Page 39 of The Revenge

Had either me or JP needed it, she would have booked us with her plastic surgeon when we were in middle school. As it is, the most we’ve ever needed is an annual tooth whitening appointment.

As for health and fitness, my father insisted on at least thirty minutes of exercise every day, and wasn’t against using exercise as punishment. Since my brother was murdered, I’ve had no trouble ensuring his standards are maintained. Some nights, the exhaustion is the only way I can fall asleep.

When I woke up at 3 a.m. and couldn’t get back to sleep, I headed down to the gym and jumped on a treadmill.

My brother, James Patrick Keyingham VI, was murdered in cold blood by Cole Reynolds.

Cole Reynolds was arrested, and he confessed.

Cole Reynolds pled guilty and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Three facts I hadneverquestioned.

Not until Victoria Reynolds turned up at my university.

I never questioned any of it because there had never been a reason to.

Angry as I was, I’d accepted things because JP’s murderer was in prison, and justice had been served. And everything would have stayed like that if it wasn’t for Victoria having the nerve to even attempt enrolling at my college, never mind under a fake name.

That action had sparked a burning desire for revenge.

I’m certain I’d come close to breaking her. And when she started to make me question everything I believed, I’d nearly used my own bare hands to finish the job myself.

But instead, I’ve been unable to stop myself from doing what she wanted.

The rage that burned through me when I discovered that somehow, she was right, has been blinding.

Only, now I realize that anger is directed at everyonebuther.

At the police, for not investigating properly.

At my parents, who insisted on pushing to get everything wrapped up so quickly.

At Cole, for not only confessing to something he didn’t do, but for continuing to lie about his guilt.

At the real murderer, who got away with killing my only brother, and is still out there somewhere.

And at myself for being so stupid for not seeing the truth…

I’ve not slowed my pace since I jumped on the machine. My clothes and skin are drenched in sweat, and my body is starting to ache in a way that it hasn’t for a long time. Yet I don’t feel any different than when I started.

I jab the stop button, and the machine quickly comes to a halt.

“You’re supposed to cool down after every workout.”

As I haven’t caught my breath to be able to answer, I raise my hand and flip Royal off before I jump off the treadmill and walk over to the bench where I’ve left a towel.

Royal walks into the gym carrying an electrolyte drink. His eyebrows shoot up his forehead as he walks past the treadmill. “Training for a marathon?” He stops in front of me, offering me the bottle.

Ignoring his question, I take the bottle and focus on drinking.

“You’re not sleeping again. Is this because of JP?”

“What else could it be?”

Royal crosses his arms. “Look, I know what I currently feel is nothing compared to you, and I know that you think because I like Tori, it means I suddenly don’t care about JP, but he will always be like a brother to me, just like you are. We—Gemini included—want to find out what really happened. But the only way we’re going to do that is if we workwithTori.”

I narrow my eyes. “Don’t you think I know that?”

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