“Exactly.”
Easton’s jaw flexes once and Briggs goes quiet in a way I almost never see from him.
I keep going. “I’m not asking you to stalk them or scare them or make them feel like they’re under surveillance. I’m asking you to be aware. Night classes. Library. Parking lots. The walk from The Sin Bin to cars. Parties. Anywhere one of them could get isolated without it looking like a setup until it’s too late.”
Rider nods slowly. “Buddy system without calling it that.”
“Yeah. We make it look normal. We’re already around them enough that it won’t raise flags. If Aura is leaving class late, Easton or one of us happens to be nearby. If Charm closes at The Sin Bin, someone makes sure she gets to her car. If Bliss is walking across campus, she doesn’t do it alone unless she wants to and we know the area is clear.”
Briggs’s eyes narrow. “She’s gonna hate that.”
“Probably.”
“Charm might hit someone with pepper spray on principle.”
“Then announce yourself before approaching.”
Easton glances up. “Aura will hate it more if she feels handled.”
“Then don’t handle her,” I tell him. “Respect her. Make it practical. Make it casual. Make it about all three of them, not just Bliss.”
His eyes stay on mine for half a second too long.
Yeah.
He hears me.
Ryan crosses his arms tighter. “Her brother a cop?”
I nod, “I’ll let him know when she tells her family.”
Rider leans back against the lockers. “So, the plan is: eyes open, no solo hero bullshit, keep the girls from getting cornered,document anything weird, and if Dempsey shows up, call it in before anyone gets creative.”
“Exactly.”
Briggs looks offended. “Creative is such a better word for protective.”
“Creative gets subpoenas,” Ryan says.
“This is not about making us feel better,” I say, and the room stills again. “It’s not about revenge. Not today. This is about making sure Bliss, Aura, and Charm can move around campus without him finding a soft spot to press.”
Easton’s voice comes quieter. “What if he already does?”
I look at him.
There it is.
Aura.
The thing he isn’t saying because he doesn’t have the right yet, but every line of him is saying it anyway.
“Then we close it,” I say.
His nod is small but lethal.
Briggs drags both hands over his face. “I fucking hate this.”
“Good,” I say. “Use that to pay attention.”
