Page 127 of G.O.D.S Omnibus

“He has already told me, Trace. He isn’t as careless as you think.”

“And you’re just okay with that?” Shaking his head back and forth like I’m crazy, the movement tosses his hair into his sweat-soaked face. I lean across the meagre distance between us and tuck a strand of hair behind his ear.

“I’m okay sharing the burden with him,” I whisper, placing my hand on his cheek. He leans into my hand and sighs. “No one should have to go through that alone. He knows his limitations, and they are for us to work out. I’ll be honest with you, just like I was with your brother. Even though Davis wasn’t my biggest fan.” I chuckle at the thought. “I don’t want a traditional relationship, being tied down to one person. It never made sense why I always felt that way, not until I knew who I was. Now I’m fairly certain it was programmed into me somehow.”

“I get that. It’s just hard. Honestly, I don’t know if I could watch you be with someone else, at least someone other than us.”

“It’s been madeextremelyclear that is not an option. I might be horny, but I’m not stupid. Dead bodies are not something I want weighing my conscience down. However, I can sleep fine knowing Creed has gutted Martin alive. He deserved to meet his maker.”

Trace’s phone buzzes from inside his bag, breaking the little bubble we have ourselves in. He stands to answer it when something catches my eye outside—a group of students huddled near the door. They must not see me sitting on the floor, soI make sure to keep hidden. Giggles echo through the few windows that are open to let in a cool breeze. Making my way across the floor—out of sight—I then slowly stand, creeping to the window with the sole intention of scaring the shit out of them for spying on Trace.

“How hot is he?!”

“Let me see!”

“Give it up, Brandy. He’ll never notice you. All of them only have eyes for her.”

“I can’t wait until she comes here so we can kick her ass just like Summer did.”

“Do you really think that’s wise? They’ll end you in a heartbeat.” That voice is familiar, but there’s no way it can be who I think it is. She has no clue about this place, or at least as far as I know, she doesn’t.

“Laughn did nothing to Summer.”

“Because Jolie fucking asked him not to, so pull your head in. We have jobs, a calling, and you want to blow it by going after her?”

My eyes water, realising it is her.

I pop my head up and her eyes lock with mine, hers widening at the sight of me. What I don’t expect is for both of my best friends to be standing there, looking back at me. My heart sinks and I shake my head. The other girls flee, while Jimmie and Sinclair both run inside. I pivot and backtrack, wanting to be as far away from them as possible. Running towards Trace, I see his eyes go wide as he hangs up the phone.

“We need to leave.” My voice wavers.

“Jolie, wait! Please hear us out,” Sinclair says, but I ignore her.

“We’re your friends,” Jimmie tries as well, so I turn to face them.

“My friends,” I stammer. “You’re not my friends. You... you were sent to watch me. That’s fucking bullshit.”

“That’s not it, we?—”

I cut her off. “Trace, let’s go,” I say, storming from the building. He follows behind while I rant and curse. How could they have the nerve to call themselves my friends?

Trace doesn’t dare say anything. Instead, he drives in silence, occasionally glancing my way.

“Did you know about this?” I ask, finally looking at him.

“Sort of... I suppose I didn’t think that much of it.”

“Sort of? Really, Trace, it’s a yes or no question.”

He sighs. “Fine, but we’re not supposed to give information about other members. Jimmie is a computer technician, sent in to infiltrate the school systems. Mr Z is taking over that school for the exclusive use of his teams. He has a few schools he has been developing. Their systems were harder to get into and that made Mr Z curious, so Jimmie was made to stay, and then he accidentally bumped into you. Sinclair was sent in to make sure Boston and the guys weren’t giving you a hard time. Once you started to get along with the guys, Mr. Z was going to pull them out, but Sinclair begged him to let her stay. I don’t know the exact details of what she did—you would have to ask her.”

I cross my arms and sag back in my seat. Damn, I feel like an asshole for not hearing her out. They could have told me, though. I trusted Jimmie with my secrets, and at the time, he was one of the only people I did trust. Did he run back to Mr. Z and tell him everything? And Sinclair, she could have been feeding him information. I guess I’ll have no choice but to talk to them—I just don’t know if I will be able to trust them again. What about Danika? Is she a fraud or a friend?

“Who called earlier?” I ask Trace, just now remembering he received a phone call.

“Kai. Brennan is still out of it. We’ve given him more than enough time to bounce back, but he hasn’t.”

“I’ve gone in and checked on him every day, but he’s always asleep. I didn’t want to push him.”

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