Page 109 of Brazen Criminals

“I didn’t have a phone.”

“The precinct doesn’t let you call for a ride?”

There’s a long pause, followed by a muffled, “Fuck me.”

I turn into Dinkytown, the new construction giving way to old rambling two-story shops and bars. Trips clears his throat. “How’d you get the charges dropped?”

“Clara blackmailed Bryce, and it was absolutely magical.”

One of his eyes pops open. “Just how the fuck did Clara go from calling my dad to get a lawyer to blackmailing her fucking stalker?”

“She’s brilliant, Trips. We had this whole reasonable doubt plan—I broke into the precinct and planted evidence, it was fucking amazing! But then your dad decided to ‘let you stand on your own two feet’ and left us high and dry. Clara came through. She called Bryce over—”

Trips pushes up from his seat, both eyes boring into me. “She invited the asshole to our house? And you fucking let her?”

“No, she was amazing, it was all under control, it was fine.”

Trips vibrates with anger, and I wish we were home so I could redirect him to his heavy bag.

“She invited her stalker over to chat, and you all, what? Signed a fucking embossed invitation?”

I flick him in the nose, and his eyes snap shut reflexively. “Get some sleep. I’ll explain tomorrow.”

His fists clench and unclench, but his exhaustion wins, and he blinks as he relaxes beside me. Trips is completely passed out by the time I take the last few turns toward home. I still can’t stop grinning. Bryce is in jail, Clara is a beautiful genius, and our resident asshole is back.

What more could a guy want?

Chapter 56

Clara

Thecloudofbreathsfrom the crowd of runners mingles with the fog in the chilly morning air, and everyone is squeezing in last-minute jumps and stretches while we wait for our chance at the starting line.

By the time my group reaches the start, the sun has risen just enough to light up the haze, a shattered rainbow breaking over the racers.

I move fluidly through my stride, my body dying to run after my taper, ready to push faster and farther than it should here at the start. I hold back—I’ll need that energy later.

Luckily, my shoulder is mostly back to normal. It only twinges when I try to grab something heavy from above my head—I can deal with that.

At the one-mile mark, I hear my name shouted over the crowd. I look around, finding RJ squeezing through the spectators, ringing a cowbell. He runs over to me, keeping pace, just like he has for the last few weeks. “You came,” I exclaim.

“We all did, Emma too. You’ll have someone every mile to cheer you on.”

A grin cuts across my face, and I want to hug him—I want to hug all of them. I bump RJ’s shoulder instead. “Thanks. I’m looking forward to my cheer squad.”

RJ bumps me back, eyes bright. We run in silence for a half a mile before he steps off the course.

“I’ll see you in a few miles,” I call. He waves back, jangling the cowbell as I continue down the road.

Emma is next, her pink hair in space buns on the top of her head, a big sign that says, “You’ve got this, girl!” in her hands. She screams as I pass by, and I wave and blow her a kiss. She catches it and presses it to her cheek.

I haven’t really seen much of Emma this past week. I haven’t seen much of anyone. And while I hate to admit it, I’ve been hiding.

What should I say? To Emma? To the guys? To myself?

I broke the law—or at least conspired to. Even though it was the truth that ended up saving us, I still blackmailed Bryce. I still pushed past the law instead of following it.

Does that make me a criminal?

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