Page 87 of Risking it All

Gianna tilted her head and put on an overly sympathetic face. “Brayden heard how you’re trying to figure out who carjacked you, and that must be so hard, so we wanted to check in to see how you were. You are so brave, Macie, and I want you to know I’m here.”

I froze with terror, my blood, muscles, and organs solidifying into ice. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, could barely form a coherent thought. “What did you say?”

“That we know that you’re actively trying to find who carjacked you,” Gianna repeated.

I scratched madly at the hive forming on my wrist. “How do you know that?”

“Marsh told me,” Brayden said. “He said that Relic is marking up a yearbook or something like that. You really think that whoever carjacked you goes to our school? If so, that’s messed up.”

“It freaks me out,” Gianna added. “That means it could happen to any of us.”

My eyes widened in shock and anger as I scratched at my arm. “Because that’s what is so upsetting about all of this? Not that I was carjacked and shot, but that you might have a class with them and that they might eventually carjack you? That’s the priority right now?”

“Calm down, Macie,” Brayden said. “She’s here to help.”

“Yeah, Macie,” Gianna had bite to her tone. “Don’t yell at me. I’m being supportive.”

“Do you have an idea of who carjacked you?” Brayden pushed. “Did you see who did it, or did you see anything that can help you figure it out?”

“Because Brayden and I were thinking,” Gianna said, “that maybe we could help. Between the two of us, we know a lot of people. You’ve been a great friend to me, and I feel like I should be doing more to help.”

Brayden and Gianna knew I was searching, and Gianna told everyone everything, which meant the people who carjacked me were going to find out, and that meant they were going to come after me…after my family… Bile surged up my windpipe. “Who have you told?”

“What?” Gianna’s cheeks turned red, and that told me she had already spilled the beans to more people than I even wanted to imagine. “No one.”

“No one?” I challenged. “You told absolutely no one.”

“Maybe a few people. Friends from the volleyball team, but they’re your friends, too.”

I stood. “You need to go.”

“Why are you acting so rude?” Gianna spat. “I’m trying to be your friend.”

“My friend?” I countered. “A friend wouldn’t gossip about something so awful, and that’s all you’ve done since this happened.”

“I’m not gossiping,” Gianna pleaded as she rose from her seat. “This has been hard on me, too. You don’t understand my side of this situation. I need to talk to people so I can deal with my emotions. This entire situation has really stressed me out and caused me anxiety and…”

My mind reeled with her preposterous and selfish ramblings. “You’re making my life worse. You both are. Stop talking about me. Stop making this about you. And stop making me feel like our failing friendship is all my fault.”

“Macie,” Gianna interjected with a sob in her voice.

“Go home.” I stalked past them and slammed the backdoor behind me.

Chapter thirty-nine

Relic

Needing to avoid home and Eric until Macie described the tattoo tomorrow, I sent a text to Lyra:I dropped Camila off at Alma’s to stay for a few days.I need time so I can say goodbye. Lay low for me in the meantime.

Lyra:Say goodbye? To what? What can’t you keep?

Me:Macie. The friends I’ve made this summer. I don’t want them anywhere near this life.

Lyra:You can keep your life. You’ll make so much money you’ll be able to buy Macie anything.

Me:I won’t allow any of them to be hurt because of my choices.

Lyra:I’m scared, Relic. I was shot at. So was Camila. You need to protect our family now. Please.

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