Page 122 of The Reluctant Hero

His grim rationalization hits me in the chest.

That feelin’ of razors shredding me from the inside out stopped when I saw her. Now it’s back with a vengeance.

“This is all wrong, Mik,” I turn to glare at him. Takin’ my pain out on a man that’s sufferin’ worse than I am.

I know he’s ready to believe anythin’ those computer techs are feedin’ them. Cade and Gabe have already given in like cowards, ready to hit her hard.

“Too many coincidences,” he mutters, staring at the building in front of us. “The lie about the lawyers. The highlighting. Now this? On the day that Gabe would be the most vulnerable? Unable to pay attention until it was too late? Shecould have found out about his mother’s death with an internet search. Everything is piling up, Ace. I know you see it.”

Yeah. I see my girl gettin’ a bad hand dealt to her. This is a fuckin’ bluff, and they’re all still makin’ bets. They’re so damn determined to say she’s guilty. How do I fight back without breakin’ everythin’ we’ve built up for ourselves?

I’m stuck on the choppin’ block either way I turn.

Mik turns to me with a solemn expression. “We both know he won’t hurt her. He can’t. None of us can.”

That’s a matter of perspective.

“At the worst, he’ll put her in jail as a punishment. I bet it won’t last a day. And then he’ll drag her home and lock her ass up with us.”

“It’ll be too late after that,” I snarl back. “I don’t want my girl thinkin’ she can’t trust us.”

“You might not get the choice,” his voice turns grim. “One day in a solo cell won’t hurt her, Ace.”

“We don’t know if she’s guilty of anythin’,” I grit my teeth, shovin’ the door open to get out. I barely catch his resigned sigh.

We move side by side as we approach the building.

“I’ll talk to the landlord. Find out if he’s noticed anything unusual. You check her apartment for any clues.”

He’s gone back to his normal. Like this is just another job to get through.

My teeth start grindin’ in frustration. Would they even believe me if I said I didn’t find anythin’?

27

Clique

Amanda

I’m not sure what to do next. As if my life wasn’t fucked up enough already.

I don’t get any sleep. My alarm goes off on Saturday to remind me I’m supposed to meet South at the gym today.

I get ready for exercise and catch a whiff of Gabe’s cologne. I showered last night like I was trying to flood the bathroom, and I can still smell him on my skin.

My brain and heart are both confused messes, and I want to shut them up for a little while. Exercising until I pass out seems like the best idea. Maybe South will know what to do. Scratch that. MaybeShadewill know.

I’m on the mats without shoes, pacing back and forth way too early. The first people I see are Asher and Max.

“Well, if it isn’t the wedding planner,” Max taunts me with a laugh.

Asher is looking at me curiously.

“Is something wrong?” He asks in a calm tone that rubs me the wrong way.

“Try my life. Number one answer,” I snap back and keep pacing.

I can see them exchanging a confused glance and blue hair right behind them.

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