Wicked (Somerset University #2) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,70

into a fight.” She gestured at her mouth and ripped shirt.

“And then, in a rage, you hit her over the head,” Nielson said. “You didn’t mean to. It all happened so fast.”

Val glared. “Putting words in people’s mouths and making up your own story. Does that usually work to get a confession?”

Nielson smirked. “You’d be surprised.”

“That’s enough,” I said. “She’s not saying any more without a lawyer.”

“No, Jaxson.” She put a soothing hand on my arm. “It’s okay. I can end this right now.”

“Is that so?” Nielson asked.

“Serena and I got into it and Brant Titus broke us up. She ran off before he could say anything to her, but he stayed to help me. Both of us went to the medical tent to get me checked out, and we walked back to the bus together. That’s when we heard a noise and found Serena. Mr. Titus ran off to get help and I stayed with her. Chandler found us and got the wrong idea.” She jerked her chin at the door. “Mr. Titus would tell you the same thing if you didn’t have him standing outside.”

The partners exchanged another look.

“You’re claiming you were with Mr. Titus up to the point you discovered Miss Blackwood?” Nielson repeated.

“I’m not claiming it. It’s what happened. You can ask the nurses at the medical tent too. They’ll tell you we were together.”

There wasn’t much else to say after that. Brant confirmed everything Valentina said and the police were forced to stop wasting our time and focus on the thousands of other suspects scattering throughout the city.

Our big romantic night was shot to hell. I got Val to the hotel, cleaned her up, and put her to bed. Only then did I sink into an armchair and allow the flood of shame free.

Serena was in a hospital bed. The rest of the band paced outside her hotel room. Her mother was on a plane to New Orleans and an attempted killer was on the loose. Bianca’s orders ran on a loop through my mind, and the surety of my failure ran with it.

VALENTINA

“That’s horrible, Val. Is she going to be okay?”

I glanced at Adam. He was absorbed with his Lego set, not paying us any mind.

Jaxson put me on the plane the morning after Serena’s attack, refusing to let me stay with him. He couldn’t go until he knew she was okay, but him being there when a crazed person was bashing people’s heads in didn’t set me at ease.

“Jaxson said she’ll be fine. It was a nasty hit though. She’ll be taking it easy for the next few weeks.”

“Who would do this?” asked Sofia.

I shook my head. “Not that she deserved it, but Serena wasn’t the nicest person. For all we know she drop-kicked a fan asking for her autograph and he came back swinging.”

She took my hands. “At least you’re okay. What if you were still arguing with Serena when this guy made their move?”

“If I was, she might not have gotten hurt.”

“They will find the bastard. And now that Jaxson isn’t working with the band anymore, the screwing with your relationship stops too. I agree that she doesn’t deserve to be hit over the head, but still, Serena Blackwood was fucked up. Sending you that breakup text was cruel.”

“She denied it—though sticking her tongue down his mouth gave her away.”

“Did Jaxson find his phone?”

“No.” I sighed. “It was such a perfect day that ended so terribly. I want to say things get better from here, but I’ve got my meeting with Mrs. Kessler tomorrow. Dealing with the other terrible things going on in our lives.”

“Want some backup?”

“Love it,” I admitted. “But I’m meeting her around lunch and you have Chem 102.”

“So what?”

I cracked a smile. “I’ll be fine. I’ll convince her to go for the charity dinner.”

“Really think she’ll hand over contact info on the alumni?”

“I just need their phone numbers. They don’t all have to talk to me. If a few people give it up that Mandy, Cindy, and Bella dropped out while they were there and we don’t find proof they’re safe and well with a nice career and three kids, that’s enough to prove something has been going on and it’s been going on for a while.”

“But is it enough to get the police to act?” She reached for the teapot on the coffee table. “There’s that saying: no body, no crime. If no one filed a missing persons report, the school says they dropped out, and their