Fitz!” Jared calls, a frown on his face. “Where the hell is your game today?”
“Told you,” Cole whispers. “Kids are calling your ass out.”
“I know, won’t let that happen again,” I grumble.
And true to form, for the rest of the game, I don’t let Cole or any one of his lackeys pass or shoot.
All I can see in my head is my car going up in flames, Liam’s battered and bruised body lying there like he was dead. Mia bawling her eyes out, like she was hurt when she wasn’t.
That girl is a fucking pretender and the fact that she just rolled up into my house, with her sad eyes and burden lurking in their depths, making her fucking bed with the devil, that pisses me off even more.
But I play the game. I manage to shoot more, but in the end, we lose.
“Better luck next time, boys,” Mark snickers. “You know, when y’all finally find your game.”
“Word of fucking advice, Mark, ride this high as long as you possibly can,” Jared and Will counter. “Once on the losing train, always on the losing train.”
“So, Fitz, how’s Liam doing?”
The boys all look at me, and the bleachers fall silent, everyone straining to listen. I didn’t say a single word to anyone at school today, only went because I fucking need to graduate and attendance is mandatory, no matter who the fuck you are.
“He’s recovering well,” I say, keeping my head. “Shithead should be here causing trouble in no time.”
They all laugh in relief, clapping each other’s shoulder but Cole just watches me. I ignore him.
“So, the police are going to get her, right?” Mark questions, an angry look on his face. “The bitch who hurt Liam.”
“Who?” I frown.
“The chick from Clintwood who did it, the one you embarrassed on Saturday, before the race,” Mark explains, waving his hands in the air. “You know, bitchy attitude, small and sexy but really fucking evil.”
Mia?
“What did she do?” I tense up, my voice dropping low to a dangerous tone and I see them all perk up and stand at attention. The girls all fall silent again and from the corner of my eye, I see them coming closer, obviously sensing the danger in the air.
“Well,” Mark stutters now, looking at the boys for help. “It’s just that—”
“There’s a rumor that Montague bitch hates you guys so much for what you did that she had someone mess with your car.” Jared steps up, cutting Mark off.
The fuck? It’s already out there?
“I mean, everyone thought you were the one who was going to race but Liam did instead, in your car, which means she was targeting you for what you did to her.”
I stand there, watching them like I’m about to rip their heads off. Cole glances at me and we both have one question.
“Why would anyone think she did something to my car?” I question, my voice low and quiet.
“Uh…” Mark stutters again, sensing the ripe danger in the air. “Well because there’s also another rumor.”
“What rumor?” I step closer to him, looking down at him. He might be Liam’s friend, so he feels somewhat comfortable around me, but he’s fucking scared of me, and he knows I’d beat the truth out of him before I even think of his petty friendship with my brother.
“Didn’t you hear?” Casey starts, biting her lip as she looks at me. “A bomb was put in that car. And she did it.”
Silence falls over the group and all eyes train on me, watching me, waiting to see what I do with that information.
I know how I handle this will either dispel these fucking rumors—and I need to know where they’re coming from—or add more fire to them.
The last thing I need up my ass is this damn conspiracy, that’s actually true, to be public. We don’t need that steam because when I finally deal with the assholes responsible, and I have an inkling who is, I need that shit to be under wraps too or it’ll come back to bite me.
“A bomb?” I mutter, looking at Cole. “You’re saying she planted a bomb? How do you think a pea-sized brained girl like her would plant a bomb?”
The guys start laughing but Casey watches me.
“She’d do it,” she starts. “From what I hear about her, she’s quite the bitch with deep pockets and connections. If she wanted to teach you a lesson, she would without blinking or losing an eyelash.”