Page 109 of Forged in Rain

“Rainy,” Dad says, grabbing my cheeks and searching my eyes. “I’ll make this better, I promise.”

With a weak smile, I pull away. I want to believe him because he looks so fierce, but I just don’t know.

“Now, one more thing,” he says briskly. “Stay away from that Callahan boy.”

“What? No!”

Dad steps back at my ferocity before his eyes soften, and he smiles. “I see you care about that boy, but he’s a liability, honey. If this is going to work, you have to be able to walk.”

“Then figure out another way.”

“There is no other way.”

“Then I’m not doing it,” I say, setting my jaw.

“This isn’t negotiable, Rain. Do you want that boy to die?”

“Die?” I whisper.

“Yes. McCafferty won’t take this lying down. Let him go.”

Chapter Twenty-One

The next few days are a blur as I come to terms with what I have to do. We’re weeks away from graduation, and I haven’t seen or spoken to Cyn. I no longer have either phone he used to contact me, and I suppose it’s for the best.

I avoid going to the cafeteria because I don’t want to see him or the guys, which means I don’t know if he’s still as miserable as me.

It’s lunchtime, and I’m exhausted. Since we saw my dad, Iris has been achingly distant, and I hope she didn’t mention it to her mom. But Pam hasn’t said anything about it, so maybe that’s a good sign.

It’s quiet out in the courtyard where I’m sitting and obsessing about my fucking life.

“Did you find out anything?”

I tilt my head around the tree I’m sitting behind, strategically placed so no one will bother me. But it also allows me to hide in plain sight, or so it would seem.

“Whatever. When are you going to pay up?” Rand says.

“You’ll get yours when I get mine,” Iris says, inspecting her nails. But for her nonchalant attitude, I can see the stiffness in her shoulders.

“Bitch. Just because your mom dropped the missing person’s shit doesn’t mean Dad isn’t still looking. Besides, you asked about a fucking farm or something, right?”

“Where?”

“Uh-uh, me first.”

Iris clenches her fist at her side before releasing it and tilting her head. In an oddly childlike tone, she says, “Why is she so special?”

“She’s not a slut,” Rand says succinctly.

Iris chuffs, “She’s not with him anymore. They’re done.”

“So you gotta get me an in.”

I shrink back even though neither of them has bothered to look my way. I’m sure this is about me, but why? What the fuck?

“I can’t get you an in,” she says.

“Why not? You got her to fuck that creep, Razor.”

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