Page 61 of Devious Gambit

“You don’t think there’s anything to worry about?”

Lise smirked. “Not now that he’s in hospital.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you know? Gosh, it’s all over campus. He took some substance that made him loopy, climbed up on the roof of the Vault naked, and tried to jump off. Authorities got to him first before he did the deed and now he’s getting his stomach pumped. I think he’ll be out of harm’s way for a while.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“But you’ve done well getting a clue of who the rapists punks are,” she championed me.

“Have you found out who the girl is?”

“No. It’s better if she remains anonymous, however, I do know that she couldn’t identify any of the men who tried to rape her, so you’ve been a godsend, Rhys.”

“I haven’t been that much help.”

“What about Jace? Has he said anything?”

My stomach lurched when she spoke his name, because I do believe that I was falling for him, unfortunately. Nothing survives except one lonely spirit, allowed to live because it speaks of you. “He’s said he tried, but no one is saying anything.”

“Typical boys’ club,” she spat. “Those jocks will stick together through thick and thin.” She frowned and gazed up at the ceiling caught on a thought. “You don’t think the king and his rascal are Cody and Jace? I mean, Cody is the ringleader and one of the Hawk’s captains, which makes him a king. And Jace, the handsome jokester, is the rascal.”

“Originally, I assumed it was Jace and Cody because I always see them as a foursome when they come into Stads, before Sweeney disappeared. But after getting to know Jace, I can’t see him being that vicious.”

A smirk slid across her pretty face, battering her eyelashes in an exaggerated fashion. “Treats you nice, does he?”

“Reasonably. He’s definitely not cruel, although a little bossy,” I answered, refusing to go into details because it will only humiliate me later, when he loses interest in me or wins the dogfight bet.

“You’ve got a big fat crush on Jace Luxon haven’t you?”

“No. I’m merely doing my duty by being a spy,” I argued. “Which was your idea in the first place, may I remind you.”

“Huh,” she beamed, trying to read my body language to see if I really did have a crush on the big lug.

Larry banged at the door again much to my relief. “C’mon girls. We’re open now and I wouldn’t mind someone standing at the counter taking the money, so I can pay your dang wages.”

“Coming!” I called back, turning my back on the conversation to unlock the bathroom door.

Gretta turned up later to manage the dinner shift, and Lise took her aside to tell her about the king and the rascal. Like Lise, Gretta was angry that Greene hurt me, whereas I was trying to minimize the attack. I didn’t want it turning into a big deal and I certainly didn’t want to go to police about it. Besides, the a-hole was half-dead in hospital anyway, so karma was served.

“I’ll trespass his ass,” Gretta hissed.

I agreed to that, as I didn’t want to see him again, ever.

As per normal, Friday was freakishly busy with hungry, cold students eager to stuff their faces with fatty, low nutrient food. It was snowing outside when I got a chance to take a break and get some fresh air. I checked my phone and to my surprise, there were three messages.

Three.

One from my mom, asking when was a good time to talk about my father. Ick.

One from Jace inviting himself over tonight. Yeh.

The third was from Hayden asking if he could take me out for dinner tonight. Hmmm?

If it didn’t rain, it poured. Going from being alone forever to two lovely, handsome, but very different men, showing me attention was…well…unheard of. They both were eager to spend time with me, so I mustn’t be that boring, even though I was suspicious of Mr. Ed’s intentions.

Who do I choose?

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