Page 70 of Filthy Few

Was I so blinded by her that I didn’t see what was staring me right in the face?

“What happens now?” Hayze asks.

“Now, I will take Nova away from here?—”

I cut Nikoa off before he could continue. “You do that and you subject my sister to the vile shit they will put her through.”

“And you would rather I go through with it?” Her voice has me slamming my eyes closed, I can’t look at her. Knowing who she is and what her taking over would mean for my sister makes this situation ten times fucking harder. She scoffs when I don’t answer. “Of fucking course, stupid me for thinking that you actually gave a fuck about me. My bad. I forgot two horns.” I don’t defend myself.

“I won’t let them touch her!” Ezekiel vows.

“Oh, now you fucking care?” Nova screams.

“I didn’t know!” Ez defends.

“And that makes it okay? You put me through fucking hell, Ezekiel. You all did. I thought we had moved past all of that but I guess I was wrong.”

“I would never let them hurt you,Taylor,” Ez grits out.

“Stop calling me that! My name is Nova and I am not a Tempest, I’m a fucking Quinlin. My mother is Kelly and I don’t care what the fuck he is telling you, I am not your sister or some pawn you can use to save Vivian.” Nova whirls around and flees. The instant she does I chase after her. She nearly makes it past the headstone where she first met us here before I tackle her to the ground. Hayze and Archer hold Ezekiel back when she begins to fight. I roll her over and pin her arms beside her head and trap her legs between mine. “Get the fuck off me.”

“Calm the hell down, witch!”

“Fuck you, Vox, fuck all of you!” she chokes out, then begins to cry—guilt gnaws at me. I handled this whole thing wrong. “I want my mom,” she rasps out through her tears. I turn and peer over my shoulder to look at Nikoa, he shakes his head.

“Where is she?” I snarl.

“I don’t know.” Nova screams beneath me at his answer.

“Get off me!” The utter devastation in her tone is the only reason I release her and drop back onto my ass. She crawls away and turns her back to me, but then suddenly the sounds of hercries die out and her body turns rigid. Worry begins to gnaw at me when she pulls her phone from the pocket of the hoodie she wears, she frantically unlocks it and then dials a number bringing it to her ear.

“Pick up, pick up, please, Waylen,” she pleads.

Anger soars inside me. “Why the fuck are you calling that bitch?” I snarl. She ignores me and she continues chanting for him to answer his phone. She tosses her phone to the side and begins digging, I frown and look down to see the grave has a fresh mound of dirt. I look over my shoulder at my boys, Hayze and Archer have their masks off now and I can see they are all confused by the sight of the fresh dirt as well. This grave is one of the oldest in this place and looks the most daunting which is why we chose it.

“God, please… no… no,” Nova cries out as she continues to dig. I shift and try to reach for her but she shoves me away. “Fuck off,” she screams as tears trek down her face. “I will kill you if something happened to him,” she spits out.

“Who?” I snap.

“Waylen.” I recoil at her reply, I haven’t seen that bitch since Homecoming.

“Nova, what the fuck are you talking about?” She snaps her head to the side to glare up at Nikoa.

“That!” she hisses as she points toward the headstone. I look to where she is pointing and my brows hit my hairline. Carved into the headstone is four numbers.

4221

The same numbers she has tattooed on her and the same numbers I know mean everything to her and best friend.

“Get the shovels out of my trunk!” I snap at my boys, then I turn around and help her dig, praying to God that this is just a sick joke.

The loss she is about to feel is on her.

That’s what he said to Hayze. Tingles of unease work their way up my back as Archer, Nova, Nikoa and I continue to dig with our hands until Ez and Hayze get back with the shovels. We move out of their way but Nova doesn’t. Without thinking I wrap my arms around her waist and drag her back, ignoring her threats. She kicks and tries to hit me but I don’t relent.

“Let them dig, it will be faster,” Nikoa says from beside me.

“Where is my mom?” she snaps.

---