Mercy (Somerset University #3) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,66
lips.
“Next question,” said Teagan.
A tiny plastic missile launched directly at my face. Instinctively, I jerked, hand flying to catch it, and the momentum knocked me off my feet.
“Maverick!”
Arms flailing, I tipped off the balustrade, plunging three stories to my fate below.
“Vaaaaaal!”
Chapter Nine
Want to know what goes through your mind during a fall?
Nothing.
Your heart leaps into your throat, strangling your screams, and stealing the few precious moments left you have to breathe. Terror blots your mind, forcing everything out but what your white-rimmed eyes see—what you left behind or what you’re rushing to meet.
“Vaaaaaal!”
I hit the water with an unforgiving smack that tore another scream from me. The pool surged into my open mouth, determined to finish the job.
An arm encircled my waist, hauling me up. I burst to the surface shrieking and sputtering.
“You’re okay, Val. I’ve got you,” Sawyer said. “Aiden had us on standby in case you were desperate for a swim.”
I was shaking too hard to smack him. Sawyer swam to the edge of the pool where Winston waited. With more gentleness than I credited these guys with, they lifted me out and Winston draped a towel around my shoulders. Maverick shouted at us through the entire ordeal.
“Val?! Val! Are you okay?”
“I-I’m okay.”
“What happened?!”
I said the first thing that came to mind. “Aiden.”
Sawyer wrapped me tighter. “Sure you’re okay, Val? Kendra is close to your size. She brought you clothes to change into just in case.”
“Just in case?” I repeated. “In case I fell three stories into a swimming pool!?”
“We—”
“Hey! Rick— Don’t!”
A pained grunt and then something struck the water, dousing us all over again. Aiden burst out swearing, cursing, and flinging every obscene thought in his head at my boyfriend.
“Shit,” Winston said mildly. “Is Rick going to toss them all over?”
“Just help me up.”
The boys complied, getting me on my feet and even trading my towel for a dry one. I settled it on my shoulders as Aiden heaved himself out of the pool. “Is it even worth asking if you’ll tell me the truth now?”
“Not worth it at all. You lost, Val, and the rules say you get nothing.” He pushed past us, probably eager to get clear before Maverick came down. “And I always follow the rules.”
I let him go. Aiden had told me plenty already. Leighton, Logan, and his knowledge of acts he couldn’t know, but yet somehow did.
“Where are the change of clothes?” I asked.
“One of the bedrooms down the hall,” said Winston. “We’ll show you.”
“Val!” Maverick barreled onto the porch. The glare he leveled at the boys who surrounded me burned them to cinders where they stood. “Fuck off!”
They fucked off. Backing away, they gave Maverick a wide berth.
“Second door on the left,” Winston called to me.
I fell into Maverick’s arms. He held me so tight, I felt he was trying to absorb me into his body where I’d never be hurt.
“Are you okay? Val, what were you doing up there?”
“Not here,” I said softly. “Bedroom.”
Maverick let me walk two steps and then swooped me up and carried me. I dropped my head onto his chest, breathing for what felt like the first time that night.
A black Peter Pan collar dress awaited us on the bed. This room was nothing like the little I’d seen of the house. The blue and purple floral motif was reflected in nearly everything. The bedspread, the wallpaper, the carpet, and the armchairs beside the window.
Maverick placed me on the bed. My rogue disappeared before my eyes, shedding the gloves, cloak, and silly mask. Grasping my ankle, his movements were slow as he dried me.
“What happened up there, Val?”
“Aiden said he’d toss me a few balls and then tell me the truth about him, Teagan, Sawyer, the disappearances, Leighton, and... Logan.”
He stilled. “Logan?”
“He knows, Maverick.” Saying it out loud, it still didn’t seem true. “Everything about that night and what you guys returned to do.”
Maverick snapped his neck spinning on me. “What? How could he—”
“I don’t know, and that’s why I climbed onto that ledge. To find out.”
He dropped onto the bed, still holding my leg. “Aiden knows that Leighton killed him?”
“And that she’s still alive.”
“Could it have been Aiden she called that night to clean up the body? Just who the fuck is this guy?”
“That was my question.”
His gaze sharpened. “Finding the answer doesn’t mean putting your life in danger, Valentina. Whatever that fuck dangled in front of you, you should’ve told him off and walked away. You chewed my ass out for getting in a