This Fearless Girl (St. Clary's University #2) - E. M. Moore Page 0,3

over his knife wound and stands with his weight on the opposite leg. He’s pale but he looks a hell of a lot better than he did lying on the desert floor with blood pooling around him.

Lucas strengthens his grip on my hip, making me look toward him. Another figure waltzes toward us. The sight of Stone in his black suit nearly takes my breath away. He places an elaborate spray of flowers next to the casket and steps back in line with Lucas, finding my gaze only once. His gray-blue eyes are tortured spheres. They threaten to pull me under, but I chicken out and look away. Not here. Not now. Especially because I’d trade Lance Jacobs’ life for Dickie’s every time—without hesitation.

Maybe if I’d actually shot to kill Lance, Dickie would still be alive.

2

After the funeral, I don’t know what to do. We hang back, watching Dickie’s casket lower into the ground. His family doesn’t wait. They give me stiff hugs, and I honestly can’t remember ever touching them before. I hardly even like them. I hated that they left Dickie in Clary all alone, leaving for the big cities to pursue careers and have families, all the while leaving him out. Now, they barely stay in town long enough to say goodbye before they leave again.

Dickie deserved better than that.

I remain right where I am until the peaceful façade drops. When the dirt-laden workers come to fill the hole in and the big equipment powers up, that’s when Lucas takes control. I’d forgotten they were still there. All of them. Even Stone.

“Come on, Wild Girl,” Lucas whispers in my ear. “It’s time.”

I let him steer me back toward the car. Behind the silver Audi is Wyatt’s big truck, looking as if it’s about to eat it...or run it over. If inanimate objects could imitate life, this scene would be us. I’m the Audi and the guys are the truck.

The tension swirling around us increases the closer we get to the cars. I’m not prepared to have any sort of conversation with them. I’m mad. I’m hurt. I’m sad. I’m so fucking angry. I don’t want to admit it, but I’m scared, too. Cole and his Dragons are a real threat. They killed Dickie. They have me by the lady balls. I simultaneously don’t want anything to do with the three guys next to me while also knowing they’re the only ones who’ve ever pulled life out of me.

It’s terrifying.

Lucas pulls back as we approach the cars, bringing me to a stop. I pull out of his grip because it’s time to separate myself from them again. I don’t need his comfort anymore. He gives me a piercing gaze as he watches me put distance between us. “So, where do we go from here?”

Wyatt, who’s placed his hat back on the top of his head, sets his hand on his hip gingerly. “I’ll be okay to go in a week or so.” He peeks at me. “Maybe less if a certain someone would return to the house to nurse me to health.”

I give him a glare that only seems to amuse him. “I’m not moving back there.”

“What can we do, Dakota?” Lucas asks, brows furrowed. “It’s safer if we’re together.” He moves his stare to the cemetery behind me, and I know exactly what he’s alluding to. They did that to Dickie; they could do that to anyone.

“I can’t trust you guys, so...” I shrug.

“Can’t trust us?” Stone barks out a laugh. “That’s rich.”

Here it is. The moment I’ve been both dreading and salivating over. “How so?”

“You shot my father.”

I shrug. His gray-blue eyes turn to molten lava, and the dam inside me bursts. “He shouldn’t have even been there in the first place.” I take a step toward him. “How did that happen? Huh? He just somehow knew exactly where to find us?”

“What are you insinuating?” Stone asks.

“Dakota...” Lucas tries, but I’m only getting started.

“I don’t need to insinuate anything, Stone. Your father already spilled the beans. You tipped them off to where we were. You were going to let them get their hands on my family’s secrets after you promised me. You fucking promised me.” Angry tears spring to my eyes.

“He didn’t—” Lucas starts.

Wyatt cuts him off. “Let Jacobs fight his own battles.”

“We signed a contract,” I seethe.

Stone glowers at me, my body shaking from head to toe. It’s so hard to keep the anger inside, especially when the red-hot betrayal is so new. I should