You’ve got one to the tune of thirty thousand dollars,” I shouted at him.
“Was one of those guys over six feet and pummeling him with brown fists? Because the only guy who fits that description in this school is me and I didn’t do it!”
That snapped my mouth shut. I texted Eli to be certain and he confirmed. Neither of the guys were that tall nor were they Black. After that, I was forced to take Amir Blake, Jasper Crown, and Royce Lamb off the list.
Tuesday was gone and I had five guys left.
Wednesday, Ken Han, the youngest son of Mr. Han, blinked owlishly at me in the library, appearing genuinely stunned.
“Why would I attack your brother?” he asked. “Did he make your parents rip off my dad?”
“You did it to force me to pay back what they took,” I said. “Don’t bother denying it. I’m telling Hart what you did.”
“Tell her whatever you want. It wasn’t me. I walk my girlfriend to class every day after lunch. And no, we didn’t stop to beat up a fourteen-year-old on the way.”
Ken’s girlfriend backed him up.
Yuki was next and the guy was so offended that I accused him of jumping a Deaf kid, he threatened to go to Hart himself if I tried to pin it on him. That was Wednesday gone with no results.
Thursday, Luis Riviera asked who the hell my brother was and Adrien showed me pictures of the brace he was wearing for his dislocated knee around the time the guys hit Eli. He challenged me, asking if one of the attackers hobbled away, and if not, to get out of his face.
I got out of his face.
That night, I lay awake, tears soaking my hair and pillow.
I had one name left. One was not two. Two guys attacked Eli. One guy could refuse to give him up. One guy was enough for Nolan to send after Eli. They’ve shown they’ll attack my brother over money. And Nolan has shown he’s an icy bastard.
I could convince Uncle to transfer Eli out of this school.
He’d send him to another boarding school where he didn’t have to deal with him, my internal voice reminded. And he wouldn’t do it in time.
Hart and Ramadi. Tell them what’s going on and they’ll make sure he’s safe.
That option was better, but still not enough. Eli would be safe and Nolan brought in for questioning—where he’d lie his cold-blooded ass off, fed every bullshit response by his dad’s lawyers. I accused Leo of being an attempted rapist and they kicked him loose. I accuse Nolan of being a drug dealer and framing Royal and the others with no evidence, our battle of he said, she said would end with police swearing to keep an eye on him as they walked him out of the station.
But Eli will be safe, the boys will be on their guard, and the world will look twice at Nolan Ives.
And he’ll get away with it. So will the boys who beat Eli.
I wanted a choice.
I would have taken any other option that spared all the people I loved. Even if it meant I was hurt in their place. But Eli was my brother and he was the only one counting on me to protect him. There was never truly a choice when he got involved.
Friday morning, I knocked on Nolan’s door and fought not to heave when he smiled triumphantly.
“I’ll do it.”
Chapter Ten
I shoved past him into the room. It was an unholy mess of strewn laundry, crumpled sheets, and a smell like something had gone stale under the bed. It twisted my already roiling stomach.
“I tell you how to get to Royal and you give me the name of Eli’s attackers. Right now. Today. Two milliseconds after I’m done talking,” I said. “That’s the deal.”
“No.”
I rocked back. “What? Then why the hell—”
Nolan put up a hand. “You tell me what I can use against Royal and after I’ve gotten rid of him, I tell you their names. Right then. Two milliseconds after it’s done. That is the deal. Take it or take it. Remember who holds all the cards.”
I gritted my teeth till my jaw cracked. “How do I know you’ll tell me the truth after you’ve gotten what you want?”
“How do I know you won’t run to Royal and warn him the second you get what you want?”
We stared at each other. The worst battle of wills in history.
My history—because again there was no choice.
“Fine,” I said.