Page 66 of Frayed Owner

Unknown: Hopefully that shows I will keep with what I said and we will be on the same side.

Unknown: It’s not like this is the first time I’ve helped you after all.

Jean. It was Jean who sent the information about Kevin.

The air left my lungs in a whoosh.

I knew she wanted an instant response from me. The timing wasn’t an accident. She was doing this intentionally, being the one to get it to me first.

It was all part of a plan and a move of hers.

Possibly also a test.

But of what? How fast I would react? If I would always be reactive and jump in without thinking like I had with Kevin? How much she could get me to give if she offered me any good deed that sheshouldalready give?

All of the above?

That seemed the most likely answer with Jean.

I went to breakfast and couldn’t hide that I was distracted, shaking my head when people asked me what was wrong. I barely paid attention in Wyatt’s lecture, feeling his gaze a few times and even Quinn’s worry.

Then I realized he might be the answer. He knew her from school.

Clearly, none of us had known the real Jean… But he still knew her.

I waited after class, asking if he had a moment to talk. He studied me and nodded, deciding to discuss my latest independent study paper and asking where I would like to take things next since I was going to get more credit. He’d already apologized for giving me too much work for one credit and we were fine.

“What’s really going on? Your head was a million miles away,” he worried when we were alone.

“Jean was the one who sent me the text warning about Kevin. It’s not her normal number,” I explained as I handed him my unlocked phone with it already pulled up.

“I saw the video already,” he muttered after playing it a bit. “I’m not sure why you’re asking me. I’m not—”

I reached out and snagged my phone. “Sorry to have bothered you. I still thought you were on my side even if—”

“I’m notinvolvedin the updates or what is currently going on with this topic,” he said firmly, cutting in and talking over me.

Shit. I was the bitch. “Sorry.” I let out a slow breath. “Sorry. Really. You’re just hard to read and…” I apologized again when he didn’t say anything.

He nodded and let out a slow breath, not annoyed, but more like he didn’t know how to approach me either. “Jean is smart. She’s a manipulative bitch and one of my least favorite people. Always assume she has an agenda.” He snorted. “That’s true of anyone from our families, but the most dangerous adversaries are the smart ones.”

And Jean was smart.

“But you’re no idiot, Bevin. You outsmarted all of them in a way I never could have. Yes, you had your grandfather’s help when you were young, but you went at it alone basically to get free. Tracey was waiting in the wings. I made amessof getting free and I was older than you. I only was saved at the last second by Kerwynn and got out. Trust your instincts.”

“She wants the win of getting the ban on the Shaw family lifted. She still wants to use my company as a pawn later,” I told him. “That’s what my gut is telling me. She still has it on her chessboard to rewrite history and make it clear she did it all somehow.”

“Then make damn sure that’s all taken away from her and she can’t ever. Yes, you’ve done it with the High Council, but do more. Don’t make it public that they’re funding your spa expansion. I bet they’ll want to but keep more layers in your back pocket so if she ever tries to pull the rug out from under you, she will fall through several floors in doing so.”

“Thank you,” I sighed, relief flooding me to have that layer of clarity. “Really, I appreciate it. I’ll see you tonight for our session.”

“We don’t have one tonight. It’s Friday. Your spa night.”

Oh shit. I winced. “Right, sorry, I get all—overloaded. I’m so fucking overloaded.” I gave an awkward chuckle and thanked him again before racing off.

I didn’t have to attend Latin III anymore because of the deal I’d struck with Professor Daly. It was a worthwhile deal, and luckily things were going well for her daughter and familiar. I was going to suggest to Tracey soon that we have a session to help her if we could figure out some way to keep me hidden. I couldn’t glamour while using that kind of magic.

But there had to be some sort of way to still protect me. A forgetful spell on the room she would enter—something. We should have a plan for emergencies if nothing else.

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