“Sheisgood people,” Laney agreed. “And you’re welcome.” She flicked me on the kneecap. “I risked my life to get that.”
“What do you mean?” I sat up. “And how do you know that Jules was being sex trafficked if she didn’t tell you?”
“She didn’t tellanyone.” Her face twisted with hurt.“Which was completely reckless on her part. I mean, what did she think was going to happen when she disappeared and left a multi-million dollar hole? Did she think they would just end the Viewing parties?” She let out a bitter laugh. “She had to know they’d fill the vacancy with someone else.” Her face wrinkled, trying not to cry, giving away that she’d been next in line to fill the vacancy.
Liam walked over and stood in front of us, expression wary. “Are you certain she didn’t want to be a part of the Viewing parties?”
“Excuse me?” Laney recoiled like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Why would you say something like that about Julie, of all people?”
Liam’s gaze dropped to thefloor.
“Ah. Got it.” She nodded, lips pursed. “You’re a terrible person, aren’t you? Shocker. You pro athletes really are the most despicable humans.”
“Hey!” Liam snapped. “I’m a fantastic?—”
“Did youwin her?” Laney asked, jaw clamped tight.
Liam looked side-swiped by that statement. “No. I didn’t even bid. My friend dragged me to a Viewing party without telling me what it was. And I’m sorry, but I have to say, Juliette looked perfectly happy to be up there, doing her seductive little dance.”
Laney shot to her feet, making Liam stumble back. “Her seductive little dance?” She poked him right in the middle of his forehead. “Think with your brain, you waste of oxygen. She. Was. Drugged.” She stabbed once on each word.
Liam glared at her.
“Julie was as pure as they come before DayGlow got their hands on her,” Laney said. “And she was the perfect prey. She has no family, no one in her corner, and nowhere to turn. I’d venture to say she stayed as long as she could just to protect the rest of us.” Her shoulders shook as hard as her voice.
“Okay, okay.” Liam stepped back, hands up, looking sufficiently humbled.
I couldn’t even enjoy the relief of knowing Jules hadn’t purposely sold herself and that she really did love me and not Liam. I was too sick. Sick for her and… “Laney? Did they sex traffic you?”
“No.” She turned to me. “But they sure tried. Luckily…” She gulped and dropped onto the couch again. “I have parents who love me,even if I have treated them abominably. Parents who put me in self-defense classes and karate. So when I told Cecil and the board that I’d rather rot in jail for murder—and I swore to do just that if they put their hands on me—and they still kept coming toward me with that needle anyway? Iwent full Sydney Bristow and used my black belt skills to educate them real quick.”
I swear I heard Theo let out a soft sigh.
“Freaking Kiton-wearing pansies didn’t know what to do.” Laney laughed through her tears. But as fast as the laughter came, it faded. She nodded at the paper in my hands. “On my way out, I saw Julie’s list on the boardroom table, and it just ticked me off even more. How dare they go after the dreams of a girl who’s only ever had dreams?” Her hands shook, but then she looked at me and lost it again. “But then I realized I’m no better. BecauseItried to steal her dreams too.”
I held her gaze, a silentwhyhanging between us.
“It’s complicated,” she whispered.
“Tell me?”
“My parents loved her more than me,” she said so quietly I had to strain to hear. “At least that’s how it felt. And I couldn’t blame them. When they came to me and said they were thinking of… adopting her…” She swallowed. “I couldn’t handle it. They thought I’d be so happy—and I should’ve been. But I knew I’d never measure up to her, and having her in the house every day would just prove it. But it didn’t mean I didn’t love her. So when she left without saying goodbye, it was just another confirmation that I was a terrible person. And it ate me up inside.”
Jules could’ve had a family, and Laney prevented it.
I messed up,she mouthed, her entire body sagging with the weight of regret.
Haven’t we all?I replied.
“What’s with all the whispering?” James asked. “Are you going to finish telling us how you got Juliette’s list?”
“Oh, yeah. Sorry.” Laney sniffed and fanned her face. “Where was I?”
“You saw Juliette’s list on the boardroom table, and it made you mad,” Theo offered.
“Right.” Laney straightened. “So anyway. While Cecil and the board all moaned and rolled around on the floor, holdingtheir crotches—” she spat, “—I grabbed the paper and ran.” Her eyes held mine, so sad. “But DayGlow won’t stop. Fallon will be next. Or Briar or Riley. I’m not as strong as Julie. I couldn’t sacrifice myself for them, and now DayGlow will ruin them too.”
I wasn’t sure how to begin to fix this. Should we find Jules first? Or take down DayGlow? Or go extract Jules’s friends? I had no idea.
