“I did for a while. I haven’t thought about that in a very long time,” I say, which probably sounds callous, but it’s the truth.
“It explains why Tate hates you,” she whispers. “He lost the girl he loved, and he had to watch you succeed in everything.”
I stare at her for a long moment. “Why were you at Pearl tonight?”
“When I heard how Mallory was found, I couldn’t stop seeing images of my dad and how I found him. Some people said the woman found there did it to herself, others said she was murdered, but the police said it was a tragic accident, and since she was a Jane Doe on the news, everyone accepted that answer.” She frowns. “I just always knew there was something off about that night.”
“Who told you?” I ask. “How she was found, I mean.”
My parents, who didn’t want a sex club tarnishing the family name, pulled a lot of strings to make sure my sister remained Jane Doe in the media, but most people knew it was her. The club may require an NDA, but people still talk, and too many had seen Mallory there. Every time I thought about how often she went, I felt another blow to my chest. Josslyn’s brows pull together. I don’t know what memory flashes through her mind, but whatever it is shakes her.
She clears her throat and finally says, “I don’t remember.”
I don’t believe that for a moment, but I let it go for now.
“What did you do when you went back inside? Were you there for the fire?” I ask, and I swear it’s as if she stops breathing.
Her reaction makes an uneasy feeling skate down my spine. I need to get the rest of the footage from that night. I don’t believe for a fucking second that the cameras weren’t working. Even if the ones inside had been damaged, there are six cameras recording everything outside. I’ve considered that maybe Rustin got rid of the evidence, but … something doesn’t add up. He’s not a close friend of ours, but he’s an acquaintance we grew up seeing at parties, and we’ve known him for a long time.
“I’ll get to that,” she says. “In the beginning, I tried to find out who she was with. It was the only way to get through the grief and guilt. I wanted to see the footage. The guest list. Anything. Tate helped for a while,” she says, biting her lip as she looked away. “It was one of the many reasons we broke up. After three months of watching me cry, he just…” she shrugs.
“He’s a spineless piece of shit.”
“He is who he is.”
“You always looked so normal online, as if none of it affected you,” I say and instantly regret giving away that information.
Her brows shoot up. “You follow my page?”
My lips purse. “I lurk on your page.”
“So you tell women not to contact you anywhere, but you stalk their social media?”
“Josslyn.” I sigh heavily, glancing away momentarily. When I look at her again, she has an expectant expression on her face that makes my jaw tense, but I answer her stupid question, “You’re the only person I’ve ever done that with.”
The shock on her face is priceless and fucking adorable.
“Anyway.” She clears her throat. “Your parents made us sign a ton of papers, which seems to be their M.O. That’s why I asked about Blair.”
I feel my lips twist, as I nod.
“I was depressed for months after. I will never understand how life just keeps going after someone dies. It’s like we’re expected to grieve for a socially acceptable time and then move on.” She shakes her head. “I did what I had to do with Dad. I filed it away and dissociated. But then you came to Mal’s funeral and made me feel like shit.” I flinch, but she keeps going. “I understood it though, and I understand your need for answers.” She wraps her arms around herself and rubs them as if she’s cold. “I had to find out the truth.Have to. So, I went to the only person at Onyx who would help me.” She smiles sadly. “And that’s how I ended up in a private room at Pearl with my tits out in a room full of naked strangers.”
It takes me a moment to process her words. I think I stopped listening when she said the words “private room,” but the moment my brain processes her statement…
"YOU WHAT?” I roar, shooting out of my seat.
38
JOSSLYN
Iwatch as he takes in that bit of news, and wonder if I should even continue.
“Maybe we should go back to the part about why I went to Onyx with her that night,” I suggest quietly.
His jaw sets. “Oh, we’re going back to that, as soon as you tell me how the fuck you ended up naked.”
“Only from the waist up,” I point out. He scowls, so I keep talking. “Mal met up with a group of people at Onyx on Saturdays. It’s this whole thing.” I wave a hand. “There’s a steep membership fee and it’s very hush-hush. The other night, Scarlet introduced me to these guys and they invited me to go tonight?—”
