Page 71 of Dangerous Silence
“And we’re sure it’s not a plant?” I asked.
Derek turned to Gerard, who said nothing. “You want to tell him?” Derek asked.
“Margot confirmed it,” Gerard said, gritting his teeth. So he was still talking to her then. The man would never learn.
But Derek was right. We had to move on.
“So when does it all go down?” I asked.
“As soon as Zaid’s men get here,” Derek said. “The day after tomorrow.”
I nodded to myself, then stood. After that, I would focus on figuring out a plan for Demi’s protection. I looked at Derek.
“I’ll put Randy on explosives,” I said. Derek bowed his head in acknowledgement. At the door, I stopped and turned to Gerard. “You didn’t want a bloodbath? You could have done more to prevent,” I said. “But you didn’t.”
“Son,” he said. But he had no other words.
I headed to the backyard, making my way toward the workroom, where it was dark and empty.
CHAPTER 23
Demi
At the edge of the dining commons, I lifted the burger to my mouth, my eyes more interested in the rest of the room. The endless lines: the salad bar, the pizza trays, the fried tofu, the ice cream station. Everything orderly and in its place. The burger was cold, but that was my fault. I had wanted a burger because I couldn’t stop thinking about the motel in the desert with Axe. But the burger was bland, worse than the fast food we had eaten, which made me feel worse. I stared at everyone and fumed. What were we all doing?
I ate about half of it, then dumped the rest in the appropriate bins for recycling, compost, and waste.
“Wait, wait. It’s you!” a squeaky female voice said. “We all thought you got kicked out. Where have you been?”
I flipped around and blinked at her. Strawberry blond hair and blue eyes, only slightly taller than me. “Who are you again?” I asked.
“It’s Dolly,” she said, patting her chest. “Dolly Kate. You don’t remember me?” She tilted her head. “We were supposed to go to that party together, down on Frat Row?”
Oh, right. She was from the second floor of the dorm rooms and had somehow managed to smuggle in a handle of cheap vodka during our first week. I had gone to college wanting so desperately to break the rules, to drink like my peers did, like Dad never allowed. But I was always too nervous to be ‘rebellious,’ and that made me feel out of place now. Underage drinking seemed so angelic.
“Are you still rooming with Olivia?” Dolly asked. I nodded, holding back a cringe. “Ugh. She’s the worst. You know, I filed a report on her to Judicial Affairs last week. Still waiting to hear back.”
How long would something like that take? It seemed like a struggle with no reward, but part of me hoped, even wished, that maybe it would work.
“So where’ve you been, girl?” Dolly asked. “There was another rumor that you went abroad on a scholarship. So go on,” she nudged my shoulder, “Spill.”
If I said a small part of the truth, it would be easier to keep up with the lies.I butcher meat, Dad had said. That must have been how he felt when I was growing up.
“My dad passed away,” I said. I immediately heard Axe’s voice in my head:Don’t be afraid of death. He was always careful with that, knowing how our words showed our true emotions. And I couldn’t be afraid of death. Not anymore. I shook my head, then corrected myself: “He died.”
“Oh,” Dolly said. She gave me a quick hug. “I’m so sorry. You must be so strong to go through something like that. Seriously, you’re a fighter,” she smiled, “Anyway, we’re going to a house party later. You should come. Get your mind off of it.”
The idea of suffering through a party seemed absolutely unnecessary now.
“Thanks,” I said. “I’ve got to catch up on my classes.”
“I get it. You know where to find me.”
She curtseyed and walked off, and I let out a sigh of relief. Was that how Axe felt when he was around people? He always seemed like he was waiting for that moment when they left, when they died, when he wouldn’t have to engage anymore.
Except when it came to me.
There I was again, holding onto something that didn’t exist. Axe had chosen his path. Why couldn’t I choose mine?
