Page 122 of Ruthless Game

As he headed out the door, a tall, dark-haired girl came running into the room, barreling straight into Asher’s chest.

“Whoa,” he said, arms immediately going out to catch her before she fell over.

I recognized her. Maya, my other swim instructor.

She looked up at him, cheeks turning pink. “Um, thanks. I know I’m supposed to hate you, because I’m a Silver, and you’re a Gold, and our families are at war with each other—even though we’re both like, on the edge of both families and not really involved—but I appreciate you keeping me from landing on my ass like an idiot.”

Asher stared at her, bemused.

“You talk a lot,” he noted. “How do you know who I am?”

Her face got redder. “Everyone knows who you are. Can you let me go?”

I watched, also bemused, as he seemed to consider his answer.

“What’ll you give me for it?” he asked.

“Um, I—” she faltered.

“I’ll collect later,” he promised, releasing her, and then he was out the door, leaving her behind, staring at him with hearts in her eyes.

“Um, Maya?” Emma called.

The girl spun to face us. “Oh! Right! I came as soon as I heard. Everyone on campus is talking about it. Are you okay? I’m so glad you’re both alive!”

Emma blinked.

“Everyone on⁠—”

“Everyone on campus.” Maya nodded. “About how your brother wanted to go swimming in the gorge, and he got hurt, and when you went in after him, you got hurt, and Lawson realized where you were and jumped in to save you both, but he could only save you …” her voice trailed off. “Shit. I’m sorry. That must have been horrible, losing your brother like that, Emma. Sometimes I can’t keep hold of my mouth before it runs away from me.”

“Saved—”

Emma jerked her head to the side, a clear signal for me not to say anything else. Was that the story she’d gone with? That I’d tried to save them both, but had only been able to save her?

If so, it was a good one.

“Anyway,” Maya continued, missing Emma’s and my silent conversation, “I know we’re not like, close friends or anything—yet, but I was super worried about you.” She glanced at me. “You, too. Even if you were a dick to her and I wanted to drown you.” She flinched. “Poor choice of words. I’m glad you’re both okay.”

“Thank you,” Emma said, quiet but warmly. “We appreciate you coming by, and I could definitely use a close friend. But listen, Max—Lawson—is probably exhausted, and so am I, and my parents are on their way here …”

I stiffened at her words. We’d have to explain Jeffrey, somehow. As much as I’d hated the fucker, and didn’t regret killing him, I was sad for his parents. They’d been there for me for a long time, and I knew his loss would shatter them.

“Where are they?” I murmured.

“They’re with the body,” Emma said quietly. “They want to see you, but they needed to do that, first.”

I imagined how horrible that must be, seeing Jeffrey’s torn up body in the morgue. And we couldn’t tell them the truth. That much I realized. Emma, and probably Jack and Isaac, had come up with this plan, and I wasn’t going to fuck with it. Not when I had my freedom ahead of me, with Emma in my arms.

Jeffrey could go to hell.

He was probably already there.

“Got it,” Maya chirped. “Well, if there’s anything you need, let me know.”

I laced my right hand’s fingers through Emma’s, content with the feeling of her skin against mine.

Alive.