Jackson laughs at something behind us, and something inside me fractures. Red lines my vision, my skin growing hotter by the second. I shift, legs tense, body halfway rising from my chair when Sam’s hand rests on my wrist. Her touch is warm, her hand small against my forearm, but it anchors me.
“Don’t,” she whispers.
I look at her, my blood still boiling, and she squeezes before pulling away to send another text.
Collins:Please leave it alone.
My teeth grind as I reply.
Bryden:He deserves to rot in jail.
Collins:But he won’t. I already tried to tell, and they have made my life hell in retaliation. It’ll only make it worse. Forget I told you.
Bryden:I can’t promise that.
Collins:I’m fine, Bryden. I swear. He wasn’t successful and I got away. I just need to get through the season, and it’ll all be over.
Fine?She keeps saying it as if to convince herself more than me. But it doesn’t erase the truth.
Bryden:And he gets off unscathed. You should have broken more than a knee.
Then there’s a pause, a long and heavy one.
Collins:Please. Let it go. As my friend.
Collins:You promised.
No. Don’t say it. Don’t—
Collins:Vault, remember.
My grip firms, knuckles bleaching white as the screen protector cracks against the pressure. A war rages in my chest—rage against control.
I hate that she knows I won’t break her trust. That’s why it exists, right? To give us both the space to speak freely, no judgment, no interrogation.
Bryden:Vault.
I shut my eyes, breathing deep and slow, because if I don’t, I’ll explode. So, instead, I sit back, shoving the pieces of my temper down my throat. It kills me, but I won’t be the reason her world burns faster than it already is.
But if he so much as looks at her wrong again, I’ll crush him.
Vault or not.
Sam sets her eyes back on Professor Wilson, but I leave mine on her. She’s probably the strongest person I know, and from this moment on, she’ll never have to go it alone again.
Typing into my phone, I send her another message.
Bryden:It’s the latter.
Collins:Huh?
Bryden:You are fierce.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
EVEREST (KANE)
RW:My office. One hour.
