Page 140 of Fought and Freed

“That’s what I thought, too.” She watched as the news showed what was left of the compound.

It was in pieces, so it had to have been a bomb.

Her gut tightened. “If we did have something to do with this, then Mike just became even more dangerous.”

Cody gave everyone a firm look. “No one goes anywhere alone.”

* * *

Over the next two weeks, they tried to stick to the buddy system as much as possible, but there was one big issue with it.

Everyone had somewhere to be, but not in the same place.

Cody needed to still work on his properties, while Skylar had to stay home in case Amber’s labor started for real.

On the days that Ryder, Jace, and Maddy had classes, they were at different times, but they figured Mike wouldn’t do anything in public during the day.

At least, they hoped not.

Ryder and Jace drove together, even though Jace had to wait an hour for his class.

Maddy drove behind them and headed to the cafeteria and found a seat at an empty table. There was still an hour before her class started, so she pulled out a book she was reading, figuring she could get a few chapters in before she had to go.

She quickly got lost in the story, time slipping by, until the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Someone was watching her.

Maddy put her bookmark between the pages and looked around the large room. A lot of students were catching a meal between classes, but she didn’t see anyone staring at her.

Maybe she was just paranoid because she was concerned about Mike attacking her.

She tried to shake it off and return to reading, but the feeling wouldn’t go away.

“You’re not a student anymore. What are you doing here?” an irritating voice demanded.

Maddy stiffened as Trisha came up to her table, but she refused to look up from her book. “Don’t you have something else to do other than pester me?”

“Lucca will never get married to that chunky bitch,” Trisha sneered.

Maddy threw her head back and laughed. “You think you still have a chance with him? Here’s a little tidbit you don’t know. Lucca is my twin brother, and I will make sure he never touches you again.”

Trisha slapped her across the face. “You lying bitch!”

“What the Hell is going on?” Lucca’s voice thundered across the room.

“This bitch is trying to start a rumor that you’re her brother.” Trisha tossed her head and laughed. “Can you believe that shit? You and her coming from the same place? As if!”

Lucca smiled. “It’s not a lie. Maddy’s telling the truth. She’s my twin sister.”

Trisha’s head shook slowly back and forth in denial. “No, what does she have over you, Lucca? That’s the only way you’d marry that fat slob and say that this whore is your sister.”

Lucca’s face changed from joking to angry, and Trisha lost all color in her face.

He grabbed the back of Trisha’s neck, pulling her closer. “Never call my fiancé a fat slob or my sister a whore again. You don’t want to see me angry.”

He released Trisha, and she stumbled back before turning and running away.

“I can’t believe you dated her,” Maddy muttered, slightly disappointed in her brother, even if he had just defended her.

Lucca shook his head. “I can’t stand that bitch. Why would you think I had a relationship with her?”

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