Page 291 of Fragments
He seems like a mindfucker of the highest degree.
“I know you’re upset, but just try to see the bright side”—I push my newfound optimism on him—“if it weren’t for Dr. Love, sure, you wouldn’t be in prison. But you also wouldn’t have met Byron. So… ya know. Silver lining.”
Trevel chuckles. It doesn’t sound very happy. “You’re sweet, Luthor. And you know what? You have a point.”
“Yea… See? It’s all—”
“With Byron on my side, it’ll be much easier to get what I want,” he cuts me off. “Being that he hates little Felix Darceysovery much. He’s practically foaming at the mouth.”
“That’s not really what I meant—”
“Things aren’t going well on this island, Luthor,” he mumbles. “Not for your people. The storm only made it worse… The place is in shambles, and The Ivory has Velle on the ropes.”
Bile begins to rise up my throat. “What does that even mean? What’s going on there??”
“Don’t worry about it,” he brushes me off flippantly. “Alabaster Pen isn’t your problem anymore. Just focus on taming your wild boy. It’s what you’re good at, right?”
“Trevel, listen to me—”
“I’ll tell Byron you said hello,” he rasps, sounding like he’s moving around. “He’ll be glad to know you aren’t actually dead.Yet.”
I’m growling a curse as he disconnects the call. “Fuck! You little twat!”
“Jesus, babe, what’s going on in here?” Ren pushes the door open, gawking at me.
I immediately place another call to Joy’s phone, but it’s going straight to voicemail.
“That son of a bitch…” I seethe, calling over and over, though it’s getting me nowhere.
“Who??” Ren grabs my shoulders.
“Fucking Trevel,” I exhale, raking fingers through my hair. “I called Joy’s phone, and he answered.”
“Holy crap…” Ren’s dark lashes flutter. “Is… is Byron…?”
“He said he’s okay,” I huff. “And that they’re together now. Or that Byron is siding with him… I have no clue. Ren, I’m worried. He said a bunch of shit, about Velle and them being in trouble…”
“He’s just messing with you, love.” He pets my face in calming caresses. “He’s an asshole.”
“Yea, but why would he have Joy’s phone…?”
Ren doesn’t have an answer to that, and it’s whipping up my nerves even faster.
I know it’s crazy to be concerned about that island and the people on it… Ridiculous, preposterous, downright fuckingnuts. The place is a pit of despair, a tomb where we lost friends. Good peoplediedbecause of that hellhole, and against all odds, we managed to escape.
We should be running straight to a new life, and never looking back.
But at the same time, that place made me who I am. It brought me a love I never thought I could feel, friendship I was too afraid to let in.
It probably makes me a fucking moron and a half, but I feel tied to Alabaster Isle, on some deep level I don’t even fully understand.
And I know Ren feels it too. I can read the emotions in his twinkling blue eyes.
“Maybe I can try to reach Lem…” I mumble, and Ren nods, pulling me closer to him by my waist. “Or Velle… Find out what’s really going on over there.”
“And? Then what…?” Ren asks, and I blink.
“I don’t—”
