“That would be great, thanks, but do we have time?”
“We have time,” Kai says, pressing a kiss to that sensitive spot just under my ear. “You need to eat.”
Having to wait until the end of the day to watch the recordings we stole is sheer torture. While I know it will make unpleasant viewing, I’m still anxious to watch them.
To know they are legit.
That we have concrete evidence now to properly implement our plan.
Those are the only thoughts going through my mind all day, and school seems to last forever. But, finally, the last bell dings, and we are on our way back to the house.
To keep up the marriage charade, I drove myself to and from school although the guys insisted on trailing me all the way. Kai and I agreed we need to continue ignoring one another in public, but he still managed to steal a few kisses here and there, as usual, and there’s no denying we are both happier now we can be together in private.
“Where should we start?” Xavier asks after we’ve all eaten and changed and reconvened in the living room where he has everything set up. Rick and Drew are missing, because the former had to return to Harvard this morning, and Drew is at Parkhurst, but we agreed not to delay, because this shit can’t wait.
“With this one,” I say, slapping the Christian Montgomery recording into his hand.
Christian hadn’t been on our target list of blackmailed elite, but when I spotted the file, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. It makes sense that the bastard would have a file on his best friend because his motto is to never trust anyone and to keep your enemies close. I’m salivating to see what he’s compiled on Christian and hopeful it’s something we can use to take him down too. Xavier inserts the file into the driver, but I place my hand over his. “We need to wait for Shandra. She’s only five minutes away.”
“Are you sure it’s wise to let her sit in on this?” Sawyer asks.
“She’s going to be Drew’s fiancée, and we can’t shield her from this shit.” I plop down onto the couch beside Kai, and he immediately tucks me under his arm. “Knowledge is power, and she needs to know what she’s involved in.”
“How much do we want to tell her though?” Xavier says. “Charlie may’ve had a point. She was Trent’s fiancée. Maybe the whole Trent and Alessandra fucking scene was a trap. Trent knows you. It’s not a huge stretch for him to guess you’d request this. She could be his spy, and now, she’s slap bang in the middle of our lair.”
“She’s firmly anti Team Trent,” Kai says. “We can trust her.”
I twist around in his arms, eyeing him suspiciously. “Why do I get the sense that is not just an observation?”
He shifts a little and his tongue darts out, wetting his bottom lip. Ignoring the fact I wish Iwasthat tongue, I narrow my eyes farther. “Out with it.” I fold my arms across my chest, daring him to lie.
He drags his hand through his hair. “I did it to protect you.” I work hard to keep calm. “I hated that I couldn’t be by your side to protect you myself, so I did a few things. I’ve had a bodyguard following you around in public, and I spoke with Shandra and asked her to stick close to you.”
I hop up. “She’s only been pretending to be my friend?” I screech, incensed even though another part of me is happy he went to such lengths to keep me safe.
“I haven’t been pretending,” she says, walking into the room at the perfect moment. She drops her purse on the coffee table. “I’ve always liked you, Abby, but you were hard to get to know because of the whole elite bullshit rules.” She unbuttons her coat, draping it over the side of the couch. “I thought being engaged to Trent would pave the way for us to be friends. But the asshole was vehemently against it. Kai overheard us arguing about it at school, and he approached me later, suggesting it would work to our mutual benefit if we became friends.” She stands directly in front of me, and there is zero remorse or regret on her face.
“How much was real?” I ask, because I need to be sure.
“Nothing I have said or done has been fake or coerced. Having you as a friend has helped me process the clusterfuck of feelings I’m dealing with. I’ve been forced into this world kicking and screaming.” Her eyes plead with me for understanding. “I’ve needed you as much as you’ve needed me, and I hope this won’t come between us.” She glances at Kai briefly. “I was planning to tell you about my conversation with Kai, but the right opportunity never arose. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.”
“This doesn’t exactly help me trust you,” I honestly admit.
“I know you have trust issues, and for good reason. But I swear I have no ulterior motives. I fucking despise Trent. You deserve the Nobel Peace Prize for putting up with him as long as you did. Never in a million years would I ever side with him. His bastard father screwed over my father, which pulled me into this life, and I hate the Montgomerys with a passion unrivaled.” Her eyes shine with anger, and I just know she’s telling the truth.
“Okay. I’ll take you at your word, but if you’re lying, I’ll put a bullet directly between those pretty eyes.”
I’d never go there, but I’m in a bit of a belligerent mood now, and I want to push her and see how she reacts.
“I’d expect no less,” she says, knotting her hands in front of her.
I stare her out of it for a few seconds, and I’m betting Jackson is hard as a rock watching our tense standoff.
“Okay.” I nod, giving her the benefit of the doubt.
Her shoulders relax, and she smiles. “So, we’re good?”
I return her smile. “We’re good.” I could cling to the suspicion simmering under the surface or embrace her at face value. With everything else we have going on, accepting her explanation as the truth is the obvious choice.
