Page 6 of Shattered

With an older sister who acts like a bitch, I can’t imagine what that protectiveness over her would feel like.

“You can take a few more with you if you like.” Sienna shakes the little bag at me in insistence, so I grab a few more, thanking her before heading to Jason’s room.

Before we’ve even sat down, there’s a knock at his door. “You’re not hanging out with us, no matter how much you beg!” Jason calls out.

The door opens a second later, but it’s not either of his sisters like he assumed. His mom, Kate, walks in, closing the door behind her. She’s like an older, motherly version of Sienna.

“Oh, Neil . . . I’m sure your parents are already aware, so I’ll talk to you both.”

“Talk to us about what?” Jason asks, a crease forming along his forehead.

Kate sighs and leans against the back of Jason’s desk chair. “Jacob has been arrested.”

“What?” Jason bursts with a chuckle of disbelief. “For what?”

My face probably matches his, with shock and confusion mixing.

Kate clears her throat. “Sexual assault.”

“Are you serious? How? When?” Jason splutters, pushing to his feet. “Who?”

His mom sits at the end of his bed, smoothing a hand over his blanket. “Jennifer Lapmor. Last night, near some party the kids were having.”

Jason’s head jerks to me, and we share a look that says, “Shit. That party he was going to pass by . . . And what was it he said about making her his?”

“If you boys know anything, I want you to tell me.”

Jason turns back to his mom, looking understandably concerned, and my gaze drops to the ground while I rub my thumb across my bottom lip. This can’t be right. This is Jacob we’re talking about. It must be a mistake.

“Did someone see him do it?” I ask, finally speaking up. “Like, was there a witness?”

“He was found at the scene. Apparently, it was just the two of them.”

A sick feeling forms, then settles in the pit of my stomach.

“I’m sure it was a mistake,” Jason tells her, echoing my unspoken sentiment.

“So, you boys don’t know anything?” she asks, getting to her feet and glancing at us both.

“No, Mom. Geez.”

She nods. “I know this is a little shocking and a lot to take in. Your father is waiting for more information.” Walking to the door, she pauses with her hand on the handle. “Hopefully, this is just a misunderstanding. But if it’s not . . . well, I’m here if you need to talk.”

She leaves us staring silently at each other. I have no idea what to say right now. Jacob . . . arrested?

Our cell phones chime with an incoming text the next moment, indicating it’s likely our group chat. I pull out my phone, noticing I have another text from Sunflower, but I skip that one to open the group thread.

Cam: What the fuck?

Another one immediately follows it.

Mase: Dude, I know! That shit is crazy. Didn’t see it coming at all.

Me: I just heard. Do you know what happened?

Cam: No, just that he’s in custody or something.

Mase: You all heard what he said last night before he left, right? About making her his?

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