“Now, remember this,” she says. “Because you’ll never be able to take this back.”
The words are aimed at Wolf. But they hit me too. Hard. Something cracks open inside me.
They both turn as they notice me. Wolf looks wrecked. Mama looks like she’s balancing grief and rage on the edge of her teeth.
Ryder’s sitting by the wall with his laptop open, fingers tapping, but his eyes are on the girl in the bed.
“Glory’s out,” I mutter, barely breaking the silence.
Minutes pass and no one says a thing. Then Charlie finally stirs. A hiss escapes her lips, her face instantly crumpling like she’s trying not to cry. The tears form anyway, fast and hot.
She looks at Mama first. Her expression shifts to a heartbreak so deep, that I feel it like a knife to the ribs.
Then she looks at us. At me, then her brother. And just as quickly, her heartbreak turns to terror.
My mouth falls open. Wolf blanches.
“I-I didn’t d-do it,” she stammers, trembling. “Please.I… I didn’t…”
Mama steps in fast, brushing her hair back. “It’s okay. It’s okay, sweetheart. I believe you.”
I do too. I don’t know how or why or what the fuck is changing in my brain—but I do.
Wolf’s frozen. Useless. So I step forward carefully. Slowly. Like I’m walking into a goddamn minefield. “Charlie…”
She flinches. Fuck, that cuts deeper than any bullet I’ve ever taken.
I lower my voice, forcing it to soften. “We know there was money going into your account, okay? It’s okay if Glory asked you to do it. You don’t have to protect her.”
Her lips tremble. “I didn’t… I didn’t do it. I didn’t take anything.”
“Okay, okay,” I say fast, holding a hand up. “I believe you. I do. But can you just tell me where the money came from?”
I crouch slightly, meeting her eyes. “There’s nearly seventy grand in your account, Charlie. And Glory has over a hundred. Just tell me, alright? Where did your money come from?”
She starts shaking her head, whimpering. Tears pouring freely now. “I don’t know where Glory got her money—Idon’t. But the money in my account is mine. I earned it.”
The room freezes. My brain stutters. Mama’s mouth parts and Ryder’s fingers go still on the keyboard.
Wolf narrows his eyes at her. “Earned it… how?”
Charlie licks her busted lip, trying to sit up straighter. She fails, but pushes forward anyway.
“I tutor kids,” she whispers, her tone reluctant. “On the side. I’ve been doing it for years.”
We stare.
“I charge twenty bucks an hour,” she says, almost in defiance now. “Help them with essays. Math. Physics. I charge more for SAT prep. Most parents pay cash, some e-transfer. It adds up.”
We’re still staring.
I can’t help but do some mental math. And to my utter shock, I realize that she definitely could have saved up seventy grand—between this and her bar job. Given she was frugal as hell about it.
She sighs. Exhausted, like she’s had to prove her innocence her entire life. “You can ask the parents. But…” Her voice softens, cracking. “Please don’t tell them you’re club. Or that I am.”
She looks away. “Please.”
And just like that, I’m wrecked. Every word Charlie said bounces off the inside of my skull like a live round.
