“You love being president. Those women have become like your family and you care about them. You care if someone is trying to take advantage of them. We don’t know what Aiden is up to but he stopped pretending he’s innocent. I’ll get the truth about the files even if I have to do it another way.”
“I just don’t know w-what this is all for anymore.” Her voice cracked. “Sawyer and Teagan party with this guy every other week. They’re clearly not victims. What Ezra overheard in the basement wasn’t what we thought it was—like Aiden’s said the whole time. As for Leighton and Logan, the friends who covered up his death had to do with her and her alone. It’s not connected to Zeta Rho.”
“How does that explain the people who’ve gone missing from the Sam and Sally house for years? Or your housemother’s reaction every time you suggest that something isn’t right?”
“What if I don’t give a shit anymore?” she snapped. “Sofia and I half-carried you to the car last night. I’m done, Maverick.”
I fell quiet, choosing my words carefully. “If you’re done... then be done with all of it, Val.”
“What does that mean?”
“Drop out of the Sallys.” Rising up, I met her shock head-on. “All of this started the day you walked into that welcoming reception. It only ends when you walk out.”
“But, Maverick—”
“You can’t think I’ll sit back and stick my head up my ass while Aiden, Sawyer, Teagan, Eve, and the rest of them continue lying straight to your face. We don’t know the truth behind what Aiden did to Sawyer but the only person who hasn’t lied in all of this is Ezra. Aiden did something to that guy and it doesn’t matter if he won his forgiveness. While that duplicitous bastard is right next door, I don’t want you anywhere near the Sallys. What do you say?”
Val pressed her lips together, eyes wide. She didn’t find a response, and she didn’t have to.
I lightly kissed her cheek. That was all my busted lip could handle. “I thought so. You can’t abandon your sisters any more than I can turn a blind eye to the suspicious things that have gone on in those houses. If Teagan and Sawyer’s year off was as innocent as they claimed, then all they have to do is tell the truth.
“Because we know the stories they’ve been spreading are bullshit. Let Aiden, Sawyer, or Teagan give us one straight honest answer and then this can be over. Until then, you’re not fending for yourself with a bunch of people who lie as easily as they show their teeth.”
“I just want this to be over,” she whispered.
“Then let’s end it.” I cupped her cheek and kissed her—pain be damned. “Together.”
VALENTINA
“Trust me, ladies and gentlemen, I sympathize. The test has beaten down even the strongest of us. Just do your best.”
“Because if you don’t,” Aiden added, “you shouldn’t expect to become one of us.”
I glared at him over a sea of shocked whispers and wide eyes. He winked back.
A month had passed since this piece of crap beat my boyfriend unconscious. Mercilessly, life insisted on moving on and piling homework, classes, tests, and pledges in the process. It was a good thing I liked my bunch of pledges.
Ellie graduated top of her high school class. I credited the stellar education for her graphic, inventive swears that streamed steadily from her mouth during physical activity. Despite this, she didn’t give up or ask to slow down.
Maeve could give Blair a run for her money in the type-A department. She was exactly fifteen minutes early to pledge events and she took every chance she got to tell me how much she wanted to be in her older sister’s former sorority. Another Blair in the house would’ve given me pause if not for Mini-Blair’s love of cooking. The two of us enjoyed more chats than I could count while standing at the island and whipping up something delicious.
Blakely forced me to recall the conversation I had with Aiden in his basement the year before. Pledges that went out of their way to connect with the sisters deserved extra points and, in her case, I agreed. Blakely was first to volunteer to help with events. If it was anyone else, I’d say they were kissing ass hard. But it was obvious to me Blakely truly liked hanging out with us, and everyone liked her too.
They were just three out of the amazing girls we chose