Page 49 of Destroyed

Chapter 37

Corrine

“I still don’t get it,” Kaz says, picking up her fork and stabbing an innocent tomato in her salad. “Why would she keep all this under wraps?”

We’re talking about Sasha, of course. As usual, Riley, Kaz, and I have opted to hash things out over drinks and food. The guys will be getting ready for The Cellar by now, and Jonathan and Sebastian agreed to let us have ‘girl time,’ so long as we didn’t leave the bar or talk to strangers. It’s like we’re five years old again.

“Well, if she’s been under ‘control’ of her uncle,” I say, using air quotes because I’m not sure how else to describe it, “it could be that she was too afraid to say otherwise.”

“So she could have been sleeping with Nate just because Lockhart forced her to.”

“That doesn’t make him any less disgusting,” I say. She nods, knowing full well there’s no excuse for Nate’s actions. Riley’s ex husband had been working for Ethan Lockhart, delving into his messy skin trade and also working to pay off a family debt that Nate’s dad owed Ethan. Not to mention the fact he kidnapped Riley and likely would have handed her over to Ethan at some point. There seems to be no getting away from Lockhart’s grasp.

“I’m still confused how Eric Lockhart fits in all this,” I say. “He was involved with Xavier’s parents and then left thatrelationship. So then he must have met Sasha’s mom sometime after. And then her mom died, and Sasha got stuck with her dad’s brother…” I look at both of the girls. “Is that right?”

“And Ethan Lockhart has a vendetta against Nate’s family. And we know from the photo albums that our parents were also somehow connected to him,” Riley says. She’s drinking a gin martini and keeps twirling the glass nervously. “And… Ethan must have found out recently that Xavier is technically a Lockhart - and that’s a threat to him for reasons I’m not sure we know yet.”

“And Mom made it sound like the Lockharts pulled some shady shit on Dad too, remember?” I ask her.

“Do you think,” Kaz starts, “that maybe your dad owed Lockhart something too?”

I gulp at my Long Island. It’s terrible but strong. “It would explain some things. For example, why was Riley of interest to Lockhart? And why he wanted Nate to hand her over.”

“And also why you’re now at risk,” Kaz says. She reaches across the table for my hand. “How are you doing with all this?”

“I just want Xavier to make it out of The Cellar first, then we can figure out how I feel.”

Riley nods. “The guys would never let anything happen to him in there.”

“They better not,” I say, smiling now. “Because he’s going to be my new roomie.”

“Wait… what?!” Riley asks. “Why didn’t you tell us? Since when?”

“We just decided it was stupid for us not to live together. Plus,” I say, looking at my uneaten meal, “I feel safe with him.”

“Oh my gosh, Corrine,” Riley gushes. “I’m so happy for you!”

I chuckle. “Thanks! I guess I really am growing up.”

We laugh and try to lighten the mood with other talk, mainly about the gossip happening within Bolt. Before long, Jonathantexts that our time is up, and he picks me up to grab some things from my place. We eventually get back to Xavier’s to wait for him, and I can’t help but pace anxiously in his room.

What if he doesn’t come back? How will it help Sasha if they do get her out? How will we stop Ethan Lockhart from his quest to take us all down?

Chapter 38

Xavier

I stare at Jamison across the room as his face paint is being finished. He looks like Satan himself in his signature suit with his blood-red face and blacked-out eyes. I smirk, thinking how fitting his face paint is compared to the rest of his body. On a typical day, no one would guess the inky darkness that swallows his soul and entire body. He is entirely opposite his brother. Not that Jonathan doesn’t have his own demons, because I have definitely seen him close to his worst. Jamison, though, is on another level.

He looks over at me, raising one eyebrow in question. Before I have the chance to give him shit, Andre walks in. His face is painted identical to mine. White with black and grey covers his face and neck down to where the collar of his all-black shirt meets his neck. The perfect skeleton. He stands in front of where I sit, blocking my view of Jamison.

“We leave in ten minutes,” he states.

“Where is your brother?” I ask him.

He turns his body towards Jamison and rolls his eyes. “He is meeting us there. He says he prefers not to be on babysitting duty again, seeing as how Jamison ditched him last time.”

We both look over at Jamison, causing him to raise his eyes from his phone.

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