“No.” He walks over to me. “I only have them for protection. After the burglary I didn’t feel safe not being able to protect myself.”
“Keeping it in the living room doesn’t seem that safe. A burglar could easily find it there.”
“That’s not where I usually keep it. I only had it there because—” He shakes his head. “I’ll move it tomorrow.”
“Becausewhat? Did something happen? Did someone try to break in?”
“No. Just forget it. I’ll be right back.” He heads down the hall. I walk over there to see where he’s going. I’m assuming he’ll go to his room to talk to Kristen, but instead, he goes into the hall bathroom.
I return to the living room and check my phone. There’s a message from Liv.
The money better be here tonight, or I’m telling Brock the truth.
What a little brat. I thought we bonded that night after dinner, but I guess not.
As I put my phone away, Kristen appears again, still in the tank top, but now it’s paired with a long, flowing black skirt and black sandals. A black and white scarf is loosely wrapped around her neck, and a row of gold bracelets lines her wrist. The outfit would look stupid on me, but on her, it looks like she stepped out of a fashion magazine.
She walks up to me and stops. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer about what you did today.”
“What are you going to do? Sue me? I don’t have any money.”
She checks behind her to make sure we’re alone. “I don’t like you, Rumor, but I don’t think you’re a bad person, which is why I’m warning you to get out of here, for your own good. You don’t belong here. And you definitely don’t belong with Jackson. Or with Braden.”
“Braden?” I laugh. “He’s my cousin.”
She slowly smiles. “He doesn’t see you that way.”
“What are you talking about?”
She steps closer to me and lowers her voice. “I’m only telling you this once. After that, it’s your own fault if something happens.”
“Something happens? Like what?”
“Bad things happen here. Everything may look all bright and beautiful but behind it is darkness. The only way to survive here is to be part of it. I don’t see you willing to do that. You may think you’re some badass but you’re an angel compared to the rest of us. Hitting me today?” She laughs. “That’s nothing compared to what I could do to you. I’m letting you off this time becauseyou’re new. Because you don’t know. If you’re smart, you’ll leave before you have to find out.”
“Find out what?”
“What it takes to be one of us.”
“What’s going on here?” Jackson asks, walking up to us.
“Kristen was threatening me,” I say, glaring at her. “Trying to scare me into leaving.”
“Is that true?” he asks Kristen, as if she’d admit to it.
“It’s not what I intended,” she says, her eyes on mine. “But if she wants to take it that way . . .”
“Let me walk you out.” Jackson takes her arm and leads her away. I hear them talking quietly at the door, then hear it open and close, the lock clicking into place.
Jackson returns to the living room. “What’d she say to you?”
“That I shouldn’t be here. That I don’t belong.”
“You don’t. And youshouldn’tbe here.” He comes up and puts his arms around me. “But I don’t want you to go.” He leans down and kisses me.
“Wait.” I push him back. “What do you mean I shouldn’t be here? Like at your house, or in La Jolla?”
“At Twisted Pine. I wish you didn’t have to go there but at least it’s only for a year.”
