Page 58 of The Magic of Betrayal
Collapsing back onto the couch, I hid my face as the tears felt like they would drown me at any moment.
"You're scaring me, woman. I can't handle tears. What. Happened?" Sloane demanded and I dropped my hands so I could slip the backpack off and hurl it at his stupid fucking face.
"Was it just Cam, then? Or have all of you been lying to my face the entire time, Sloane!?" I screamed, standing up and charging him.
The bag fell from his arms to the floor just in time for him to catch my hands and wrap his arms tightly around my body.
"What the fuck are you talking about? Would you settle the fuck down?" he hissed as I squirmed and fought against his hold like a wildcat.
"Fuck. YOU! Look in that folder, Sloane! Tell me what the fuck that is!" My breaths were rapid and shallow, my body temp heating up with the anger that was taking over the sadness.
"I'm going to release you and you're going to sit your ass down so I can look. Now, sit!" He barked, pushing me down onto the couch. I scowled at him as I wiped away the tears that just wouldn't quit.Not these guys, please, stars.
Sloane's face remained emotionless as he opened the folder and flipped through the papers inside.
"What exactly am I looking for here?"
My mouth dropped open because either he was a damn fine liar, or he really didn't know anything about those pictures. Deciding I didn't have the time to work out which one it was at the moment, I stood and pushed past him.
"I'm out of here," I muttered, proud that my voice didn't crack that time. I just sounded sad as shit and tired.
"Red, I'm going for a ride on the bike. How about you come with me? I don't know what you saw in here that has you all fucked up, but a ride can be therapeutic," he offered, his voice soft and deep.
Halting my progression to the stairs, I considered it. Something reckless right now sounded like a horrible idea, but what else could really go wrong? And a healthy dose of giving zero shits was just what the doctor ordered.
"Fine. But you better drive like the devil's chasing you. Maven will stay here."
His voice was so soft, I wondered if I'd imagined it. "I am the devil."
Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!
Saige was stomping down the stairs with enough anger radiating off her that I feared she was going to turn green and hulk out on me any second.
She'd seen the pictures of her mom. Gods, I could murder Cam right now. The fuck was he thinking leaving those in his bag like that? They should've been destroyed.
The door slammed downstairs and I whipped my phone out, my fingers flying across the keyboard in the group chat with the four of us.
Me:Saige knows we're lying. I covered, but she's on a warpath. Taking her out on the bike.
Messages started flying in immediately and I skimmed them as I bounded down the stairs after her.
Cam:She WHAT!
Kai:Oh shit. How?
Fischer:What did you tell her? How does she know?
Cam:Where are you going? We'll meet you.
Cringing, I silenced my phone and put it back in my pocket. They couldn't meet us, because I was taking her to Larson.
* * *
Saige's armswere wrapped tightly against my waist as we flew through the back roads out of town in the direction of Kingstown. When I'd gotten outside, she hadn't said a single word. When I'd straddled my vintage motorcycle, she silently slid onto the back.
Her silence disturbed me. She was never quiet. Her sassy mouth never quit.
She'd get some answers soon, though. The cover was blown and we were out of time. Larson had texted me earlier after my argument or whatever the hell that was with Red. I'd gone with the guys to work out and I knew I needed some excuse to head back to the apartment so I could get her. Without them.
