The tall guy—Dar-something. Darius? Darian… Darian Gomez, I think—backs off, finding a spot against the wall.
Nix completely ignores me, pulling her chair closer so she can sit opposite Dani. Tobin and Jed do the same.
With a soft sigh, Dani rests her head against my arm like it’s the most natural thing in the world to do.
I go still, not wanting to move an inch in case she suddenly becomes aware of what she’s doing.
With a soft sniff, she shakily shares her story, reminding me all about Reef and the influence he had over Atlas.
He and my boy became tight after I moved to Nolan U, but I had no idea what a terrible influence he was having on Atlas. I thought it was the other way around, and I hate myself for going there.
When she gets to the part about him accusing her of breaking Atlas’s heart, I want to get up and thump him all over again.
“What a fucking assbucket,” Tobin spits.
“I want to maim that guy.” Jed shakes his head, sharing a raging look with me.
Oh, what I wouldn’t give to walk back into that party with him and pummel the shit out of Reef the Stoner. We could take turns, one punch each until he’s out cold and bleeding.
I’m not usually a violent guy, but I will make an exception for any man who punches a woman in the face.
I can’t believe he fucking tried to make her responsible for Atlas’s death when he was the one whogave himthe pills that night.
How did the police not follow that up?
It was an obvious OD, and rather than thinking foul play, they just put it down to a reckless rock star not taking care of himself, downing dirty pills that were laced with fentanyl.
Did Reef know they were bad?
Fuck. Either way, Reef never should have given anything to Atlas. Is there any way he could get charged for that?
Surely there has to be some consequences for his actions.
The woman pops her head into the room. “The police are here. I’m sending the paramedics your way in just a second.”
“Thank you.” Tobin raises his hand at her while Dani squirms beside me.
She’s already spent after telling us the stor,y and now she’s gonna have to do it again.
Shit. I wish I could protect her from that.
But all I can do right now is be the guy she’s leaning against. And like hell anyone is gonna stop me from doing that.
CHAPTER 56
DANI
I have to suffer through my story a second time, but the police officer interviewing me is really nice. She has a calm, quiet voice, and her partner is an old guy with gray hair and grandpa vibes. They’re both very kind and compassionate, and they’re not going to charge me for attacking Reef. Thank God. But they have taken him to the station for questioning.
Hopefully the truth will come out, and he’ll get some kind of consequence for giving Atlas those pills that night. There has to be some kind of charge for that, right?
He aided Atlas in his overdose. Surely he’ll get time for that.
“Unfortunately,” the officer sighs, looking at Tyrell, who just asked the very question I was thinking, “I wouldn’t hold my breath. It’s been a long time since your friend OD’d, and it will be very hard to prove that those pills were the final tipping point. I don’t think there’ll be enough submissible evidence.”
“So he just gets away with it?” Tyrell spits.
The officer gives him a pained frown, and I shake my head, hating that life can be so fucking unfair sometimes.
