Page 93 of Fire Fight

In less than three minutes, he returns, giving me a high five and slipping me a remote-control device before continuing back to his car.

That’s why I love the guy. I could leave a year before speaking to him again but the moment I call, he’d respond, and I’d do the same.

Once the security system is back online, I erase any traces that could point to me, then head into the reserve, fighting back to the spot I left Cadence.

Except the tree only has my tie hanging over a low branch, no sign of the girl in question.

CADENCE

No matter what curses I spout in connection with Drake’s name, it doesn’t help me free my bonds. I’m not the most coordinatedperson at the best of times and being unable to see what I’m trying to undo is an extremely unhelpful feature.

When I hear footsteps coming towards me through the reserve, I feel a rush of gratitude. “Drake?”

“Sure, if that makes you feel better,” a boy responds, yelping, then swearing as he walks into something, getting close enough to make out details.

He stops a metre short, blinking rapidly as he takes in my situation. “Cadence?”

“Ben.” I send a silent prayer of gratitude to the heavens as Hudson’s younger brother inches a little closer. “Could you help untie me?”

“That depends on who tied you up.”

“Blaine.”

“Ah.” He wrinkles his nose, walking behind the tree where my hands are secured. “And this isn’t some horrible game where he’s lurking nearby, ready to pounce if I set you free, is it?”

“No. This is him tying me up and walking off because he’s a thoughtless arse.”

Ben snuffles out a laugh, working on the knot. “Sounds familiar. I have an arsehole for a sibling, too. Perhaps you’re aware of him?”

The bond releases and I rub my wrists, tugging the back of my dress where it wrinkled against the trunk. “Thank you.”

“Yeah. Maybe hold off on the thanks until the night is at an end.”

I squint at him, trying to work out what he means, but he ploughs through the ring of flax bushes near the lawn, bursting from the foliage with a laugh of relief before turning to check I made it out, as well.

“Why were you sneaking in the back way?” I ask, trotting to keep pace. “Are you and Hudson fighting?”

“The answer for that one is always yes. The only time we reach a truce is if it’s mutually beneficial.” He appears nervous, tugging at his ear, then the collar of his T-shirt. “Listen, for what it’s worth, I think Hudson deserved everything he got.”

My feet slow. “How do you mean?”

Ben’s lips twist. “What you did to him at the movies.”

My eyes open wide, appalled. “I had nothing to do with his tyres being slashed.”

He leaves a long pause. “Not that,” he says, looking miserable. “It’s… when Mum got us access to the camera footage from the mall, he tracked Blaine, thinking he’d done it.”

I frown, still on the defensive. “But he didn’t. Hudson already told us that.”

“Yeah, but he saw Blaine follow you into the bathroom.” Ben has his hands on his hips, stepping aside as two drunken girls stumble past in their stockinged feet, heels dangling from their fingers. “My brother’s no saint but that was just cruel.”

It was.

My face drains of colour, thinking how Hudson must have felt to see that on a mall camera. It wasn’t something I instigated, but it also was a shitty thing to do.

“I didn’t know he’d seen it.”

“Hudson’s even better at hiding shit than I am.” Ben rubs the back of his neck, the moment growing increasingly awkward. “But I guess you already know that since you found out about the betting racket.”

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