Broken Trust A Dark High School Romance - Tate James Page 0,92

well known as a member of the Jersey gang world. “Thanks,” Eddy said, and I stepped closer to help her fix her hair. “She has quite the grip on her.”

Dante shrugged. “Yeah, no big deal.” He ran a hand over his shaved head, the tattoos flashing in the low light. I was struck by how many times I’d seen him do that same move. It was so familiar, and everything inside hurt, because there was a divide between us. It had slowly been forming ever since I lost my parents, and it was breaking my heart.

“I need some air,” Dante muttered, and he turned and pushed through the crowd. I went to go after him but Jasper got to me first. “You okay, Riles?” he asked, using his bulk to stop me from getting knocked around.

“What about me, asshole?” Eddy said, smacking him. “I’m the one who got half my hair ripped out.”

He ruffled her hair, and she shot him the darkest look ever. “You’re always fine, little sister.”

Eddy flipped him off before she stormed off toward the bar.

“I’m okay,” I said, smiling as Evan and Dylan made it to my side. “Just a little cat fight.”

Dylan’s face was thunderous. “That stupid bitch needs to be taken down. She’s been in our territory for too long.”

“I don’t understand why Huntley is here at all. I mean, how come Delta hasn’t kicked them out.”

“It’s the vote,” Jasper bit out. “All rules are off until this fucking vote is over.”

“How long until this vote again?” I asked.

Evan sounded tired. “One month. One more fucking month of that stupid bitch, and Graeme Huntley around town.”

I hadn’t seen her father at all, but it sounded like he was here as well.

“I’m going to find Dante,” I said, meeting their eyes. “Check he’s okay … maybe ask him what the fuck is going on.”

Dylan wrapped his hand around my wrist. “Do you think it’s safe to be alone with him?”

For the first time I hesitated before answering. “Dante would never hurt me.” At least not physically anyway. Emotionally was another story.

“Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think you do?” Jasper said, not moving to let me past. “At least let us stay in sight.”

I finally agreed, and the four of us walked around the party while I tried to spot Dante. I finally saw him at the end of the long driveway. “You wait here,” I said to them. “He won’t talk to me unless we’re alone.”

None of them looked happy about it, but they didn’t argue. They already knew Dante was a touchy subject for me, especially after they’d hurt him.

Hurrying along the path, I kept an eye on my feet, because the ground was pretty uneven, and in the dark, there were a lot of hazards—empty beer bottles, glass, trash. It wasn’t until I finally looked up when I was almost at him that I realized he was on the phone. His back was partially to me, but from what I could see of his face, he didn’t look happy.

“I’m fucking done,” he snarled. “She knows, Catherine.”

My entire world fell out from under me then, and I must have stood there for many minutes just staring at him, trying to comprehend what I’d just heard.

He’d said Catherine. I was almost certain of it.

I had to be in shock, because I couldn’t move closer to him, even though I needed answers. Dylan was shouting now, and I wanted to listen to his words, but I couldn’t hear anything. There was a weird, echoing ring in my head, and I finally stumbled back before spinning and running. Straight into Dylan’s arms.

“What happened?” he said.

I shook my head, throat tight, eyes burning. There had to be another explanation. Catherine wasn’t an uncommon name; maybe he was talking to someone else. Someone in the gang or maybe an old friend.

She knows. That could mean anything too, right? She could be anyone.

“Riley!” Dylan gently shook me. “Snap out of it. We can’t help you if you don’t tell us.”

“Let’s just kill him now,” Jasper suggested, already heading toward Dante.

All of our phones buzzed at the same time, which stopped him in his tracks. I was in no frame of mind to read mine, so I let them all fill me in on whatever horrible shit had occurred in our world. Phones going off at the same time was never a good sign.

“Beck’s not coming here now. He wants us at the cemetery,” Dylan said, still