green eyes didn’t often go glacial like they were now.
A smirk played at the corners of Kenna’s lips. “I like the way you think, Dupree.”
I shifted my narrowed gaze from Kenna to Fynn. “Before we wreck the place, do you think you can find out what’s on those computers?” I wasn’t opposed to destroying the frat house, just as long as we made sure the members went down with it.
“I’ll need to work fast before they try to erase any evidence,” Fynn replied. I had no idea how he did the shit he did, breaking into other people's computers, phones, and tablets. The few times he tried to explain it to me as I watched over his shoulder, my brain literally shut down after a minute. It was beyond the scope of my understanding.
Fynn had always been the smart one.
“We’ll also need to comb every inch of their dorm,” Brock added, and we immediately delegated tasks.
“In the meantime, the girls stay with us,” I said.
“Do you think any of this is connected to you or Mads?” Ainsley asked, her knee bouncing under the table. As the newcomer who hadn’t completely earned our trust, she was handling the situation better than most, but I could tell she was doing her best to put on a brave face.
I shook my head. “It feels different, separate.”
“I agree,” Brock added. “The cameras are probably a fraternity thing, something that’s been around for years. Sterling’s vendetta with Micah is personal, probably unrelated to the fraternity. They give him a cover, not to mention additional influence and resources.”
Grayson leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Did anything happen at the meeting tonight?”
Brook shook his head. “Nah, just some stupid hazing shit that I refused to participate in. He was definitely looking for you.” His eyes were on me.
“Ah, how I hate to disappoint,” I said flatly.
“I got the sense that hewasdisappointed,” Brock reflected. “You not being there raised more than a few eyebrows and threw a wrench into his night. The bastard knew we were up to something. It’s safe to say that I doubt either of us will be Chi Sigma fraternity brothers after this.”
Kenna shuddered. “House of creeps.”
Guilt wound its way inside me. “I hate that I’m dragging all of you into this mess. I had no idea…”
“None of us did,” Brock declared with strong conviction.
Grayson’s jaw remained rigid. “And this is no longer your problem. It involves all of us.”
Fynn got out his laptop and set up for an all-nighter. Well, technically it was early in the morning, but regardless, none of us were going to get much sleep. If any.