Page 130 of Degradation
I snort. ‘Doesn’treallynarrow it down, does it?’
‘I know there’s more to be found, need more time.’ He shakes his head. ‘I’m sorry, Daisy, but we can’t keep this from the others any longer. It’s not me, Shade, or Mav. You know that, right?’
I stare at him for a moment. Do I know that? They keep secrets.
But then, so do I.
‘All three of you were gone,’ I say. ‘All night. You left me alone.’
With a madman watching my every move.
I don’t say the rest aloud, but I’m gifted with a wince as he pulls out his phone and taps the screen.
I hear the doors opening in the hallway almost immediately and I let out a huff as both Shade and Mav come in.
I give Blake a narrow-eyed look that he ignores. He’s clearly trying to force my hand.
Mav approaches me almost cautiously. ‘Are you okay?’ he asks.
No.
‘The migraine is gone,’ I say instead.
‘What do we need to talk about?’
‘Where were you last night?’ I ask.
‘I told you?—’
‘No. You said you were with Applegate, but that isn’t true. You wereclubbingand you were all goneall night. I woke up in the morning alone up here. I had to get dressed and make it down the stairs with double vision and a numb left side.’
Precariously close to tears, I gesture to my phone, charging beside my bed. ‘Why did you bother giving me a phone if you’re not going to even let me know when your…plans change.’ I spit the last two words.
‘Daisy,’ Shade begins, ‘you’re right. We lied about Applegate and I’m sorry. It was my idea.’
‘Why?’ I whisper. ‘Why not just tell me the truth? Is it because you… went with someone else? Someoneselse?’
‘Jesus,’ Mav snarls furiously, eyeing Shade.
He takes my hand. ‘No, Tulip. The truth is, we were supposed to go last night because there was a party. But we weren’t there to have fun. The club is ours.’
I frown as I look up at him. ‘What do you mean, yours?’
‘We own a club in Richmond. The three of us. It’s called Wrath.’
I glance at the others, but Shade speaks before I can.
‘I thought it would be best if we kept it from you. It’s dangerous.’
My snort is loud. ‘Dangerous or dangerousfor me?’
His silence is telling, and I roll my eyes, anger flitting through me. In a burst of fury, I throw the note Blake gave me in Shade’s face.
‘I guarantee you that yourlittle clubisn’t that bad.’
I side-eye Blake whose lips thin. ‘Show them the other notes. Tell them everything.’
I leave the room as I hear Shade swear loudly, not particularly wanting to be part of the conversation. Instead, I go into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I strip off my clothes and get into the shower, sighing heavily as I stand under the hot spray.
