"Yes, but I ignored him. The other guys didn't want me to go."
"Even Kade?"
"Kade's mad at me for dating Jackson. So is Miles. But neither of them told me to leave."
"Braden's gonna go off on you when you get home."
"Yeah. What else is new?"
Trystan laughs.
As soon as I walk in the door, Braden comes up to me, shirtless and holding a protein drink. "If you think you won today, you're wrong."
Chapter Sixteen
"Ididn't know it was a contest," I say. "I was just having lunch with my friends. Why aren't you at practice? What are you doing home?"
"None of your damn your business."
"And who I talk to isn't YOUR business, so stay out of it."
He gets in my face, so close I can feel his breath. "I own that school and you're not gonna change that. Don't even try. For the last person who did, it didn't turn out well."
"Are you talking about Jason?"
Braden smirks. "For someone you never met, you sure talk about him a lot."
"He sounded like a good guy. Great football player. Popular."
"He was a fucking fake. He didn't belong there. Never should've been there."
"So you made sure he wasn't." I stare into his eyes. "Isn't that what you do, Braden? Eliminate the competition so you're the one in the spotlight?"
His lips turn up just slightly. "Let it go, detective. There's nothing to find. The kid collapsed on the field. Everyone saw it. Nobody was murdered."
"I didn't say he was."
Braden grips my arm, his eyes locked on mine. "This ends now. Stop accusing me of shit or the same thing's gonna happen to you."
"Meaning what?"
He smiles. "Officer, I'd like to make a statement. I was trying to protect her because she's family but I just can't let her go free knowing what she's done. I heard Rumor talking to Jackson. They were talking about the murder. Laughing about it. Reliving it. Rumor was saying how she held Kristen down while Jackson strangled her with his tie. I didn't want to come forward with this but I felt it was my duty as Kristen's friend. I didn't want her murderers to go free."
I roll my eyes. "That's all you got? You overheard something? You really think the cops would believe you? You're being investigated for murder. Your testimony would be worthless. They wouldn't believe you."
He backs away. "Guess we'll just have to find out."
"Guess so," I say, walking around him, heading to my room.
More threats from Braden. Would he really do it? Would he tell the police some made-up story? I think he would if he wasn't being investigated. If he told them that story and they found out he lied, he'd be in even more trouble, which is the last thing he needs right now.
When I'm in my room, I call up Jackson.
"Hey, beautiful."
I smile. "Can I come over?"
"Yeah, but my dad's here."
