Page 51 of North

I’d spent the entire night trying to justify it, trying to remind myself why I did it, why she deserved it, why it wasn’t supposed to matter. But it did. More than I wanted to admit.

The way her voice had cracked when she realized what I’d done. The way her entire body had gone rigid like she was trying to shrink into herself, like she could disappear if she just made herself small enough. The way she ran.

I had done that to her.

And it was fucking eating me alive.

I clenched my jaw, breathing through the tightness in my chest. It was fine. She would get over it. She was strong. It wasn’t like I’d actually hurt her.

That was the lie I kept telling myself. I didn’t know why I cared so much.

The front door slammed open so hard it rattled the walls.

All three of us jerked toward the sound, startled, and my stomach dropped when I saw who was standing there.

Aiden McIntyre.

He stood in the doorway, his chest heaving, anger rolling off him in waves. His injured leg was stiff, his posture tense like it was taking everything in him not to explode. His eyes—green, sharp—locked onto us with the kind of fury I’d only seen in people who had nothing left to lose.

Of all people to show up, it had to be him. Aiden McIntyre, dragging his injured leg through my door like he was about to deliver a fucking verdict.

“What the hell have you done?” His voice was like a blade, cutting through the air.

For a second, none of us moved.

Connor frowned, sitting up, his tone bored. “What are you talking about? Done what?”

Before Aiden could respond, the door opened again, and Evie stepped in.

And behind her—

Quinn.

My entire body locked up.

She didn’t look at me. She didn’t even glance in my direction. Her shoulders were tense, her arms crossed tight over her stomach like she was trying to hold herself together. Her hair was messy, her eyes red-rimmed, her face pale like she hadn’t slept all night.

I felt something twist in my gut.

Guilt.

Shame.

Regret.

And then Evie’s voice cut through my thoughts like ice.

“He’s talking about the video you took last night.” Evie was looking at me as she said that, her expression beyond disappointed.

My stomach sank.

Aiden stepped further into the room, his limp more pronounced with each step, his anger barely contained. He didn’t even look at me—his focus was on Connor.

“You stood there and laughed while they humiliated her. You encouraged it.” His voice was low, dangerous. “What the fuck is wrong with you, man?”

Connor scoffed, rolling his eyes. “You’re making it sound like we killed someone. It was a joke, Aiden. Get over it. Besides, you know who her father is. You can’t honestly tell me she doesn’t deserve this.”

My stomach turned.

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