Page 26 of Look What You Made Me Do

This is my chance to correct the narrative. I could tell everyone exactly what happened. But something stops me. Maybe it’s embarrassment or fear of judgment, I don’t know, but I find myself shrugging. “It was just a freak thing, I guess.”

If I thought that was going to satisfy her, I’m an idiot. My vague response just encourages her to double down. “Kai said he drank too much, and things got heavy back at your place. When he passed out, you got pissed, called the police, and tried to pin some shit on him.”

Wow.The blood drains from my face and my cheeks heat in embarrassment. Is this the bullshit he’s telling people? Andwhy? To spare his precious-fucking-ego? People already think I had something to do with Gabriel taking his own life, so I’m sure they’re more than willing to believe this, too.

“That’s not what happened,” I say, stumbling over the words, because I’m floored that Kai, of all people, would be spreading lies like that. I thought he was cool.Jezus, can anyone be trusted in this fucking town?

The guy next to me puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me against his chest awkwardly. A thick cloud of tequila breath hits me in the face. “How did it happen, baby?” He slurs his words, and his head flops forward, nearly colliding with mine. “Why don’t we find a dark corner so you can tell me all about how you knocked that loser out? Or did you choke him? I might be into that.”

Ugh, as if.

“No thanks, asshole.” I remove his arm and shove him away. We’re squished together on the couch, though, so shoving him only nets me about half an inch of space.

I’m about to stand up and excuse myself when the room suddenly erupts into cheers. Everyone’s attention is drawn to the center of the room and my gaze follows.

It’s Kai.

He waltzes into the room with a bandage on his head and a smirk on his face. He looks like a hero triumphantly returning from the battlefield. The asshole.

Standing abruptly, I trample over the dozen people surrounding the couch, so I can confront him about the shit he’s been saying about me. But just as I’m about to yell out, “Hey, asshole,” I feel a hand on my arm.

I don’t know where on earth he came from, but Lucas is standing next to me, his strong grip holding me in place. He gives me a dark look that silences me, then he turns his focus on Kai.

“Yo, Kai,” he calls out, releasing me so he can step forward. “Come with me.”

The cheers suddenly die, and the entire room goes silent.

Oh, shit. Being called out by a Sacred Son in front of everyone could either be good, or very,verybad…

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Lucas

Walking up to Kai,I slap my arm around his shoulders and pin him down with a fake-as-fuck smile. “You look nervous,” I say with a laugh. “Don’t worry, we just need to have a little chat.”

Kai licks his lips, and nervously glances around at everyone else, like he’s silently pleading for their help. But no one is going to help him. He thinks these people are his friends, but they’re not. They’re children of the Burning Crown, and like all good children, they listen to the voices that lead them. Most of the time.

But Kaididn’tlisten and now I have to deal with that.

I slide my hand across his shoulders, so I’m holding the back of his neck, as I guide him out of the room and down the hall to the kitchen. People step aside as we pass, a question on each of their faces. But no one intervenes.

Once we’re in the kitchen, I stop at the basement door to unlock it.

“W-what’s this about?” he asks.

I turn to look him in the eye. “Oh, I think you can guess.”

He knows what he did. He knows he fucked up,royally.

“Lucas, I’m sorry, dude. Please let me make this right.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” I say with a sardonic laugh. “We’re mostdefinitelygoing to make this right.”

The lock gives way, and I tug the door open. Beyond the threshold, there’s nothing. Just a black void. The staircase leading down to the basement is there, but it’s been swallowed up by the darkness. Not a big deal for me. Christian and I have been coming to Rush House since we were in diapers and we know every inch of the place by heart.

Kai, however, has never been to the basement. Members don’t have access. Only Sacred Sons. So getting down the steps safely will be trickier for him. I could switch the light on, but I’m not going to. That would spoil all the fun.

“After you,” I say, shoving him forward. He yelps and throws his arms out, stumbling down the first couple of steps, then catching himself on the wall.

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