Wicked (Somerset University #2) - Ruby Vincent Page 0,77

turn up much.”

“Are we still not admitting Leighton Lewis is behind this?” Maverick spoke up. “Taking what’s mine. Valentina became president and took her sorority.”

“I didn’t take anything,” I said. “She’s the one who died. If she wants to be president so badly, she can come back to life and we’ll vote all over again!”

I might have been a tad stressed. I’d dealt with a fair amount of warped, cruel individuals. The person who sent me that flipbook was worse than all of them. Sadistic on a level I couldn’t comprehend.

“But that aside, whoever mailed me that hates me,” I said. “Honestly, truly hates me and wants me dead. Leighton doesn’t fit that description. Same for Patricia and Reagan.”

“Enough with this argument,” Ezra said. “It could be Leighton Lewis, or we could admit the five of us have collected dozens of enemies over the last few years. We won’t know who’s targeting Valentina until we catch the son of a bitch, or they give up why they’re coming after her. What the fuck did she take that belongs to them?”

Sofia eased up a little. “If this is about the presidency, Valentina beat out a few girls who figured they were locked to win.”

I shook my head. “Heather wouldn’t run me off the road for becoming president months before I decided to run. This all started the day I went to the beach house. What was going on then that I managed to make someone want to kill me?”

“Sons of Slaughter.” Ezra sat next to me, freeing me from Sofia and securing me in his arms instead. “Aiden Connelly.”

“The guys who attacked you,” Sofia added. “A lot went down last year.”

“Who among those people would come after me like this, or believes I took something from them?”

No one. Not my bodyguards, boyfriends, and best friend had an answer.

I took a deep breath. “Whoever they are, they sent me that disgusting book because they couldn’t think of another way to get to me. Juliet and her team keep them away. Changing cars throws them off. Unmarked mail isn’t delivered here. They sent it to the Sally house because it was their last option, and if it happens again, I’m turning it over to the police. They can deal with this sicko. I’m done.”

I stood free of my hug. “I’m tired of people like this turning my life upside down. I have enough going on trying to find Teagan and Sawyer.” I turned on Juliet. “From now on, I don’t run around opening up random packages and I leave finding this guy to you and the police.”

“We will find him,” she said without skipping a beat. “Until then, there won’t be a repeat of today. I apologize for not vetting that package.”

“Don’t apologize. We haven’t gotten to the point that I want my mail searched.”

“We’re at that point now,” Ryder said.

We’ll have that argument after everyone leaves.

“I also ask that you start carrying a weapon,” Juliet continued. “You have to be able to defend yourself if anything happens to me, Hadley, or Kennedy. Whoever this person is, they mean business.”

“What kind of weapon? I have a son. I won’t have anything dangerous around him.”

“Would you consider a taser?”

“We’ll talk about it. Sof,” I said, twisting to face her. “We left the list in your room. It’s too late to call more people, but we can get started on the names we have already.”

She blinked at me like she didn’t know what I was talking about. “You want to do that right now?”

“What else are we going to do?”

Sofia didn’t move.

“Please,” I said. “It’s important. Plus, it’ll take my mind off what’s going on.”

“Okay.” It sounded like a question. “I’ll run back to campus and get it.”

“Get what?” Maverick asked as she got up to leave.

“Mrs. Kessler said yes to the event,” I told him. “She emailed me the list of alumni and I have the names of twelve people who suddenly dropped out of Zeta Rho and Nu Alpha. Sofia has more.”

Maverick crossed the scant distance and kissed me. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he whispered. “You can take a break, Val. One night off from saving the world.”

The barest smile tugged at my lips. “Saving the world takes my mind off the rest. I’m okay. I promise.”

He heaved a sigh. “In that case, I know what we’re doing tonight.”

An hour later, Sofia, Maverick, and I had taken up the available surfaces in his room. I spread my laptop and papers on his