“Explain. Now, please,” Skye pushed.
I looked up and stood, patting my thighs.
“Come,” I called to the dogs, heading to the living room. My suit was still damp, but it was the least of my concerns right now. I sat down on the couch, surrounded by Cujo and Precious, with Skye sitting on the edge, her body turned away from me.
“My mom didn’t kill herself. She was murdered,” I started. “I’ve known this whole time, and I came here to get my revenge.”
“Revenge?” She cocked her head, and then turned all the way to face me.
“Yes. There were six of them that night. They raped her, stabbed her in the stomach repeatedly, and then hung her from the ceiling. Then they paid people to cover it up.”
“Why would they—”
“Because they can.” I shrugged. There really was no other reason for these people to hurt others this way—except that no one was stopping them.
Until me.
“So... Bryce knew? And Sebastian?”
“They do. They are helping me get through my list.”
“And Fred...”
I looked away in shame, having gotten more people roped into this. “He was one of the six.”
“Oh, my God. Evie, I am so sorry.” She scooted closer to me, causing the dogs to scurry back. She threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly. “Fuck him so hard.”
I patted her back and hugged her. Skye never let go of a hug first, and tonight, I needed that. When I let her go, she sat back and crisscrossed her legs. Suddenly she was back to her bubbly self.
“Okay, so go back. Tell me everything. When did Bryce find out?”
I explained the timeline starting with day one of seeing Sebastian.
“That’s where Glenn went?” she gasped. “You tried cocaine?” she added as I continued with my story.
Her commentary was oddly charming, and it relaxed me. I confessed everything easily, and when I was done, it not only felt freeing, but I didn’t feel judged or like she was going to turn me in.
“This is literally the most bonkers story I’ve ever heard, but I am loving all of this for you,” she exclaimed when I was done. “And Bryce and Sebastian are helping you?”
“Well, you too, I guess.” I cringed. “By not telling anyone.”
“Oh, boo.” Her eyes softened as she used the endearment. She reached for my hands. “Your fight is my fight. Let’s kill some bastards.”
“Really?”
“Really. I mean, I don’t know if I could actually stab someone, or poison, or like—” she shuddered “—do what Bryce did, but I’m in.”
We hugged, and just then, Sebastian and Bryce came in. The dogs lifted their heads but remained in place as they walked into the room carrying all the pool gear we’d left behind.
I stood, and so did the dogs.
“What did you end up doing with the body?” I asked.
Sebastian shook his head. “Nothing. We’re leaving it there.”
“What?” I shook my head. “You can’t. They’ll—”
“Think it was suicide,” Bryce interrupted. He pulled out his cell phone and then another. “We were trying to figure out what to do but didn’t want to get electrocuted.”
