Page 51 of Degradation
‘I’m feeling okay. My ankle is a little better, I think. I’ve got a ton of work done, so silver lining, I guess. The guys are keeping me alive. I’m not allowed out, though. I can’t get down the stairs without them. It’s like I’m a prisoner in a tower,’ I mutter dramatically with a scowl at the door.
She snorts. ‘I could play the white knight and bust you out, if you want.’
‘Maybe in a couple days when I can walk again,’ I grin at her, but then remember the next battle is tomorrow.
I let out an annoyed noise. ‘I’m going to miss the next Dagorhir unless I can foamify my crutches and use them as weapons.’
Lu laughs. ‘Well, that’s a little soon, so I feel like you should probably rest up for the next one.’
‘I guess,’ I say a bit moodily.
Lu leans forward. ‘Did you hear what happened?’ she whispers.
‘With what?’
‘They found a pound of cocaine in Travis’ car.’
‘Travis? What happened to him?’
‘He’s in jail obviously!’
My mouth falls open. ‘How did they find it?’
Lu shrugs. ‘Tip off to some local, snitchy hotline. Anyway, the fucker is gone, and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!’
‘Good,’ I mutter.
‘Mich is pretty happy about it. He was so over rooming with that racist, misogynistic piece of shit.’
I snort, remembering Halloween and then I frown as a suspicion enters my head. Did one of the guys do this to Travis because of his actions that night?
‘What is it?’
I lower my voice and hell her what I’m thinking. ‘It might have been them.’
‘What?’
‘What if Shade and the others planted those drugs so that Travis would get caught?’
The miscarriage of justice makes me feel uncomfortable, but Lu just shrugs. ‘If they did, kudos to them. They took out the trash. But why would they? They didn’t evenknowTravis, did they?’
‘Well, no, but he wasn’t very nice when I was at your building on Halloween. He called the campus police on me after Mich said I could wait for you in their room.’
Lu’s brows rise. ‘Mich didn’t tell me that part, but, yeah, it was definitely Blake.’
I frown, not sure how I should feel about them hurting people for me. But when I say as much to Lu, she just gives me a look like I’m being silly.
‘Just be glad you have people in your corner, buddy. In Richmond, that’s a fucking necessity for survival. It’s like the open ocean out there. Trust me. And be thankful.’
I nod, thinking through what she’s saying. It doesn’t sit right with me, though. I don’t want the guys to get in trouble for me.
Lu’s looking at me expectantly.
‘Sorry?’ I ask.
‘I was asking you if you’ve had anymore notes.’
I wince and nod. ‘Come to the desk where the camera can’t see and talk low,’ I whisper.
