The Cursed Series, Parts 3 & 4 (Cursed #3-4) - Rebecca Donovan Page 0,58

the fucking organizers! Why the hell are you involved with them? You know they’re morally inept, right?”

Isaac only stares at me, fighting to keep the guilt at bay.

I tap my lip, sorting through the dynamics of their illegal enterprise. To try to understand why Isaac is involved other than he was expertly manipulated.

“So Parker’s the personality; he gets the members. Brendan’s the brains; he has the tech skills to keep it quiet and run background checks on members. Probably to blackmail them into silence. And you … what? Provide moral support?”

“Money. I help fund it. I’m not really involved in the operations.”

I close my eyes, wishing he hadn’t just said that. “Why can’t Parker handle the money?”

“He doesn’t have access to his trust fund until he’s twenty-five. The idea was to test it out in Sherling to create a model. Then we can do whatever’s necessary to make it legitimate in more populated areas. That’s why we were so careful about who got access. No one underage was allowed to enter, no matter what. Until …”

“Your system’s flawed,” I answer.

I’m pretty sure we weren’t the only ones there who were underage either. I highly doubt Allie’s twenty-one. She looked maybe a year older than me.

“Evidently.”

“So … when do you decide it’s necessary to hand in the recording? When she dies?”

Isaac blinks hard as if I just slapped him. “I haven’t seen the video, Lana. I swear. If I had access to it, it would already be in police possession.” He rubs the back of his neck, where the color is spreading, warring with his conscience.

“I don’t participate in the orchestration of the events. That was the first one I’ve attended. I wasn’t told anything about it until she was already at the hospital. And I was assured she was fine.” He breathes deep, his naive mistake evident on his tortured face. “I should have done more. I’m sorry.”

“So if she lives, he gets away with it?!” I pace back and forth with my hands on my hips, unable to keep still, forget about calm.

“No,” he answers firmly. “That’s not going to happen. We’re figuring it out. It’s just … it’s hard to get to him. His family is protected. But he won’t get away with it, I promise.”

“I don’t believe you,” I snarl.

And if I could lift my arms, I really would punch him in the face. I push through the doors and leave, unable to look at him a second longer.

The pounding has stopped by the time I return to my room. There’s still a jabbering of voices next door as they do whatever it is they’re doing, but it’s not nearly as chaotic. I shower and throw on a pair of cutoffs and a tank top before calling Grant.

“Do you remember when you said I should call you before I lose it and punch someone? Well … this is me calling. I want to punch everyone.”

I tried to make him see love still waited for him. But he refused to love me.

Grant was stuck working at the country club all day, and although he tried to talk me down over the phone, it wasn’t nearly as effective as him in person. So I went out to Screaming Point with Ashton and let loose until I was hoarse.

“Whoa! What the hell happened this weekend?” Ashton asks after I collapse on the rock, my arms and legs splayed. “That was pretty impressive, my angry pixie.”

“Everyone’s so … selfish,” I declare, not knowing how to put my vexation into words. “They only care about protecting their secrets, no matter what it ruins.”

“Secrets suck.”

I roll my head to the side and watch as she finishes weaving an intricate ring of wildflowers she picked along the perimeter of the lawn. She’s wearing the one she made during my screaming episode. Holding the finished flower crown in the air, she silently prompts me to come to her. Conceding, I get on my knees.

“I appoint you guardian of the wounded. Protector of the defenseless. And officially my best friend.”

I let out a breathy laugh. “Thank you. Although I’m not so sure I’ve protected anyone.”

Ashton shoots me a contradictory look.

“You’re one of my best friends too.” I adjust the ring on my head, so it’s not poking me. “Do you hear from any of your friends in New York?”

“Only Hala and I are still close. The rest were … accessories. Wearing masks to smile pretty for the cameras.” Ashton leans back with her arms extended behind