He looks up, meets Chelsea’s gaze. Then growls, “No.”
She stops short, flinching like she’s been slapped. Her expression crumples, eyes going glassy as tears immediately spring up. If she thought her exile was over, she’s sorely mistaken– and dammit, it’s satisfying to see the bitch knocked off her pedestal again. There’s something deeply gratifying about watching that kind of entitlement fracture in real time.
Murmurs ripple from the neighboring tables as the other co-eds take it all in. They can’t help themselves. They’re always watching, endlessly fascinated by the power we wield as Kings.
Chelsea spins on her heel and scurries back to her friends, humiliation trailing behind her like smoke. Stella shoots me a withering look, as if I have any control over Raf’s behavior. I just roll my eyes back at her.
I don’t know why the hell my sister associates with Chelsea and Blair. They’re fucking wretched. I’ve told her as much, and she just counters that it’s no different than me with Ford and Raf. We all draw our own lines, I guess. Stella drew one when she sat out on participating in Ava’s torture at the Halloween party,so at least she’s managed to stay a decent human being despite the company she keeps.
Ford chuckles under his breath as he watches Chelsea retreat, shaking his head. “You’d think she’d learn to take a hint.”
“Subtlety has never been her strong suit,” I mutter, flicking a glance over my shoulder.
Apparently, we’re a magnet for unwanted interruptions today.
The doors to the Bistro swing open hard enough to rattle, and Bryce Hamilton storms inside, heading straight for us. Platinum hair, thrifted hoodie, scuffed sneakers, and the kind of walk that says he’s not afraid to cause a scene.
Until Ava befriended him, we barely registered Bryce’s existence. He flew under the radar, too stubborn to be pushed around and too strange to be useful. Always on the social scene, never enough of a threat to matter. Except right now, he looks ready to tear into someone.
“What the fuck did you guys do to Ava?” he demands, stomping up to our table with purpose.
Brave.
And stupid.
Every eye in a ten-foot radius swivels our way, hungry for another spectacle. The three of us don’t even flinch. Raf keeps right on scowling. Ford’s grin only widens. And I… well, I slip into the version of myself that exists for moments like this.
I keep my voice level, defaulting to the friendly tone I use whenever I sense things are about to go sideways. “Why do you care?”
Bryce wheels on me, hands curling into fists at his sides. “Because she’s myfriend, you sociopathic asshole. And she’s missing. I know you did something to her.”
Well, there goes our little theory that she was holed up with him.
“Didn’t realize you two were so close,” Ford drawls, giving Bryce the kind of slow once-over that would make most people wilt. “You know she’s Kings’ property, right?”
Bryce ignores him, focusing instead on me. I’m the approachable one, after all– and the one most likely to respond with words rather than violence.
“Seriously,” he presses, jaw tight. “Where is she?”
I tilt my head, studying him. “Why do you thinkwedid something to her?”
He exhales sharply, shoving a hand into his pocket. “Because she sent me a cryptic goodbye message this morning, and now her phone’s off.” He yanks it free and waves it in my direction. “None of my texts are showing as delivered, and when I call, it goes straight to voicemail.”
Well shit, that’s a plot twist.
“Let’s see the message,” I say calmly, extending a hand toward him, palm up. Not a request. An expectation.
He hesitates for half a second before slapping his phone into my waiting hand. I lower my gaze to the screen, ignoring the way his breath stutters as if he’s bracing for impact.
Ava
I’m so sorry for leaving without saying goodbye. Thank you for being a real friend, and I hope we can stay in touch.
It’s short and to the point, but it sounds like her.
Raf snatches the phone from my hand without a word, scans the message once, then passes it off to Ford. He silently reads, then hands it back to me.
Bryce’s voice cracks when he speaks again. “If you hurt her…”
