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Sutton whirled, her voice rising. “So because we knew them, it was okay for me to be kidnapped and terrified? You knew their plan, and you let it happen.”
“Manic didn’t say anything either,” Amelia spat.
“At least he doesn’t pretend to be someone he’s not,” Sutton fired back, and my lungs constricted.
I hated that I didn’t understand the meaning behind her words. Was she not angry with me? As Sutton flung her anger at Amelia, something foreign unfurled inside me—a cold ripple of shame. If that was what it was. As Sutton’s unknown stalker, I kept just as big of a secret.
“He’s never pretended to be my friend—not like you,” Sutton continued. Her voice dropped, barely loud enough to catch the harsh words thrown at her former friend. “You’re dead to me. Come near me again, and I’ll fucking kill you.”
My brows jumped at the presumed threat, one I’d never had the pleasure of receiving. Interesting. Sutton briskly stormed past me and through the kitchen without a backward glance. Amelia exhaled roughly through her nose and looked at me, hatred evident in her expression.
“Oops,” I said with a teasing lilt. “She must have come back early.”
“You’re an asshole,” Amelia clipped, stepping into the elevator.
When the doors closed, I pushed off the wall and rounded the corner, finding Sutton downing a glass of straight whiskey. Light bounced off the back of her head as she glared at the counter. Her bag splayed open on the island, revealing one of the books I’d lent her. The third one.
“Rough day?” I asked lightly.
“Fuck off,” she said, then slammed the glass down. “A warning would have been nice.”
“That was more interesting. Plus, she deserved it.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“It wasn’t meant to. Did you know she’s engaged to Grave?” I asked casually.
She faced me with parted lips and furrowed brows, her expression slowly melting into disbelief.
“They’ve been dating since we pulled you both out of The Riot,” I continued. “After Grave drove her home, her father told her everything. She agreed to finish law school to help him with the family business. Their whole family has been the Crimson Crowes’ lawyers for as long as the organization has existed. She had her chance to tell you, and she chose not to.”
Sutton blinked, then stared out the balcony windows before shaking her head. “How can you stand these people?”
“What makes you think I can?”
She stood silent for a long moment, worrying her lip between her teeth. “Is that why you want to leave?”
I stiffened, and an aching pressure dug beneath my ribs. One I hated. I felt it coming, though—my time to leave. I’d be leaving whether I signed those papers or not.
“Where did you hear that?” I asked.
“Naomi. She said something a couple weeks ago. I wasn’t sure what she meant at the time.” She shrugged again. “I get why you want to. Where are you going to go?”
“I don’t know. Anywhere but this fucking place.”
She laughed like she understood what I meant, one of genuine amusement. Yet the sound of her laugh had my world fading, and I knew at that moment it was a sound I wanted to hear over and over again. I blinked, my heart racing as the realization swept over me.
Sutton was a hidden gem, and I wanted to polish her until she shined her brightest. What did that look like for her? What did she desire most?
Books, my thoughts said in answer. Lots of them. Adventure, too. I’d take her on many interesting adventures if she wanted them. I dragged my eyes down her face, unsure of what to do with that knowledge or the need to give it to her.
“Is that what the papers were for?” she asked pensively, and I nodded.
“Ronan wants me to sign a detailed agreement for me to leave. It’s a stupid contract.”
“You should do it,” she said. A wrinkle formed between her brows. “If you have a chance to leave, you should sign them.”
My heart stopped, because little did she know what the agreement entailed. I’d never see her again if I left. Her expression smoothed as she reached for her bag, pulling out the book I’d lent her. One of those thrillers. She thumbed a few pages before setting it down and sliding it toward me.
