Page 35 of Play Dirty
“Yes, he’s not happy,” Thiago responds, taking out his vape and pulling on it. Suddenly, Zander steps out from inside. “Ahh, if it isn’t daddy’s little bitches coming to make sure they stay clear of the dirt.”
I step in trying to diffuse the situation, especially outside of the club. “There are cameras.” Iremind them.
“It’s okay, that’s what money is for, to buy anything, including silence.” Thiago hits him low, the words even stabbing me. Before I have a chance to react, Zander tackles him to the ground, straddling him and placing his hands around his throat. Ezra and I move to pull him off, but the asshole won’t budge.
“How does it feel, asshole, to be powerless? I should drag you into one of those rooms and show you violation, but you would probably enjoy it. Like your sick father.” He snaps.
Bleeding his wound into Thiago’s already shattered mind. “Do it,” is all Thiago manages to choke out, as his face reddens and his eyes bulge.
“You’re taking this too far.” Ezra drawls before pulling a gun from behind his waist and removing the safety clip. Placing the end of it right up against Zander’s temple. We all stop.
Thiago lifts his hand, “It’s all good, E.”
“Get off him, Zander,” and he does, but not before spitting on Thiago and rushing to his bike. We all remain in silence as we watch him speed out of the parking lot. My gaze drops before landing on the blacked-out Benz. “Where are you guys taking her?”
“Mr. J wants her in her dorm.”
My brows come together; there’s no denying the look on my face. “Her dorm?”
Thiago puffs on his vape, the smoke curling around his lips. “That’s what he said.” He finishes it with a shrug, and for a moment, I wonder if June ever found her like this. Naked, drugged, and broken.
If so, how many times did she clean up her friend or simply be there for her? Maybe that’s what made her stay in this shit hole. After all, grandma was right,‘no todo lo que brilla es oro’. Not everything that shines is gold.
This is just shit with diamonds crusted on the top, nothing more than an abuse of power. Students were used as pawns to keep theelite entertained. I scoff. What can one do after you have so much money? So much experience, so much of everything.
Yet have no soul.
“Will someone at least clean her up?”
They both stop, looking down, a look of shame we all know too well. No words are needed; their silence is the answer.
Rage spills within me, crashing into my system and corrupting me with hate. Kicking up the air, I walk towards my bike, not bothering to look back as they climb back into the Mercedes and drive off. Hopping onto the R1, my bike starts rumbling beneath me, and I put on my helmet. The dark, wet roads stretch before me, trees blending into the background. The city limits come into view, and so does the ocean, waves crashing loudly between the rocks. My heart stutters. I need to stop.
To breathe.
So I do.
I do the only thing reasonable to me.
I turn off the bike, kick into the stand, and remove the helmet, almost collapsing onto the ground.
“Easy, Nico,” June whispers in my ears. I know she’s dead, like I know she’s real. Living in my head like a god damn tumor. Slapping the side of my head, I try to shake the voices—her voice, as it merges into a raspier one, so full of love.
One I’ve forgotten with time, “I love you, Nic Nic.”
My knees feel like buckling as I edge closer to the water, as small droplets land on me, cooling my heated skin. Two women were killed in an awfully similar fashion, and that’s where I connect the dots. Right at the edge of the land, under the stars.
Finally, after years, I have the closest thing to answers. A slither of hope. The sudden chime of my burner snaps me back to reality,dragging me back to my prison, back towards my bike. I grab my phone and inhale sharply as I open the unread message.
Anonymous
What if I told you, I know who killed your sister?
My mask slips, and the world turns beneath me. My hand darts out to hold on to my bike, afraid of falling when another message comes in.
Anonymous
You’re playing on a board that’s long been set. You could use an ally. You passed the second test.
