Page 71 of Wild Card

“What did Elias do to you?” I crossed my arms over my chest. I needed to know, just to put it behind me.

He hesitated. “I know you’re mad, but there’s something I need to tell you about the article, about Elias…”

“Just tell me what he did to you.”

Decker dipped his head. “He’s just dangerous.”

My heart cracked, battering my lungs, daring them to gather air. Tears clogged my eyes, because he still wasn’t going to tell me…even in the midst of everything. What was he hiding?

“So, you knew my sister was essentially entering into an arranged marriage with someone ‘dangerous’ and you didn’t tell me?” I whispered as wisps of my hair were blown into my face by a rogue wind that cut through the street.

His eyes searched mine, begging me to understand.

“It was something I didn’t know all the details about. I didn’t feel right saying something about your dad, or even Taylor…it was complicated.”

“But you could have explained the revenge aspect…you could have included me.” My voice rose as anger spiked through me. “That’s my stepsister—how could you think I wouldn’t want to know something like that?”

“You were so willing to take her spot in that room, to have someone who wanted her touch you…what was I supposed to think?” he snapped, darting a hand at his chest.

My mouth opened but nothing came out. Hurt slammed into me, along with a healthy dose of self-loathing. He was right, not for the reasons he thought…but I was willing to do what I had to in order to get information on the card game.

“I need some space, I think.” I wet my lips, trying to gather the energy to walk to my car. I spun around and headed toward the parking garage. I needed to get home and talk to Taylor.

“Mallory, wait.” Decker stormed after me.

“No. I understand…I just—I need some time to…” What was I even saying? Time to…what? Come to terms with the fact that my boyfriend knew my stepsister had signed up for an arranged marriage but assumed I was so self-involved I wouldn’t care?

“Mallory, just wait. Just…fuck, just talk to me for a second.” He ran in front of me, moving backward while I plowed my way down the sidewalk.

“Decker, give me some space.” I stopped, nailing him with a look that I hoped confirmed I wasn’t fucking around. I needed to be away from him right then.

He waited, staring at me with an intensity that made me want to crumble into a thousand pieces. Finally, he raised his hands and stepped aside, letting me pass by. I didn’t look back as I walked away from him, and I didn’t search for him as I pulled away from the city and headed back home.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Taylor,please call me back. I need to talk to you.” I pressed the end button on my cell and tossed it on the bed. That was the sixth or seventh voicemail I’d left for her.

Pacing my bedroom had done nothing to settle my nerves or provide me with answers. The party for the team was in a few hours, but I wouldn’t be going. Even if there was a part of me that wanted more details for my story, I couldn’t stomach being around Elias or Decker at the moment, and I would be thinking of Taylor the entire time.

Was that why she’d warned me that Elias was a dangerous guy? Did she know what he’d done to Decker? Had he done something to her? My list of questions grew with every passing hour, and as the sun began to dip closer to the horizon, I was no closer to having any answers.

Finally, around four, I received a phone call, but it wasn’t from who I needed to hear from.

Still, at least it would help keep my mind off of Taylor. So, I changed my clothes, did my hair, and headed toward the school.

* * *

“Thankyou for agreeing to meet with us, Ms. Shaw.”

Mr. Geele lifted his hand so I would take a seat at the massive table to his left. There were already four other faculty members sitting at it, one of which was my journalism advisor.

I smiled, taking a seat, feeling nerves jutting under my skin.

“Hello.” I nodded, greeting each person.

“Mallory, how are you today?” Ms. Stalkwell smiled at me while tapping away on her cell phone.

“Fine, thanks.” I wanted to puke, but that was totally not a big deal, right?

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