Mercy (Somerset University #3) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,65

you’ve embraced. Twisted games have even worse consequences and whatever they were,” I said to Teagan, “I’m done trying to help.

“I’m done with all of this,” I said to my silent audience. “Finally, I’m going back to my life before Sawyer asked Ezra to help him with the keg. Good luck to you.” I stuck my hands through Teagan and Sabrina and parted them like the Red Sea. I didn’t spare a look back as I marched out.

Aiden was in front of me in a flash. I raised my fist prepared to force him out of my way.

“And my final offer,” Aiden whispered, speaking for my ears only. “If you pass this initiation, I’ll tell you about Leighton and Logan Bilius.”

I froze.

“Come on, Val. We all know she isn’t dead. At least, you and I do. Anyone that can disappear a body will know a few tricks to disappear herself. Want to know the truth about that night and who Leighton Lewis really is?

“That’s what I’m offering, Valentina,” he said in a louder tone. “A prize of equal or greater value. The truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And all you have to do is...”

“Step onto the ledge.” I spoke so softly I hardly heard myself.

“Exactly. Never say we don’t give fair compensation.”

I swallowed hard. “How could you possibly know about Logan?”

His eyes flashed. “I know everything about that night. Down to the revenge your boyfriends enacted. It was elegant, I’ll give you that. But if it was me, I would’ve killed those bastards and put their bodies somewhere they’d never be found. Leighton and I did make such a good team.”

“Who are you?” I whispered.

Reaching over my shoulder, he pointed. “You know how to find out.”

I didn’t want to. My muscles screamed, tightened, and ached to stop me, but Aiden’s growing smile told me they failed. I was walking onto the balcony... past Hayes, Rowes, and the girls... and up to the ledge. I peered over the stone, stomach dropping as though the unforgiving fall had taken me already.

“I catch ten balls and answer ten questions.” The voice coming from my throat didn’t sound like mine. “That’s it.”

“Catch and hold,” Aiden replied. “Drop any and you get more questions thrown at you.”

Nodding, I took off my mask and shoes. I paused a brief second to consider what Maverick would do if he came out and saw me up here.

He’d kill them. He would kill them all.

I threw my leg over and carefully got my feet under me. Standing up, I turned to face them. The ledge wasn’t wide enough for me to stand securely. The top half of my feet hung clear over the balcony.

“Let’s get this over with.”

“Ladies,” Aiden said. “Gentlemen.”

The others went up to him and reached into the bucket. I went cold in understanding. They would all lob balls at me like a human target. I had to keep an eye on all of them, ready to grab a pong coming from any direction.

“Don’t worry,” Aiden said. “We won’t be assholes tossing it high over your head or ten feet to the left. We play fair.”

“Play,” I spat. “That’s your problem, Connelly. You still think this is a game.”

He threw the ball at the end of my sentence. Quickly, I slapped my hands over it, catching it before my thighs. That simple movement rocked my foundation. I wobbled, heart leaping in my throat as another night and another ledge roared through my mind.

“The Sallys and Sams were founded in honor of who?” Aiden asked.

Only when I was steady did I answer. “Sally Hollenbeck.” I shoved the first pong down my dress.

“Smart,” Nasir praised in the midst of tossing his. I caught that one too—sans wobble. “What year were we founded?”

On it went. I dropped more balls than I caught. Eons passed and my bra held five. They stuck to their promise to throw them directly at me, but terror of knocking myself off balance again stopped me from trying to catch most of them.

Hayes’s ball sailed in a beautiful arch, dropping easily onto my cupped hands. “Nice,” he said. “Who was president of the Sallys in 1990?”

“Blair’s moth—”

“Val? Valentina, where are you?”

I nearly dropped the ball. Maverick’s search of the mansion had brought him to the third floor.

“Val?” A beam of light swept over the carpet, growing as the door widened. “Are you in here?”

Maverick stepped into view. Our eyes locked and in the space of his jaw dropping, an explanation jumped to my