Page 28 of The Sweetest Revenge

I opened my mouth to scream, but stopped myself because I knew it wasn't going to be him who came back for me. My gaze lifted to the handcuffs, checking to make sure there wasn't a safety release on them like the pair he'd used when he'd cuffed me to the shower rod, but there wasn't. I was stuck unless I could reach the key.

Why did he always have a pair of handcuffs on him?

Anger boiled in my veins as I stared at the key, willing it to move closer. If he hadn't threatened Mila and Journey, I would have told him to show everyone that video, but I couldn't let him ruin my friend's scholarships because he was mad at me.

"Ari," Mila whisper-yelled. "Are you still here?"

"Mila." The name burst from my lungs. My shoulders sagged. Not Coach Palmer. Not the football team. Just Mila. "I'm here."

She rounded the corner of the shower, and her eyes widened as she froze. "What the fuck?"

Swallowing hard, I shook my head, letting her know I didn't want to talk about it. "The key is right behind you. Can you please uncuff me?"

Her gaze dropped as she shifted around until she spotted the small silver key on the floor. She knelt and picked it up before rushing to uncuff me.

"Can you grab me a clean towel and let me shower?" She nodded and left. If I had to guess, the towel I'd left on the hook was gone. I flicked the shower on, scorching my skin with scalding hot water to wash away any exterior evidence that he was there, but the burning anger in my gut reminded me.

"The towel is on the hook," Mila said outside the blue curtain. "What happened, Ari?" When I didn't say anything, she added. "I saw him leave the locker room. I know it was Zaiden."

I ripped the curtain open and grabbed the towel, wrapping it around me. "You can't say anything."

"If you tell EJ, they will handle this."

I shook my head, fingers tightening around the towel's edge. "He doesn't just have videos of me." My gaze dropped to the floor. "He has them of you and Journey, too."

Mila's breath caught, her pupils dilating to dark pools.

"He threatened to use them if I told anyone."

"Oh," she frowned. "Look, it would suck if that video got out of me, but I don't need this scholarship. My family will cover me, but Journey and some of the other girls?—"

"I know," I cut her off. "The only way out of this situation is to figure out why he thinks I'm responsible for Kacie's death. If I can prove he's wrong, maybe this will end."

"So, I guess we are getting ready for a party?" She asked with a wary smile.

"Yeah." I nodded. That party would have tons of people from the high school party. "Just try to be low-key about it. We don't want Zaiden getting word that we are asking around."

We exchanged a knowing look, and she nodded. I didn't need to tell her that Zaiden would ruin me if he knew we were asking around and trying to clear my name. I wasn't sure that finding the truth would stop him, but I knew it was my only chance.

CHAPTER14

ARIELLA

It was after ten when I made it to the party and met Journey and Mila in the driveway.

It was the start of football season, and the fraternity house Alpha Delta Alpha, which was home to most of the football team, hosted the first party of the year.

"Zaiden is here." Journey gripped my arm, her voice dropping. "He's out back with the rest of the hockey team."

"I overheard Hawk say the party was lame with no new pussy." Mila rolled her eyes, fingers tightening around her cup. "So I think they'll leave soon."

Journey shook her head. "Zaiden won't leave if he knows you're here."

I nodded, scanning the crowded hallway. "So, we avoid the hockey team for now."

"I thought you wanted me to talk to Sterling," Mila narrowed her eyes.

"If anyone knows anything, it would be Sterling," I whispered as a group of partiers passed us. "But if we can't get to him tonight, we'll have to wait." I reached into my pocket, pulled out three pieces of paper, and handed them a sheet. "This is a list of everyone I remember seeing at the party that night, even those who have moved away or probably won't be here tonight." They both unfolded the white sheet of paper. "If you think of anyone else, add their name to the paper and let us know so we can add it to ours. We keep questioning until we find out who saw Kacie leave that night."

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