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Knox’s jaw drops. “Am I supposed to be everyone’s fucking keeper? Cassius is a goddamn adult who can make his own idiotic decisions.”
It’s just too much. Everyone’s fighting. There’s five thousand dollars in front of me. Cassius is hurt.
“There was no reason for him to?—”
“Enough!” I scream as I fall to my knees in front of Cassius. “Someone needs to tell me what the fuck is happening right now! Did someone do this to him at the gym?”
My question is met with an eerie sort of silence that’s entirely disconcerting. Knox’s face pales. Rhys looks away. Cassius winces. It’s all very suspect and completely guilt-ridden. Suddenly, my worry is replaced with a nagging sense of dread.
“Guys,” I repeat slowly. “What happened at the gym?”
Cassius’s eyes flick to Knox and then Rhys. When he stays silent, Knox is the one to speak up. “It’s time, man.”
“Time for what?” I ask as I snapping my head to Cassius. “Cassy, what is it?”
“There is no gym.”
“No gym…” I trail off, shaking my head. I stare at Cassius like I don’t recognize him, because I don’t. If there’s no gym… “You’ve been lying to me?” I look at the other two. “And you knew?”
“Wewere staying out of it,” Rhys says, a hint of regret in his voice. “I’m sorry, Skylar.”
“We didn’t think something like this would happen.” Knox pinches the bridge of his nose, something akin to agony in his eyes. “You could have beenkilled, Cassius. You’re my friend, and I can’t believe I stood by and almost let that happen.”
Killed.
The word rings like a struck gong in my head. Apologies break out around me, but I can’t focus on that, because the sickening thought echoes and bounces off the corners of my mind until everything else fades. “Get out.”
Knox stops short and cocks his head. “What?”
“I said, get out,” I repeat, steadying myself with a hand on Cassius’s knee.
“Skylar,” Rhys starts. “We’re here for you two. We want to help?—”
“Get out!” I roar, shooting up and spinning on my heels to face Rhys and Knox. “If you want to help, get the fuck out of my apartment before I throw you out!”
I’ve never shouted like this. I’ve never experienced this type of utter terror. It’s terror laced with confusion and wrapped up in a paranoia bow. There’re too many things going on, too many pieces to put together, and I just need one goddamn second of silence. They must know I’m not kidding, because they throw one last look at Cassius stepping out of the living room.
Now that it’s just me and Cassius, I decide to give him a few seconds soIdon’t kill him. I’m not even sure where to start. Do I hug him and thank all the mythical gods for keeping him alive? Do I strangle him with my bare hands for lying to me? Do I cry?God, I just want to cry.
I keep my tears firmly lodged in my sockets and inhale deeply. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
He shifts uncomfortably on the couch, a look of pure guilt on his face. “I’m not too sure where to start.”
I cross my arms over my chest and huff as I stand. “Figure it out.”
He opens and closes his mouth, hesitating for a moment, before his next words come out as a whisper. “We’re okay, right?”
God, when he puts it that way, it’s impossible for me to stay mad. Especially when he looks so pained, beyond the physical pain he must be feeling. I cave like I always do and slump down on the couch next to him. Taking his bruised hands, I drag them onto my lap. “Yeah. We’ll always be okay, Cassy, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be royally pissed at you.”
That’s the truth. We’ve been through too much to ever let anything break us. We’re committed, for better or for worse, and that’s never going to change.
After a moment, when he realizes I’m not going anywhere, he sighs and hangs his head. “I started street fighting a couple of months ago.”
“Like in the movies?” I ask, wrinkling my nose as I try to picture it.
He snorts. “Kind of. It’s more like an underground sort of thing. People know, but theydon’t know, you know?”
Um, no. I absolutely do not, but it’s not the time to pry into the logistics of operating an underground fighting ring. The burning question hasn’t been asked yet. Not the one that will ultimately explain this entire thing. “Why?”
