I don’t want to be mean.
But I’m freaked the hell out.
I put the car in drive.
She stumbles back, eyes huge, mouthingSorry!as I pull off.
My breath hitches.
My fingers fumble over the phone screen as I call Shani.
She picks up instantly. “Jade? What happened? What’s that noise?”
“There was a girl—” My voice cracks. “A freaking child banging on my window asking for a selfie. They know my car, Shani. They were shouting my name.”
“What the f?—.”
“I gotta reroute. I’m taking the back way. Meet me by the polo barns. I’ll cut across the east stables and sneak around. Less traffic. Less light.”
“Okay,” Shani says. “I’ll leave the porch light off. Text me when you’re close.”
“Shani… I’m scared.”
She softens. “I know. Just get to me, okay? Just get here.”
“Yeah,” I breathe, tightening my grip on the wheel. “I’m on my way.”
I hang up.
Turn off my headlights.
And take the longest, darkest route I know—trying not to imagine more faces appearing out of the shadows…
trying not to imagine what happens if I lose control of this narrative…
trying not to think about the boy whose game I just ran away from.
Just trying to get somewhere safe.
Chapter 14
LEO
The locker room was chaos.
Sweaty bodies. Laughter. Cold sprays from water bottles and guys slapping each other’s backs. But all I could hear was my own heartbeat pounding like a war drum.
She stayed.
She watched the whole damn game.
And I’d said it—loud, bold, real. Into the mic, straight into the camera, no filters, no hesitation.
"My queen, Jade Bryan. My girl, Jade. Baby, I’m coming for you next."
I said it for her. To her.
To remind every person in that damn gym whose name was still written across my heart in blood.
