“That seems risky to me,” I add, not entirely comfortable with this part of the plan.
“I agree. But right now, that’s our only option. There is some bleach inside to erase any fingerprints on it, and when the dust settles, one of us can come back and take care of it another way.”
When the dust settles…
What Lincoln means by that dreadful little remark is that we have to make the murder weapon disappear after we’ve made sure the cops aren’t on to us.
Jesus fucking Christ!
When did we become John Gotti all of a sudden?
Still, one by one, we all nod, knowing there isn’t any way around this little snag in our plan.
“I’ll get a shovel,” Colt explains before going back into the shed.
“Fuck, I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Finn whispers beside me, low enough for only me to hear.
“It’s done. The worst is over now.”
“Is it?”
I swallow dryly, an ominous shiver running down my spine, warning me that the worst is yet to come. I just hope we’re ready for it.
The nightmares.
They haunt me.
I can’t close my eyes and not relive that horrid night all over again. I try to tell myself we did what we needed to survive, but it all feels like acrid delusions to soothe a guilty conscience. All these concocted lies leave a foul taste in my mouth, choking me with their fraudulent absolution.
That night could have gone a million different ways, yet someone’s death was inevitable—either theirs or ours. We got the better end of the double-edged sword, but both parties still bled that night. While their torment ended swiftly, ours continues to endure—at the hand of a sinister secret society, no less.
I’m still in my head, walking to my next class when someone pokes me on the shoulder to grab my attention. I turn around to meet green eyes and a cocky grin taunting me.
“How are you doing there, East? You don’t have the who-gives-a-fuck expression on your face today. Anything on your mind?” Stone teases.
“Do I really need to answer that?”
“Nope, not really.” She shrugs, walking in-step with me through the quad. “Any progress on the you-know-who front?”
“What do you care?” I stop mid-step, looking down at her suspiciously.
“I care. If you’ve forgotten, I know how it feels to be lied to and played.”
“I’m not playing with anyone,” I scoff. “Not yet, anyway.”
It’s been over a week since The Society made contact, and so far, the only thing I’ve done was pay a visit to Scarlett at church last Sunday. I couldn’t bring myself to do anything more, but I know time is running out.
To gain absolution, you must corrupt the most virtuous of souls.
They haven’t told me exactly what they intend for me to do, but that one line keeps repeating on a loop inside my head. Whatever their plans are, the end result is clear—they want me to ruin her.
“No use in avoiding the inevitable, East. Sooner or later, they are going to force your hand. Just like they did Finn’s. Just make sure you can live with the consequences.”
“Stone, it’s too fucking early for your TED talk. Is there a point to this little convo?” My frown deepens as I take in the mischievous grin on the petite badass.
“Maybe I can get close to her,” she muses, batting her long eyelashes at me.
“That, right there, only works on the big guy. Not me. So you’re shit out of luck. Why are you really interested in Scarlett?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Just thought, when this is all over, she might need a friend to lean on. She doesn’t seem to have many.”
“You’re no bleeding heart, Stone. So why the fuck do you care?” I ask bitterly, not comfortable with how she’s done her homework on Scarlett.
“Just because my heart doesn’t bleed, doesn’t mean I don’t have one.”
She smiles widely back at me.
“I’m not buying it. You’ve got an agenda and think Scarlett might be useful to you somehow.”
Since Finn brought Stone into the fold, I’ve gotten a better feel for her, which wasn’t that hard for me to begin with. I’m a good judge of character, and I had Stone pegged from the very first moment I saw her.
She’s a hustler, and not in a bad way. Her hustle was sprung from the need to survive, and it’s that same fuel that will drive her into succeeding in anything she sets her pretty little mind to. The Southie has more spirit in one of her pinkie fingers than most of the trust-fund babies on this campus have in their entire bodies. I like that about her. What I don’t like is knowing she’s putting that same relentless energy into finding shit on Scar.
I don’t like that one bit.
“Finn was right. You are a smart fucker.” She has the audacity to laugh. “Arrogant and manipulative, but sharp as a tack.”
“No shit. Now spill. What do you want with Scarlett?”
“What we all want. To find out who is behind The Society.”
Jesus, this girl.
“Stone, if Finn hears you’re snooping around, he’ll have a coronary. And you know the body count in this town is high enough as it is. Just let it go and leave The Society to us.”
I knew she shouldn’t have come over to Lincoln’s with us last week. Finn thinks keeping her aware about what’s going on is entirely different than Stone having an actual role to play in The Society’s fucked-up blackmail scheme. As far as he’s concerned, keeping his girlfriend in the loop will keep her safe. Protected. But that’s as far as he is willing to let The Society touch her life again.
My boy is fucking delusional.
Stone is like a small chihuahua with a bone—cute as fuck, until she bites you in the ass for trying to take away her favorite chew toy. Finn should know better. He can put on the act of the protective alpha all he wants, but Stone will always find a way around him.
“Yeah, that’s not happening. I’ll just introduce myself to Scarlett, and maybe we can become BFFs and double date or something,” she teases with a deep southern twang, twirling her hair and batting her eyelashes like some Northside debutante.
I can’t help but laugh. I actually like the brat’s tenacity. I do. She’s good for Finn. She gives him balance. A calm that he needs, which is ironic since Stone is a fucking thunderstorm waiting to happen.
But Scarlett?
Scarlett is a conundrum. Just like The Society, she has too many secrets I want to unfold. But I want to be the one to do it, no one else.
“Be good, Stone, and leave the rest to us.”
“God, you guys are a pain in my ass. I wasn’t asking for your permission, East. I was just informing you of what my plans are, out of courtesy for you being Pretty Boy’s best friend. That’s all.”
“Stone.” I hold onto her elbow to stop her from turning her back on me. “Don’t do anything stupid. I’m serious. If something ever happens to you, I’m not sure Finn could handle it.”