“Thank you, by the way,” I tell her.
“It’s not for you,” she responds simply.
“I know that,” I say. “But it’s nice to see you’re still human.”
Jordan laughs, but I can tell that she’s proud to help, even if it goes against the Collective. And for a moment, I think maybe Jamie is right to be friends with her. I never saw the appeal, but even my brother liked Jordan a little. At least, he told me once that he thought she was mostly good on the inside.
I exit the pool area to walk around the outside of the resort, avoiding the lobby, but just as I round the corner, I nearly bump into someone. I quickly apologize, but when I lift my head, I’m stunned silent.
Alessandro Mancini smiles politely at me, folding his hands in front of his pressed suit.
“Noa, is it?” he asks, his voice gravelly and deep—like someone who has smoked too many cigars. “What a surprise to see you up here.”
I’m startled. I’ve never in my life exchanged words with Mancini, and I have no idea how he even knows my name. “I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “Excuse me.”
As I go to move past him, he takes me by the elbow. The movement alarms me, and although he isn’t hurting me, he is holding me fast.
“Do I need to be concerned about you?” he asks, leaning his head closer to mine even though he’s staring straight ahead. “Tell me I don’t have to worry,” he adds.
“You… don’t,” I say, trying to sound calm, but he is actually terrifying. “I just came to see a friend,” I add.
He turns to me then, looking over my face. His eyes are so dark, they’re almost black, flecks of gray in his eyebrows.
“I doubt that,” he says, and then releases my arm. “Let’s not have you here again—we don’t need trouble.” His eyes narrow. “I’m sure you’ve heard that someone killed my nephew.”
My heart clenches, both on my grief and something else. As Mancini watches me… I realize he’s also threatening me.
That someonekilled my nephew.
Someone they will have to blame.
I swallow hard, taking a step back from him. He smiles, forced and mocking. “So we understand each other?” he asks.
“Understood,” I reply quickly.
This seems to satisfy him. “Very good,” he says. Then Mancini walks away, leaving me alone to catch my breath.
Now that I’ve actually spoken to him, seen that darkness in his eyes, I think we need to consider that Alessandro Mancini had something to do with Florence’s death. There is something about him… something cold and calculating. And as I stand here, I’m horrified to consider that maybe he was involved in Felix’s death too.
Nervously, I glance around to make sure he’s gone, and then quickly walk to the front of the resort. It’s better if I’m not seen in enemy territory. However, I can’t seem to avoid detection.
“You lost?” a voice calls out. I turn, and when I see Creed standing near the valet stand, I have a sinking feeling in my gut. I really don’t need his shit right now.
“Yeah,” I reply, mockingly. “Super lost. Are they holding the asshole convention inside, or…?” I motion to him. “Out here?”
Creed sucks at his teeth, pissed, but behind him the valet smirksat my comment. After nursing his burn, Creed slips his hands into his pockets and approaches me. I hold my ground, not intimidated by him.
“What is it about you?” he asks. “Fucking Chasers, man. I hear you got James arrested? I definitely warned him about you.”
The fact that he calls himJamesreminds me that they’re not actually friends. I flip him off, and turn back to the driveway, waiting for the Surf Shack truck to arrive.
Creed continues his approach until he stops right in front of me, invading my space. When I look up at him, the edges of his blond mustache wet with spit, I am disgusted.
“I’m sure you heard about Felix,” he whispers. My heart immediately skips, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “I told Matteo,” Creed adds, shaking his head, “if your cousin keeps hanging out with those Chaser deviants, he’s going to end up dead. Seems I was right.”
“Back up,” I warn Creed, my eyes burning with rage. He doesn’t even seem to hear me.
“To be honest,” Creed continues, starting to chuckle, “when we heard there was a dead body, we started taking bets. I lost fifty bucks. Hell, we all figured it was your loser brother they pulled out of the water. What a waste.”
