Page 149 of Close

“She lied to me.” I flex my hand, blood starting to trickle down my wrist. “She’s been lying this whole fucking time.”

Brandon looks at the ruined wall, then at me. “What are you talking about?”

“Lil and Jason. They’re engaged. Have been for a year, apparently.”

“What the fuck?” Brandon’s eyes widen.

“I saw the proof. My dad…” I shake my head. “He showed me the announcement. It’s real. And not only that, she told her uncle something she shouldn’t have.” I don’t know what to believe anymore.

I turn to Connor, my eyes narrowing. “Verify it.”

Connor stands there like a fucking statue, his face pale.

Brandon frowns at him. “Dude, what’s wrong with you?”

“Connor.” My voice is low, dangerous. “What do you know?”

“I found out last night.”

“Found out what?” Brandon asks.

“About Lil and Jason. Their engagement.”

My hands curl into fists at my sides. “And you didn’t think to fucking tell me?”

“Your dad hired me to do it, Bash. To look out for you. I was going to tell you today, but…” He shakes his head. “I didn’t think he’d get to you first.”

“What else?” I take a step towards him, my jaw clenched. “What else did you find?”

Connor looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here. “Not just the announcement. There were emails, too. Between Jason’s dad and Lil’s uncle.”

“Emails about what?” Brandon asks, but I think I already know the answer.

“The engagement. How it strengthens their partnership or some shit.” Connor finally meets my gaze, his expression grim. “And a new one, from Marc Edmunds to Henry Campbell. About the deal.”

My blood runs cold. “What about it?”

“Edmunds told Campbell. Said he got it from his niece.”

The world tilts on its axis, and I stumble back, my hand finding the wall for support. “No.”

“Bash…” Brandon starts, but I hold up a hand, cutting him off.

“She wouldn’t do that.” My voice sounds distant, even to my own ears. “She wouldn’t betray me like that.”

“I’m sorry, man.” Connor’s voice is soft, almost pitying. “But it’s all true. I mean it makes sense if you think about it.”

I close my eyes, trying to process it all. The engagement. The emails. The betrayal.

Beginner’s luck? I fucking believed her.

Jason probably already had her.

It’s too much. Too fucking much.

“Get out,” I say quietly.

“Sebastian—”

---