Prologue
“I’m not sure they want me there.”
“This party wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t for the hard work you put in.” Maverick snaked his arm around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder, and smiling at me in the mirror. “You’re at the top of the guest list, Val.”
“Don’t think Ortega and Kessler feel the same way,” I muttered. “Jade only deals with me for house business and Kessler doesn’t return my calls.”
“We’re on to them now. We couldn’t find a trace of half of those students who dropped out. They’re avoiding you, so they can’t be caught saying or doing anything incriminating.”
I met his eyes in the mirror, a grim twist to my lips.
In the weeks since Bianca attacked, I retreated into the safety of my boys and friends, letting the police do their work. As a result, the rest of my semester was somewhere approaching normal—a word not often ascribed to my life. I say approaching normal because in the background was Maverick, searching for people who left no trace behind.
I smoothed the chiffon gown, rippling over the beaded bodice. The night of my charity dinner had arrived. The decorations I chose transformed the ballroom. The menu I approved was whipped up in the kitchen. Blair and I collected and organized the prizes. This was my party and Maverick was correct, I had every right to be there, but...
“It’ll be hard to smile and trade small talk about the weather now that we know what we do. I just wish I knew what to do now.”
“The only thing we can do is prove something awful happened to them,” said Maverick. “The first step is getting into that file on Aiden’s computer. We’ll find Teagan and Sawyer, Val.”
“If it’s not too late,” I whispered.
I finished getting ready and the two of us met Ezra, Jaxson, Ryder, Gwen, and her boyfriend, Max, downstairs.
Gwen was bouncing in her floor-length teal gown. “I can’t believe we’re going to a party at the Evergreen Country Club. Where are you taking me next week, Jaxson?”
He blew out a breath. “When do I trade my groveling for your forgiveness? Lunch has been on me every day for weeks.”
“You accused me of being a violent, obsessed attempted killer because how could I not be in love with you?” She rolled her eyes, snuggling into Max. “You’re going to be buying me paninis for a long time.”
Jaxson mumbled something I couldn’t hear but earned him a laugh and playful whack on the arm from Gwen.
Not only their friendship recovered from Bianca. Daniel Meyer was also on the mend. Banged up in the car crash, he took time off to rest with his family, but if the rumors were true, he planned to attend the charity dinner and snag that two-week tropical vacation.
We headed out to the cars, driving the short trip to the country club. The place was packed. The parking lot was fit to burst, and couples and coeds dressed in their finest streamed inside the club. We drove up to the valet. Maverick got out and opened my door, holding his arm out to me.
“Ready?”
“I’m ready.”
I climbed out and we melded into our group, passing through the frosted double doors and stepping on the red velvet carpet winding through the lobby for the ballroom. The carpet was Aiden’s idea. Seeing it in action, I kind of liked it.
“Any prize in particular you want, Val?” Maverick asked. “We could snag that tropical vacation for ourselves.”
“If this was one of those win-a-man auctions, I’d put a couple million on you.” I covertly pinched his backside.
Maverick laughed. “I go for a lot more than that. Good thing you get all of this for free.”
“Lucky me.” I rose on tiptoe, claiming a kiss.
“Valentina? Oh, Valentina. There you are.”
We broke apart. Jade scurried out of the ballroom, resplendent in a slinky black gown, and held her hands out for me.
“Is something wrong?” I asked as she took them. There must be. Jade’s barely spoken to me in weeks.
“Yes, there is and it’s me. I was wrong for how I reacted to your idea to invite all the past brothers and sisters.”
I pulled a face. What did she just say?
“I’m sorry. What?”
“Tonight is about the Zeta Rho and Nu Alpha family coming together to do good for our community,” she said. “And our family doesn’t stop at those who graduated with us.”
Jade tucked my hand under her arm and drew me inside. The ballroom was even more magnificent than I pictured.