Livie makes a noncommittal sound, but there’s something in her expression that makes me nervous.“What’s her name?This nurse.”
“Alex Donovan,” I say, immediately regretting it when I see the gleam in Livie’s eyes.“But HR is handling it.Really.”
“Of course they are, honey.”Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes.“Now, how short do you want the sides?”
The conversation shifts to safer topics after that, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve set something in motion.When she finishes, my hair looks great, professionally styled but still maintaining enough length on top to suit my face.
“Perfect,” I say, examining her work in the mirror.“You’re a miracle worker, Livie.”
“Just doing my job.”She removes the cape with a flourish.“And, Xavier?Don’t worry about that nurse.Some problems have a way of solving themselves.”
Her words follow me out of the salon, a vague uneasiness settling in my stomach as I head home.
* * *
Zach
Greyson texts me, summoning me to the garage with a single, cryptic line.Trouble with the girls.Meet me.I find him already astride his bike, helmet propped on his knee, impatience radiating from him in waves.
He uses his phone to guide himself toward them and as I get closer, I recognize exactly where we are going.
To the hospital.
TheroarofthemotorcyclesdiesasGreysonandIswingourlegsdown when we pull to a stop.Ituckmyhelmetundermyarmandtakeinthescene.A woman ispressedagainstacar.Livie,Tiana,andMeadowstandoverherwithbruisedknuckles and murderous glares.MychesttightenssofastIcanalmosttastetheanger.
This is not fucking good.
My sister is grinning from ear to ear, loving the fact that she was just in a fight.Over the years we have gone toe to toe, and I know she does not fight fair at all.
Greyson’svoiceisalowgrowl.“Livie.Explain.Now.”
Beforeshecanspeak,Ishovepastherandsteprightuptothe woman.Hereyesgowideatthesightofme.Istare.“Who is she?”I demand.“What did she do?”I know whatever she did was bad or the girls wouldn’t have ever ganged up on her in the first place.
Tianaliftsherchin, looking at me dead-on.“She’s the nurse, Alex, who sexually assaulted Xavier.Corneredhiminasupply closet.Tried to‘convert’ him, as she calls it, and grabbed him inappropriately.”
Mybloodrunsicecold.IwanttoshoveAlex’s face into the asphalt.“She what?”
Alex whimpersandshrinksback.“Ididn’tknow.”
“She cornered him,”Liviesays.“Grabbed him.Told him she could‘fix’him.”
Myvisionnarrowsand turnsred.Itakea stepforward, myfistclenching, but Greyson’s hand onmyshoulderhaltsme.“Not here,”hemurmurs.“Not like this.”
I swallow hard, chin jutting out.“You touched what’s mine,” I whisper, and Alex’s eyes lock on to me.
Shetremblessoviolentlyshecannolongerstand.“I’m sorry,”she stammers.“I didn’t realize?—”
“Shut up,”Icutin.“The only reason you’re still breathing is becausetheygot to you first.”InodtowardLivieandthe others.“And because Greyson’s right.Thisisn’t the place.”
Icrouch to her level,myvoicedroppingtoawhispershe’llneverforget.
“Ifyou ever come near Xavier again, if you ever speak his name,oreven think about him too hard… I will find you.And there won’t be enough left of you to identify.”
Herbodygoesrigid.She nodsfrantically.
Greysonstandsandaddressesher.“Get another job.Another town.If you’rebackin Devil Souls territory bythe weekend, we’lltakethatasan invitation for a more private conversation.”
Shescramblesinto her car, peels out,anddisappearsinacloudofrubber smoke.
