Page 126 of My Brother's Best Friend

Yep, they were still in the same fight as yesterday.

I leaned against the whiteboard, stuffed my hands into my pockets, and pursed my lips, not wanting to get involved in their drama too. I had way too much of my own right now. Maddie had barely said two words to me since our argument at the hospital yesterday.

While I knew that she just wanted to fight for her friends, it was too dangerous. Because the enemies were brawling with bullets and willing to kill a group of good girls, and neither one of us knew how to properly hold a gun. Never mind how to shoot to kill.

“You hear anything, message Kai,” Landon said to Mr. Avery. “We’ll make sure that nothing happens to Sakura in the meantime.”

“The girls are supposed to go to the hospital after school,” Jace said.

“Maddie is probably going to talk Sakura into going with them,” I said.

“Allie too.” Jace nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on her if you need extra time, Avery.”

“Don’t let anyone touch her,” Mr. Avery said. “I’ll be at the hospital for Sakura’s doctor’s appointment at five thirty. And if I’m even two minutes late”—he looked over at João—“that’ll mean something happened to me, and you’d better take Sakura and the girls somewhere safe.”

CHAPTER77

MADDIE

Allie and I sat alone at our table during lunch. Blaise had skipped school to be with Vera in the hospital. Imani had stayed home to heal up a bit more. The guys were nowhere to be found. And Nicole still hadn’t answered us.

I pushed around some mashed potatoes on my plate and frowned. “You think …”

“Hmm?” Allie asked in a daze, peering up at me.

“Forget it,” I mumbled, not even knowing what I had planned to say.

My eyes were heavy, and I wanted to sleep for days without having to worry about someone trying to take me out with the rest of the good girls at Redwood. I drew a hand across my face and glanced down at my phone when it buzzed on the table.

Unknown: Meet me at the park tonight. Alone.

Did this bitch really think I was stupid enough to meet her—or him—at the park in the dark?! Especially after we had all just gotten shot at in the police chief’s front yard and yet nobody at Redwood seemed to know about it?

Seemed fishy to me.

Unknown: 8 p.m.

When the second message rolled in, I bit my tongue and replied.

Me: No, bitch.

Then, I blocked the number, which I should’ve done a long, long time ago. Sandra had done it once, but this shithead had still texted me from a second number. Besides, I didn’t have time for this absolute bullshit and this nonstop drama. First, Alec being assaulted. Then, Piper and us getting shot at. I didn’t need an insecure asshole trying to distract me.

Or plotting to kill me.

A couple of moments later, Sakura wandered into the cafeteria in a large sweatshirt that covered her growing belly and a brown-bagged lunch. She slid onto the seat next to Allie and frowned. “The guys are talking to Callan right now, if you are looking for them.”

“Thanks,” I said with a half-smile.

Though I wanted to knowwhatthey were talking about. While Alec had stayed with me last night, we’d barely talked to each other since our fight at the hospital. He didn’t like that I wanted to help take charge, and I understood his reasons.

But my friends had almost been killed yesterday while we were just checking on Nicole. We hadn’t even been trying to hunt anyone down, beat anyone up, or kill the rich. We’d wanted to do something nice, and we’d gotten fucked for it.

“How’re the others?” Sakura whispered, lips trembling. “Callan said that they were shot.”

“They’re recovering in the hospital,” Allie said.

Suddenly, Sakura burst out into a fit of tears, sniffling with her head hanging. Allie moved closer to her and gently rubbed her back while I frowned and thought about Vera sitting in the hospital room without me. Sure, she had Blaise, but I wanted to be with her too.

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