Dolos: You can try. You’ll never find what you’re looking for. Coleman has friends in high places with deep pockets that helped him disappear the last time we had him pinned down. We’re the only ones with the info. It’s no longer public record.
Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose.
Connor: Who are you?
Dolos: Unimportant right now. Are you ready to make a deal?
Connor: Yes. Whatever gets me dirt on Coleman.
Dolos: Your task is retrieval. Locate Coleman’s house, get it back with proof, then we’ll be ready to do business.
An image attachment comes through the chat. It’s a necklace. A heart locket with the initials CT engraved on the front. After seeing those comments and the way Coleman’s creep factor turned up to eleven today, the sight of the locket makes an uneasiness settle in my gut.
Who the hell are these guys and how are they connected to Coleman?
Connor: Get the necklace and you’ll give me what I need?
Dolos: That’s the deal. Take too long and it expires.
Connor: Wait! I’ll need time. Coleman is evasive and good at covering his tracks.
Dolos: Fine. By the new year, or we’ll have to introduce ourselves to that pretty redhead.
I stand so fast to slam the desk, the whole thing almost overturns. A growl tears from me as I grab for the monitor to stabilize it. The desk left a dent in the wall. I type with all the force of the anger coursing through me.
Connor: Touch her and I’ll kill you.
Dolos: Better get to work then.
My screen goes black and non-responsive. When I do a hard reset to reboot the computer, the chat window is gone.
“Damn it!” My throat burns as I drag in air, breathing hard to regulate the fury.
Once I have myself under control, I collapse on the bed. The first thing I do is run a search for Dolos. My snort jerks my head when the results populate. It turns out Dolos is from greek mythology, a god of cunning trickery and deception. Fitting.
“Edgelords,” I mutter.
Next I text Devlin. I’m going to need help to pull this off. I doubt I can get Chief Landry to convince a judge to issue a warrant for Coleman with circumstantial evidence, even if I emptied my investment accounts for the bribe.
Connor: Feel up for some recon?
Devlin: Playing Batman again?
Connor: This is bigger than that. I’ll explain. I’m on my way over.
Devlin: Can you give me like an hour?
Connor: This is serious, man! You can get your dick sucked later.
Devlin: My parents just left town again sometime today, dude. You’re killing me [skull emoji]
Connor: You can last a few more hours. Bring her with us if you want, Blair might have more insight into what I need to plan.
Devlin: Which is?
Connor: Surveillance. Probably some B&E.
Devlin: [smirking devil emoji] That does sound like something she’ll know about.
Some of the tightness loosens in my chest. I knew my best friend would have my back. Grabbing my keys and wallet, I head out the door. On my way, I text Thea to check in on her.
Connor: How’s shopping? Find the one?
Thea: Pretty sure I can’t show you the dress before the big day.
I snort, leaning against the driver’s side of my car.
Connor: Babe, that’s a wedding dress. You angling for wifey status?
Thea: [flustered emoji] Stop teasing me!
My heart does a little flip. She always gets me smiling.
Connor: Have fun. I’m going to hang with Devlin. Call you later?
Thea: Ok [heart emoji]
Climbing into the car, I pull out and head for Devlin’s place to figure out a plan.
Twenty-Six
Thea
The last month has been such a whirlwind. Before I know it, it’s the week of the dance. Between my planning committee duties, studying, baking about a million pies for the Thanksgiving dinner at the local shelter, and trying to have a life, time has slipped by me.
Everything is in chaos at school with the semester ending, midterms looming next week, and the excitement for the winter formal at the end of the week to give the students a break before our winter vacation.
Connor and I have barely had time to sneak away to our secret haven in the pool house over the last few weeks. He was wrapped up in his own thing with the end of the soccer season, and being there for Devlin when his relationship with Blair ended abruptly after Thanksgiving.
They’re back together now, or at least that’s the impression I got when I walked in on them making out in the English classroom before anyone else arrived. Those two burn hot and fast, like exploding stars. I quickly stammered an apology, but I’d already seen Devlin’s hand fisted in Blair’s hair, holding her head back, and the huge hickey on her neck. They didn’t even stop, just gave me matching smirks as I backed out of the room and bumped right into Connor’s chest.
The gymnasium is in a state of havoc as the committee members direct our helpers with the decorations. Connor promised he’d bring the soccer team to lend a hand, and I’m waiting on them to drape the silver and white fabric Maisy and I picked out to transform the room into a winter wonderland.
We’re both working on lifting a table onto the stage for the DJ, but we’re struggling with just the two of us.
“It’s too heavy,” I say.
“Oh!” Maisy pops up from her squat and heads for the door. “Hang on, I see my brother in the hall. Holden!”
Maisy’s brother stops and leans against the doorframe. Behind him, Fox Wilder looms like a deadly shadow, scowling at Maisy.
“‘Sup?” Holden asks.
Maisy tugs on his arm, a force of nature of her own making when she wants something. “Come here a sec. We’re trying to lift this, but it’s too heavy. I need to borrow your football muscles.” She peers over Holden’s shoulder and latches on to Fox’s wrist. “You too, Fox.”
She wrangles both of them, but Fox doesn’t seem happy about it. His sharp, eerie gaze tracks her as she leads them over.
“How long is this going to take?” Holden asks, dragging his feet. “I’m hungry. We were going to get food.”
“Just a minute. You’re wasting your own time by complaining about it.”
Holden groans, dropping his head back. “You’re such a pain in the ass.”
“Deal with it, my god.” Maisy flips her hair over her shoulder and sticks her tongue out at her brother. “Two minutes, or I’ll tell Mom where you’ve been going on weekends.”
“Fine,” Holden grumbles.
“Okay, help us get this over there,” she directs, kneeling to grab the end she tried to lift with just the two of us.