I nod.
“Okay. That makes more sense. He’s up for re-election. Holt tried blackmailing your girl into staying quiet for the sake of her father’s campaign. The roommate suggested going to the school board. It was a smaller risk. The guys wouldn’t serve jail time, but they’d be expelled. She wouldn’t have to see them again.”
Julio snorts. “It’s less than he deserves.”
“And he didn’t even get that,” I remind him. Not even a slap on the fucking wrist. What the hell is wrong with people?
“No. He didn’t.” Felix confirms. “Holt’s mom is on the board, and both parents are criminal defense attorneys. They came in prepared. Threw their money and status around, threatened both Cecilia and the university with a lawsuit for defamation. From the sounds of it, it was brutal, and the school didn’t want the trouble.”
“So they gave up. Just like that?”
He nods. “They slapped her with a cease and desist after trying to bully her into signing an NDA. She refused.”
Good for her. Those pretentious pricks don’t deserve her silence. “After that, they withdrew their support from her dad’s campaign. I think that’s when shit fell apart for her. It’s also the same time Holt started hooking up with her friend.”
“The redhead?” I’ve seen her with him and recognize her from some of Cecilia’s old social media posts.
“Yeah. Kim something. I didn’t bother to get a last name.” He shrugs. “I guess the roommate, Cecilia, and this Kim chick were best friends before, but Kim had a thing for Austin and he used that. Convinced her Cecilia was jealous and wanted to get back at him for choosing Kim over her. He fed her ego. Told her everything she wanted to hear.”
“And she believed that garbage?” What the hell kind of friend is that?
“I doubt it. But she wants to, and that’s enough. Getting the guy is more important to her than having her friend’s back.”
“The roommate too?”
“Joelle? No. She believes Cecilia. She’s just too weak to do anything about it. She comes across as a decent person. Smart. Funny.”
“You flirted with her, I take it?”
“How else did you expect me to get the scoop?” He rolls his eyes. “She’s not all bad. But she’s a follower and for too many years, she’s been in the habit of following Kim. She tells her to jump, Joelle asks how high. It’s sad. I’m pretty sure she regrets it.”
“Did you fuck her?” Julio asks.
Felix’s face fills with indignation. “Sleep with the enemy?” He makes a fist and pounds it where his heart sits in his chest. “Hell no. I’d never do Cecilia dirty like that.”
Julio nods, but I don’t miss the sudden gleam in Felix’s eyes. “Hooking up with the wrong female falls into your department Remember, Julio? Not mine.”
Releasing a groan, I shake my head. He just had to go there.
Julio clenches his fists. “It was one kiss.” We’ve heard it before. Doesn’t change what he did.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” Felix gives him a mocking grin.
“Fuck you,” he says. There’s no heat in his words. Julio knows he messed up. And we’d be shitty friends if we didn’t take the opportunity to remind him of his royal fuck up from time to time. It’s what friends do. He’s the one who kissed Allie’s ex-friend drunk at a party. Just one more reason we all have to avoid that scene. Adriana used to kick it with us too. We were our own party of five. But she messed around with Allie’s then boyfriend behind her back and you don’t do that to yourfamilia. Loyalty is everything. She proved she had none. Much like Cecilia’s former friends.
“Pass, but I’ll give Adriana your new number the next time I see her if you like?”
Julio growls in the back of his throat.
“Fight with each other another time. I need to meet up with Cecilia.” I shoot her a text, telling her I’m going to be a few minutes late to buy myself some time.
“Right.” He turns his attention to me. “Joelle believes her. But she’s been friends with the Kim chick since grade school. She’s only known Cecilia since freshman year. She picked the wrong side.” He shrugs. “She made her bed and now she has to lie in it. Which sucks for Cecilia. Her friends should have been there for her. Parents are great and all but?—“
“They don’t know.” If they did, they wouldn’t care about the money or the campaign. They’d want her to get justice for what happened. There’s no way they can know. They seem like good people. Parents who genuinely care about their daughter’s wellbeing.
“The suicide they know about. There was no way to hide it. But I don’t think they know about the rape. That’s why they’re so protective of her.” It makes so much sense. “They don’t know what made her take that path and they don’t know what to do to make sure she doesn’t slide down it again.”
“Fuck. That’s rough. She had to go through all that shit on her own,” Felix whistles. “Your girl is tougher than she looks.”
