The Cursed Series, Parts 3 & 4 (Cursed #3-4) - Rebecca Donovan Page 0,6
onto a branch. It’s impossible to see it without the light. “And I’ve walked this route so many times since I arrived at Blackwood; the path is practically worn down from the fence to the barn. I’m surprised the secret service hasn’t detected it yet. They’re not nearly as good as they claim to be.”
“I’m sure tracking delinquent teenagers wasn’t part of their military training.”
“Probably not.” Ashton laughs.
“Ashton,” I say softly, tugging on her arm so she pauses to face me. “I’m sorry for how Brendan’s treating you. He’s being stupid. But I don’t understand … Why do you put up with him?”
She shrugs with a weak smile. “He’s the reason I’m here.”
“At Blackwood?”
“Yeah.” She begins walking again.
I stare after her before scurrying to catch up, my toe catching on something that causes me to stumble with my arms flailing. Somehow, I don’t end up sprawled on the ground.
Ashton turns at the sound of the commotion. “You okay?”
“Um, yeah.” I sigh. “What do you mean, he’s the reason you’re here?”
Ashton hesitates. She’s reluctant to say anything, which may be why this is the first time I’m hearing about it. “Brendan introduced Niall to me after … well, after my incident at the club. And Niall arranged for me to attend Blackwood. He convinced my parents it was what was best.”
“Wait. Brendan introduced you to Niall?”
“Yeah. We better hurry up before they run out of beer.” Ashton continues off into the dark.
My head is spinning because, according to Brendan, he started at Blackwood a year after Ashton. So that means he knew Niall before coming here, but he claims to never have been arrested. Then again, he could be lying. I wouldn’t know. I’m usually so good at picking up on when someone isn’t being truthful. It’s a gift of my curse. But Brendan’s impossible to read. Hell, everything he says could be a lie.
“Did you know the Harrisons before Blackwood?” I ask her back.
She’s increased her pace—either to hurry and get to the party or to escape my questions.
“No. But I heard about them in social circles in New York. Well, mostly Parker. There was always some kind of story going around about him. I didn’t really pay attention. Gossip isn’t my thing.”
Did Brendan know the Harrison brothers before coming to Blackwood? There was this crazy tension between him and Joey when we were in Brendan’s room last weekend. I could tell it wasn’t the first time they’d met.
“It doesn’t seem like Lance and Brendan know each other well,” I note casually, not ready to give up just yet.
“No, not really. I’ve only ever seen Brendan talking to Parker. But I wouldn’t exactly call them friends. Brendan just does stuff for him.”
“What kind of stuff?” I ask, the eagerness in my voice heightening.
Ashton shrugs. “There’s a lot Brendan doesn’t tell me, remember? Which is why we need to get to the barn—so I can forget about him for one night. Besides, I thought you couldn’t stand him or the Harrisons? Why do you care?”
It’s my turn to shrug. Ashton hasn’t been filled in on many of my family drama details. She thinks some psycho is messing with me at school by destroying my room and writing stupid messages on my wall. She has no idea how twisted it really is. And Brendan must not have confided about our mothers being close friends on Nantucket when they were teenagers.
I stop walking.
Nantucket.
The Harrisons have a summer house on the island, and that’s where Brendan grew up. That has to be the connection. But why Parker? He’s, like, four years older than Brendan. Doesn’t seem they would be interested in the same things. Why would Brendan know him better than Joey or Lance, who are our age? Then again, Parker is an opportunist, and Brendan can get anything for anyone … or so I’ve been told.
“No way,” I mutter under my breath.
What if Brendan’s Parker’s “brilliant tech guy”? The one who created his entry code to get into The Point parties. The business partner who tracked down the girl who had seen me in the stairwell.
Parker has been visiting Kingston a lot for someone who prefers the city, and I know it’s not because of me—no matter what he wants me to believe. Their business relationship could also explain why Brendan knows details about Allie’s case that never made the police report. And how I was involved.