Page 320 of Filthy Elites

The message goes through and I wait for him to text back, but instead, my phone rings.

I swipe the screen and put it to my ear. “Hey.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

My stomach drops at the coolness in his tone. “The note you sent over at lunch. You—you asked me to meet you at the beach so we could watch the sunset together.”

“You’re on my beach? Right now? Where are you, exactly?”

“By the rocks.”

“Did the note say to meet me at the rocks?”

“No, it said the cave. I didn’t want to cross the rocks if you weren’t over there because I know last time—”

“Get the fuck away from the rocks, Aubrey. Come back toward the steps. Do it quickly. I’ll be down in a minute.”

My stomach sinks. I look around, a bit paranoid, but it sounds like he doesn’t have the first clue what I’m talking about. I don’t see anyone else on the beach, but I turn and hurry back toward the stairs, anyway.

I watch Dare hurry down the steps along the cliff down to the beach with a knot of concern in my tummy. The stairs are steep, and I know he’s an athlete, but he should still take them carefully. I’m relieved when he hits the sand, but he runs to get to me quicker, then pulls me into his arms protectively and surveys the beach.

“Do you have the note on you?” he asks.

I nod, reaching into my purse and drawing it out.

He grabs it, looks at it, and shakes his head. “This isn’t my handwriting.” His gaze flickers to me. “Who gave this to you?”

“I don’t know his name. A chubby kid with glasses and freckles. He’s given me stuff from you before.”

“Okay. Fuck.” He looks out at the water, then around the beach one more time. Still seeing no one, he keeps his arm around me and takes me back to the steps. “Let’s go. You walk ahead of me. If you get a message like this from me again, don’t just automatically listen to it. Clear it with me first in person or on a call, but make sure you hear my voice. No texts, no notes.”

“This isn’t from you?”

He shakes his head, his expression grim.

That’s so confusing. “But why would someone else send this to me?”

“It’s from Anae,” he says simply. “She copies handwriting pretty well.”

“And she used your soldier?”

“Apparently,” he says, his tone grim. “You’ll get something from him again tomorrow. Don’t let on that you know he’s been compromised. Don’t talk to him for long, but if he lingers near you with you ignoring him, that would be ideal. Keep the sheet of paper he gives you. I’ll need it back.”

My head is spinning, but I don’t question him, I just hurry up the steps. Knowing Anae sent me here and not him is creepy.

Why did she want me here? What was the purpose of that?

Doesn’t seem like it could have been good.

I hate to admit it, but I’m a little scared. “How unhinged is she?”

“Severely.”

We make it to his yard. I take a cautious look around, but seeing no apparent danger, I turn back to look at him. “Do you think she wanted to hurt me?”

“Possibly.” He drapes his arm around my waist and pulls me close. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you. But you need to listen to everything I tell you and follow my directions exactly.”

I lean on him, nodding my head as I rest my face on his hard chest.

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