Page 43 of Wicked Titan

“You’re welcome. Tell Candace I’ll be down in a few for dinner so she doesn’t send a search party for me.”

I laugh, letting out the breath I’d been holding as I nod, hurrying down the hallway. I make a mental note to hang some pictures in my room, and not ones that remind me of Asher.

* * *

After the incident in Nathan’s office, I gave up snooping for a while. Especially after they informed me of a weekend getaway they had planned to New York. Apparently, a part-business, part-pleasure trip. Candace pleaded with me to go, and part of me did want to since I’ve never been, but with everyone gone for the entire weekend, it will be the perfect opportunity to search without getting busted, again. Even Francis is taking the weekend off. I’d convinced Candace I am perfectly capable of cooking for myself. When I mentioned the fact that I’d done all the cooking for Dad and I, she dropped the subject promptly, giving in to my request.

Of course, the school day is dragging by. I’m sitting at the table, tapping my fingers against the wooden tabletop as I watch the clock on the wall.

“Have plans this weekend?” Grant interrupts my thoughts.

“Yes.” I glance to him.

“Okay. If you have any free time, maybe we can hang out or something?”

“No.” Looking back to the clock, I hear Wade snicker from across the table.

When the bell finally rings, I jump up from my chair, heading for the parking lot in such a rush that I don’t see Allison until I crash into her. Stumbling back, I catch my balance as she curses, smoothing her hands on the trace amount of material that passed for her skirt. “Can you not even walk without being a pain in my ass?”

“The pain’s probably from chlamydia, not me.” I grit my teeth and start to move past her.

She curses, shifting in front of me to block my path. “Then you’d better stay away from Asher since he’s been exposed several times, especially last week at his party. All. Night. Long.”

I know she is lying about the night of the party since he was with me, but the thought of them together some other time twists my insides, knotting them as my hand grips my stomach. I’m so focused on images of Allison and Asher together that I don’t notice Victoria until she steps in front of me.

“He’s never touched your desperate, nasty ass—even when you beg him to just let you suck his dick. It’s an appalling scene to watch replay over and over.”

Allison’s face is beet red as she glares at Victoria while Elliot chimes in. “Lil’ V is right. As a sworn witness, I can testify that it’s really pitiful.”

“Screw you, Bass,” Allison spits, her eyes on Victoria. “You’re just pissed someone else tapped your side piece.”

“Get the fuck out of here!” Elliot’s voice booms down the hallway. Allison flinches as all eyes in the corridor turn to watch as he snakes his arms around Victoria’s waist, restraining her as she lunges for Allison. Elliot pivots to position himself between them, whispering something in Victoria’s ear before turning to Allison, throwing his hand in the air as he yells again. Allison hurries away, glaring at me as she leaves.

Elliot stands in front of Victoria, blocking the view of the gathered audience before she shoves him away. Tears flow down her cheeks as she takes off down the hallway.

She’s in the parking lot, hurrying to her car by the time I catch up to her. “Victoria.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” She tugs the handle of her car, flinging the door open as she tosses her bag in.

“Okay. But if you change your mind, you can talk to me.” She pauses, clinging to the door as she stares into her car. Whatever is going on with her got stirred up with Allison when Victoria stepped in for me. “I’m sorry.”

Her eyes are red and blotchy as she turns to look at me. “Just don’t tell my brother about any of this.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Thanks,” she whispers before sliding into her car, pulling the door shut as I walk off, watching her car in the distance. It’s not my place to tell Asher anything and even if it was, I trust Victoria more than anyone else I know. The sad thing about that is we’ve spoken the least amount of words to each other. Maybe that’s it. She doesn’t feel the need to fill space with needless, phony lies.

Asher steps out of the building’s side door, cocky and arrogant as he walks to his car. I slide into mine before he gets close. It’s been the game we’ve played with each other all week, at least on my part, so I do my best to avoid him once again.

* * *

There’s still an unease in my chest as I step into the house. I can’t get Victoria off my mind, but I know she needs space, so I avoid sending her a text. The other thing I can’t get out of my head—Asher and Allison. I hate to admit what a relief it is that he hasn’t screwed her, at least according to Elliot and Victoria, who should know. But that doesn’t stop the images from popping into my head. The only image worse is the real-life version of her having sex with Grant. That one is still burned onto my brain, thanks to Asher.

Ugh. If there was a memory erasing device, I’d scan my brain right about now. I do the next best thing and focus on the task at hand. The house is already empty as I grab a bottle of water out of the fridge. There are several premade meals lining the shelf with Post-it notes on each, labeling their contents. I smile at Francis’s handwriting—even after I’d insisted I could make my own meals, she’d gone out of her way to make sure I was taken care of for the weekend.

I walk to the garage to take a peek inside, and notice the family SUV is gone. It doesn’t hurt to double-check, in light of getting caught during my last investigation.

My hand squeezes around the cold glass bottle as I tiptoe to the office. It’s ridiculous. I’m in the house alone, but I still feel the need to be quiet.