see the fear in her eyes, but she bravely swallows and nods mutely.
“They’d been talking about it for weeks before that, but I never thought they were actually serious,” she rushes to say. “I mean, it’s been public knowledge how much Clintwood and St. Jude High clash but the rival between the Fitz brothers and these pathetic third rate, asshole Matthews, is largely personal.”
It’s personal all right.
“Did they know about me? That I was living with the Fitz brothers?”
“I’m not sure, but it was the way Julian handled you at the Devil’s Track, the way he was looking at you at a gathering with all those fucking people. It was like he was stripping you bare at the same time, bend you over for defying him. Honestly, it was so hot, and it made the rest of us feel inadequate.”
I remember it all. Hell, I remember every sweet, chaotic, cruel moment I’ve ever had with Julian but now that might never happen ever again.
“After that night though, I know those assholes directed all their attention on you. Then it’s the way the Fitz brothers and Cole Perry protected you and blocked the police from investigating you for the explosion. That surprised even me because fuck, we all know the Fitz brothers can get any girl they want. Liam basically has his own personal Tinder stash of girls he actually swipes right or left with a nod of his head. Cole is freaking exclusive, but I heard one night with him has changed lives and turned church girls into stalkers and then Julian, well, everyone knows he doesn’t just touch anyone. There was Casey of course, but everyone knows she’s a pathetic desperado, delusional in thinking she could have more, but Julian considered her as nothing more than—”
“Kristine!” I snap. “You’re rambling.”
“Oh sorry, I just, well, I’m jumpy and hormonal and I—”
“Just breathe and focus on what happened that night and what you know.”
She takes in deep breathes, but the alarm in her eyes and the stiff posture of her shoulders indicates a girl too accustomed to things going wrong and always not in her favor. In that regard, I can relate completely. “I want to know about the bomb.”
“Well, after everything went sideways when Liam drove Julian’s car instead of Julian himself, I saw Sean panic, but his fucking evil brother was calm and didn’t bat an eye. He’s the one that came to you and gave you that detonator, right?”
“Yes.”
“That’s because he actually wanted Liam dead.”
“Wait, what?”
“Shh! They might be right outside.”
“What do you mean? I thought you said they wanted Julian.”
“No, they want both brothers, but everyone knows Shane loathes Liam with an animosity that rivals anything.”
My God. I didn’t know this.
“But why?”
“Come on, Ice Queen, don’t tell me you weren’t in the loop with this one,” she mocks, but quickly grows serious. “To be honest, no one really knows but I promise you, there’s history between the Fitz brothers and the Matthews.”
“So, Shane wanted Liam dead. But the detonator he gave me…”
“Was some sort of timer thingy, Mia. You didn’t blow him up but of questions were asked, they pointed to you. At least on the surface. To them one thing was clear. Sean hates Julian while Shane lividly loathes Liam, but one thing was crystal clear for anyone with eyes. Both Julian and Liam, plus Cole, cared for you, and thus you were the key.”
I feel sick, hearing confirmation of what I already knew.
“And how did my…” I trail off, as anger, fast, hot and furious swooshing in my blood.
“You mean how did your father factor into all of this?” she whispers sadly. I look away from her knowing gaze.
“Yes.”
“To be honest, I have no idea, all I know is the call came in so suddenly. I overheard the way your father was cursing and talking about you broke an agreement or something.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
I broke an agreement?
Fuck, Courtney was right. Nathan was watching me and because of fucking Courtney, he found out I had a plan to get Julian’s case thrown out and for that he… gave me up to monsters.
“Well, how jealous of my life are you now?” I mock, feeling the loss of what could’ve been between Julian and I, so heavily on my chest.
“At least you are not pregnant, a drug addict and broken beyond repair. You were never roped in through lust and lies and then kept constantly strung-up on meth and coke as you get abused over and over again, once