Page 120 of Unspoken Truths

“Missing something?” Theo asks, a slow, unkind smile overtaking his face as her breathing begins to get faster. “I don’t think breathing so hard is a sign of good health, Rachelle. Overweight teens are a real concern in this country.”

“I think running is a good cure for it though,” I add, taking a step forward as she steps back.

She’s not close enough to the cliff to our right to accidentally fall off it, which is a damn shame. I mean, it’s a plus. Now, to get her to run away from it instead of toward it.

“Leave me alone,” the little mouse rasps. “We aren’t in school, just lay off.”

“Can’t,” Theo murmurs. “The Kings’ attention is for as long as you’re alive, little mouse. Get used to it, or make your peace with dying.”

“Isn’t there an amount of time I have to live?” Rachelle asks, glancing toward the cliff. “If I die early, aren’t you all fucked?”

“Suicidal again?” I ask her. “I thought you were over that shit.”

“Didn’t you hear? I’m a petty bitch,” she says. “I’d rather you lose than get anything good. Jumping from the cliff means you lose? Bet your ass I’ll do it.”

“Wait!” Theo screams as she turns toward it. God, is she really crazy enough to fucking jump it?

How did we end up with someone so unstable?

“Why?” she asks. “I lived to see seventeen, that’s about all I can expect.”

“Damn you’re depresso,” I say. “Why the fuck aren’t you on meds?”

Theo and I are stalking toward her, both of us trying to distract her long enough to make her break toward the trees or grab her.

Lili fucks that up by screaming, “Run, Rachelle! Go!”

“Nowhere to go, but I’ll tell you what I can do for the birthday girl,” I croon, still moving forward as she steps back.

Fuck, she’s still too close to the edge.

“I’ll let you live another day if you’re able to outrun me,” I tell her.

“Collectively or just you?” she asks.

“Smart,” Theo mutters, impressed.

She is smart, and that’s one of the largest problems we have with her. She’s competition for our spots for top performers in our class. That’s why Jared ruined her grades. Now, it’s our mission to ruin any bright spots in her life too.

I’m not above using Lili to do it, either. She’s already screamed, may as well use it.

“If you’re a good little mouse, I won’t let Nacio and Jared fuck Lili’s face like a dirty little whore,” I add.

Fortunately, her face pales and she stumbles, catching herself before she goes down. I hate that she’s so damn selfless. I want her to run for herself, not because she’s worried about her girlfriend. Even I have a line I won’t cross.

Lili will always be safe from us because of our history, though Nacio may have fantasies of fucking her still. She doesn’t know that, though.

“Better run, Little Mouse,” Theo practically purrs. “It’s so cute that you’d rather protect someone other than yourself. Run to where the crossroads are at the other side of these woods.”

Leave it to him to have done some research on the park before we got here. Fucking love him.

“Please don’t hurt her,” Rachelle whispers.

“Only won’t if you get away,” I promise her, grinning as she hesitates for half a second more before dropping the water bottle and turning to run.

“We’ve got a live one!” I crow, so the guys in the woods can still hear me.

“Open wide, whore,” Nacio yells, playing along. I can hear Lili whimpering, the quiet woods amplifying the sounds.

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