Page 63 of Chaos Crown

“My help?” She laughed. “What the fuck are you talking about? Why would I help you?”

“Quinn, I know we’ve gotten into it in the past, but I never had a problem with you.” I dropped my voice, eyes growing big and pleading. “I only snapped back because you kept coming for me. I never stole the Bedlam Boys away from you. They stole me. After that whole thing with embarrassing Jacques in class, they gave me a choice between being their pet, or their target.”

Rolling her eyes, she finally faced me. “Again. What does that have to do with me?”

Quinn Cunningham was beauty itself. Soft, pouty lips. Skin that never knew a blemish. Perfect figure and the cute, designer clothes to drape it in. It was hard to believe the outside was just a pretty wrapper for a dead, shriveled-up soul.

But if Jacques is right, you killed my sister.

I balled my fist behind my back, careful to keep the rage from bleeding onto my face.

“I knew they weren’t good guys,” I went on, “but over the last couple weeks, I... I’ve seen things. O-overheard things. Things that scared me, Quinn.”

The nasty glare lessened around the edges. “What do you mean?”

“Intense stuff about doing whatever it takes to protect the town and stop Foundry. A few weeks ago, they didn’t know I was in the kitchen. Cairo and Arsenio came downstairs saying they’d have to get rid of Adriel and the New Crows permanently because Foundry wasn’t getting the hint. Then Cairo replied,that’ll be hard without my dad to cover our tracks.

“I mean, I’m not crazy, right? Doesn’t that sound like they’re planning on doing something horrible to those guys, but they’re worried what’ll happen if Sheriff Jack isn’t here to cover their crimes?”

She folded her arms, eyeing me with a strange expression. “Well, like you said, they’re not good guys. but why are you coming to me?”

“Because it’s no small thing to betray the Bedlam Boys. And because... I found something.”

“Found something?”

“After that comment about the sheriff, I went looking through their rooms while they were in class. I found something at the back of Arsenio’s closet and— and—” I tossed my head. “At this point, I’m spinning out and reading dark intention in everything they say and do. Look, I came because I can’t spend another night in that house like this. I either need to figure out if they’re lying to me, or let this go and trust them.

“You dated them for longer than me. You know them. Stayed with them. Am I imagining things? Everyone knows not to cross them, but they don’t really go around hurting people, do they?”

Quinn stared at me for a beat, then her eyes narrowed to slits. “What’s your game, de Souza? Why are you really here?”

“You know what? Fuck this,” I cried, throwing my hands up. “I knew it was a mistake coming to you.”

“Wait,” she barked, pulling me up short with my hand on the knob. “Just wait a second. What did you find in Arsenio’s closet?”

“You’re going to think I’m crazy.”

“Try me.”

Sighing, I summoned my best performance. “I don’t know how else to describe it other than... a box of trophies. It’s all this weird, random stuff, Quinn, but I have to ask why he’d keep it, and more importantly, why he’s hiding it.” I clutched his forehead. “But if it is just a box of junk, how stupid am I confronting him with it? They’ll dump me for spying on them, and then I’ll be put back on the target list.”

I pinned her with a look. “So, I ask you again, am I making something out of nothing, or are these guys dangerous? I have enough going on in my life and too many people I can’t trust, to add my boyfriends to the list.”

“No,” she said after a spell. “You’re not making something out of nothing.”

Dropping my head, I slumped against the door. “So, that’s it then. I have to go. I have to leave them.”

“That’s not what I said. You don’t break up with the Bedlam Boys, they break up with you. No exceptions. Unless you plan on leaving town—”

“I’m not going anywhere. This is my home. No one is driving me away.”

She inclined her chin. “Well, then you need something to protect you. Where’s this box? Is it still at the house?”

“No, it’s in the car. I brought it to show you in case you didn’t take me seriously.”

“Show me,” she said, a little too quickly. “If it is what you think, it’s the perfect blackmail. It’ll keep the Bedlam Boys off your back for the next hundred years they’ll hold a grudge.”

“I hope so.” I made like I was going out. “Actually, we don’t have to go all the way to the car. I can just tell you what’s in it. There’s a hair bow, and a—”

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