Page 42 of Forever Golden

“There’s more.”

Ricky’s brow does that thing again when he meets my gaze. “What is it?”

I glance down at the carpet before speaking. “We were so confused about how Vin ended up with the pic I sent you, but I think we figured it out, and you aren’t gonna like it.”

He squares his shoulders, and I can already tell he’s getting angrier. There’s a thick, throbbing vein in the side of his neck that tells me so.

“We already put two and two together and figured out Vin and Uncle Paul have business together, but… I think they listen in on our calls, see our texts and pictures that come through. It’s the only way he’d have that pic, the only way Vin could ever know some of the things he knows. But ifyoursis being monitored, that means your uncle had something to do with it.”

Ricky doesn’t say a word and I feel his wheels turning.

“Did Paul distribute phones to you guys?”

There’s a moment where Ricky doesn’t respond at all, but when he does, he nods and confirms what I already knew.

“Little over a year ago, he said he had reason to think the old ones had been compromised, so he rounded us all up and upgraded us,” he scoffs. “Now I knowhe’sthe only thing that’s been fucking compromised. Shit.”

I grip his hand tighter when he tries to walk away, fearing he’s about to break his vow and go find someone to take this frustration out on. Like, Paul or Vin.

“Ricky, you promised.”

My words halt him and my heart’s racing, feeling like it’s climbed out of my chest and into my throat.

“We have to be smart about this. Scar’s safety is on the line if we let on that we have any idea what’s happening,” I explain. “All we can do is march to the beat of Vin’s drum for now, until we have another option.”

Ricky hates this—not being in control—but it is what it is. Welcome to my world.

“I won’t do anything stupid, but I need to get out of here. I’ve gotta clear my head.”

“Okay, but hang on a sec.”

I feel his stare follow me when I leave the room and disappear down the hallway. Then, when I return with the phone West picked up for him, he’s confused.

“I already put my new number into it, and the numbers of everyone else who knows what’s going on. It’s the safest way we can communicate with each other, but our old phones have to stay in play too. If we all just go radio silent, they’ll know something’s up.”

He stares at the device a moment and I’m not even sure he’ll take it. But when he shoves it into his pocket, my heart settles a bit.

“I trust you,” I remind him. “Which means I know you’re not gonna leave here and do something that’ll make me want to kill you.”

He smiles a little, and so do I.

“We’ll figure something out,” I add, realizing this is the first timeI’vebeen the one to speak those words. Usually, it’s West.

Maybe he’s wearing off on me, or maybe it’s just what I want to believe.

Either way, we’re all clued in on the truth now. Whatever happens next, whatever way this whole thing goes, we’re in it together.

Chapter 15

WEST

“Where the hell have you been all my life?” The question leaves my mouth in a plume of smoke, speaking to the joint pinched between my fingers.

I pass it to Dane, and I swear it’s been a lifetime since any of us took a hit. We have until early summer to get our fill before we’re in the gym for our first college football season. But getting high tonight feels necessary, because life’s so incredibly fucked up at the moment.

I glance down at my phone, checking the app linked to Southside’s security system. The moment I lay eyes on the thing, it switches from‘disarmed’to‘armed’.It seems like a weird coincidence since she’d already turned it on when Scar’s party ended a little more than an hour ago.

West: Everything okay? Just noticed the alarm was off.

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