Page 54 of Betraying Bexley

She nodded. “Sure. What would you like to know?”

Alex hit record on his phone. "First, did you at the time, or do you now know who filmed you?"

Jannica frowned. “I do and did. Valerie Bradshaw.”

“Why?”

A humorless chuckle slipped from her lips. "Million dollar question I suppose. I liked Bex. She was quiet but smart. She didn't cling to trends or act like she had all the money in the world, though most of us know she does. Anyway, I was kind of a loner. I mean, lesbian here. Most of the kids there if they know your sexuality, call you faggot or dyke or whatever other derogatory terms they can, because mommy and daddy pay the school to look the other way."

“I’ve seen that as well,” Alex said. “So what happened?”

“Sasha approached me first. Said Valerie wanted to talk to me.” Jannica snorted. “I was so stupid. I’d been desperate to fit in. I got all fucking excited and went to Valerie. Anyway, she told me to ask Bex out. She said she had some stuff to help loosen us up.”

“So, you spiked Bex’s drink or?” Alex tilted his head. The same knot from earlier returned as he stood there with Jannica.

“I did both of ours. I thought it would be fun. I thought it would allow Bex to be happy for a change.” Jannica stared at her house then rubbed her arms as another gust of wind kicked up. “My parents don’t know this part. They thought Bex took advantage of me.”

“So, why are you grounded then, if you lied?”

“They found the empty drug baggie in my pocket.” She frowned. “The plan was to get Bex happy, bring her back to the cabin and have sex with her.”

“While Valerie filmed you.”

Jannica nodded. Tears slipped down her cheeks. “While Valerie filmed us.”

“What did Valerie offer you to do this to Bex?” He had to know if it was worth it. The girl standing before him didn’t appear to be selfish, but her tears could be fake.

"Friendship with the cool kids." She swiped away her tears. "I know someone like you can't understand what it feels to be me, but I wanted to be accepted. Instead, I go to a public school now."

Alex tsked. “Shabi.”

“What?”

Alex cut his gaze toward her. “Do you know of a secondary video?”

She shook her head. “A second video? No.”

“You should know, there is a second one. And, because of your need to be popular, Bex was hurt more than you can imagine. More than your life is worth.” The words tumbled from Alex and he didn’t try to stymie them. “You should be seeking her forgiveness. Repenting for what you’ve caused.”

“I-I—”

"That's all I needed to know." He turned from Jannica. "Hey, because of your needs, they still torture her every day. Her father broke her leg so badly, doctors had to amputate it. That's what your price of friendship cost her. That was the price she paid so you could be accepted." He didn't wait for her to say anything. He couldn't. His stomach churned while fury lashed at his insides, mixing with the disgust.

Alex hit the fob on his keyring before getting into his car. He didn’t look back. He didn’t care if Jannica cried or ran back inside to hide. What they did to Bex, they’d all pay for it. From the top to the bottom. When he was done with the whole lot of them, they'd have wished they never heard the name, Bexley Iniguez. He sped away from the curb, screeching his tires as he went, leaving a trail of smoke behind him. With the last bit of information, he needed, he headed back to the house. He blared whatever music was playing uncaring if it was something he liked or not, he needed the noise to drown out his rage. He couldn't be so hopped up that when he spoke, he sounded like a raving lunatic. Everything he'd learned would be a jumbled mess.

He pulled up to the house five minutes later and found everyone outside. Whether or not they were waiting for him, didn’t matter. He came to a stop at the curb and got out. Alé crossed his arms and lifted his chin. Alex called it the scolding look. Alé used it when he had a point to get across.

“You going to tell us what the fuck happened?” Alé grumbled.

“Yeah. Once though.” He pulled his phone from his jacket pocket. “I got more intel.” He scrolled through his phone and called AJ one more time. When she answered, he jumped right in. “We need a meeting. Yesterday.”

“You found something.” The statement didn’t properly convey what he’d witnessed.

“You can say that,” he replied. “I think we all stumbled into something bigger here. Fuck.” He scrubbed the back of his head. “Can we come in now?”

Alex heard AJ talking to someone, who, he couldn’t be sure. “Yeah. Come in. Noah and Mateo are here. So is Thomas.”

“Give us an hour.” Alex hung up. “Get in the car. We’re going to the base.”

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