Page 95 of Speak

Maverick: Wouldn’t want you to decide to go cliff diving again.

That bastard.

I freeze, wondering how Maverick got my number as I save it. My eyes narrow at Damon’s name when I see Axel’s pop up. Mythumb hesitates over the answer button. I know what this call is about, and I really thought he’d call sooner. I’ve been dreading it all weekend. I decide to answer.

“Hey sis.” He greets me sadly and I smile at him. His hair is longer, a darker shade, browner than blonde, and looks as though he’s been running his fingers through it all day. From what I can see, he’s in his own lake house just outside of Hartford, in his home office. “I’m sure you’ve heard Tyler Prescott was found dead Saturday morning in his hotel suite?”

I prop my phone up and nod.

“His funeral is Wednesday but his wake is tomorrow and I really need you to come with us.”

I bring my hand up and point from one shoulder to the other.Us?

I hear my door open and Jonas comes bearing a large quantity of food that he places on my coffee table. “Hey baby, I’m back. I thought I told you to be in bed. You need your rest.”

I most certainly do not. As a matter of fact, I’m ready for more. Something about fucking the cum that’s been leaking out into my panties back into me. I can’t help biting my lip.

He saunters over, “I missed you,” he says and kisses my temple then sees Axel’s face. “Oh hey.”

“Hey, Jonas. I was telling Raven she needs to come with us to Tyler’s wake tomorrow.”

Jonas’ smile drops into a frown. “Wow. That fast?”

“Our parents are flying in from the Maldives to attend and Raven needs to be there.”

Oh. So that’s where they’ve been. Not that I get updates or anything anymore.

“She absolutely doesnotneed to be there.” Jonas replies, eyes narrowed and dark at the screen. At my brother.

“Jonas…”

The sudden change in Jonas has me staring at him. “Riordan attacked Raven today on the fucking quad while we were in line getting our coffee.” He goes into a tangent, telling him everything that happened, including Riordan being suspended but leaving out Damon.

“Christ.”

“He has it in his mind that Raven had something to do with Chase’s death.”

Axel’s stare bounces between me and Jonas and for some reason, this feeling, deep down inside me makes me feel as though Jonas should not have told him that. My brother. My best friend. My rock. “That’s fucking impossible.”

“Raven went down there to play her cello and found him belly up in the pond like a bloated fish. She ran to me, from the pond all the way to my dorm, dragged me out of bed and had me call 911. He’d already been dead for a while. His eyes…" Jonas shakes his head.

Riordan thinks I had something to do with Chase because Chase was stalking me and I think Riordan knows he was.

I’m glad Axel doesn’t react to my signing an entire sentence but reacts to what I told him. “What the fuck, Raven? Why didn’t you go to the cops? Do you have proof?”

“I really have to get better with my ASL.” Jonas groans.

I nod at them, both answering Axel’s question and telling Jonas he absolutely should learn ASL.

Plus, the school should have footage of him sneaking into my dorm room while I was sleeping.

“Ray… no… please don’t tell me he…”

He didn’t get that far,I sign quickly.I’d wake up to find him sitting on my desk chair staring at me or he’d be in bed with me… touching me.

“He touched you?”

“HE DIDWHAT?” Jonas growls. His breath sharpens and he looks like he was punched in the gut. “Please fucking interpret or I’m going to hire a full-time interpreter andnoneof these conversations are going to be private.”

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