if he finds out we’re trying to get into it. I’m asking you again, drop out of this sorority.”
“I can’t do that,” she replied—like I knew she would. “Maverick, Sawyer was thrown in the back of a van and sped off to who-knows-where. Now he’s sipping cocktails and smiling like it never happened. Something is going on that we can’t comprehend right now, but Sofia and our sisters are not getting caught up in it. I have to stay and watch out for them.”
It wasn’t a strong hope that she’d agree with me. All the same, I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t ask and keep asking. I wanted to know the truth, but I wanted Val safe more.
She placed her hand over my heart. “Focus on cracking the file. I’ll find out more from Teagan, Sawyer, and Jade. We will find the truth. I promise.”
“I promise,” I said, “to protect you. That’s the promise I care about.”
She kissed me—slow, sweet, and mind-scrambling.
I couldn’t pull her away from the Sallys, but I would make sure none of those picture-perfect coeds laid a hand on her.
I’ll find out what you’re hiding, Aiden. Then the bomb will drop... on you.
Chapter Two
Six Months Later
Valentina
“The deejay should be here at nine. We’ve got sisters on the chips, dip, veggies, and beer. I’ll start on the sliders and cookies as soon as I finish with the balloons.”
“After this I’ll move the breakables to my room,” Blair said. “Whenever we open the party to the entire row, I swear those guys make a bet to see how much of our stuff they can trash.”
Laughing, I poked my head in the kitchen, confirmed the girls were laying out the spread, and continued to the back door, Blair on my heels. “What can we do? It’s their graduation party. The seniors wanted all their friends to come.”
“I feel like it’s been an endless cycle of events, parties, theme nights, and bonding activities since the charity dinner,” she said. “That event was definitely our best, though. My mom’s still talking about it. Asking me if we’ll throw it every year.”
I fell silent. Scanning the backyard and the sisters putting out the tiki torches and hanging lights saved me from answering.
Our Christmas charity dinner was a big hit. The brothers, sisters, and alumni were bouncing out of their finery to see old friends again. It wasn’t just Sawyer and Teagan who made a triumphant return. Most of the people Maverick, Sofia, and I dubbed missing were somehow located by Jade Ortega and accepted her invite. As that night wore on, my confidence in what I thought I knew was shaken to the core.
And all this time later, I still don’t know what to believe.
How could I when the proof that the Sallys and Sams didn’t hurt those people was standing right in front of me, beaming and telling stories of their vibrant lives free of deep, dark holes?
“It only gets more intense from here,” I finally said. “Next year, we have pledges. Innocent young hopefuls ready to become the next generation of Sallys. I wonder how many Blairs will be in that bunch.”
She dropped her clipboard to playfully smack my arm. “If you mean brilliant, driven, hardworking women, then I say we’ll get a lot of Blairs.”
“Modest,” I mused. “That’s what I always liked about you.”
We cracked up.
The truth was Blair and I sailed through our final semester of sophomore year, running the Sally house like a well-oiled machine. All those parties, events, theme nights, and bonding activities we organized and led together. Somewhere along the way we became friends for real. The two of us kept the house afloat.
“Ladies, what do you think?” Jade waved across the lawn where she was hanging up the final string of lights.
The two of us—and Jade.
My house mother did a one-eighty since the night of the fundraiser. The pinched lips and narrowed eyes fled in return of her million-watt smile and constant offers to take the stress off my plate. I knew there was more behind that smile. But there was nothing else for me to do except wait, watch, and run my house.
“Looks great,” I called.
I went back inside, continuing my sweep.
“Just a little higher on your side, Carmen.”
Carmen rose on tiptoe, balancing on the kitchen stool. She inched the banner up and taped it over the living room entrance. “Congratulations, Seniors!” spelled out in shiny gold letters.
One of the most baffling, insane school years had come to an end and the