Page 241 of Did They Break You

I run my tongue over my lip ring and watch as Maya’s eyes track the movement. “I don’t know,” I tell her, leaning downclose, my face inches from hers. “Something that’s really been bothering me lately.”

I look down between us as she shakes her head. “Well what is it, Cort?” she asks. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

I smile at that, flicking my gaze back up to hers. “I like that about you, Maya. Always so willing torun your goddamn mouth.”

She flinches, as if I touched her.

“But what I want to know is how the fuck Chase McGowan knew which dorm was Remi’s?”I glance at the building at her back as her face goes pale.

She lives in an apartment within walking distance. But the only way she’dknowwhere Remi lived before that fire is if she’d followed her. Because I know Remi. And I know she wouldn’t tell justanyonewhere she lived. I know Maya knows where that is. Because she’s the one who toldme.

And I see it.

The lie she’s trying to form. The way she blinks, furrowing her brow.

I step closer to Maya, until my chest is nearly brushing hers. “Answer the question, Maya,” I say softly. “How did Chase know?”

Maya shakes her head. “I don’t?—”

“He asked me for permission, you know,” I interrupt her bullshit. I swallow, trying to breathe evenly. Like Dr. Ravi taught me. “He asked me for permission for you tosuck his fucking dick.”

Maya’s cheeks turn red as I stare at her.

“You tell him where she lived when you were fucking him?” I demand.

She shakes her head and opens her mouth.

“And how didyouknow, huh, Maya?”

I canfeelmy blood pressure rise as I stare at her, waiting for the truth.

Seconds pass.

Maya says nothing.

A few students walk past us, eyeing us curiously, but I don’t move.

I lower my voice as I ask her again.“How did you know where Remi’s dorm was, and how. The fuck. Did Chase. Fucking. McGowan. Know?”

Maya is shaking now between my hands planted on either side of her, and I’m glad.

It feels good to watch her go through what Remi went through. I know that makes me fucked in the head, but for Remi,I was always that.

“I didn’t know what he was gonna do, Cortland,” she whispers, her words coming out in a rush as she crosses her arms over her chest.

I want to fucking kill her.

Just like I wanted to kill Chase in that bathroom.

Looks likeallthe wolves at West River High might die.

“I didn’t know he was going to burn it down and I-I just… I saw her walk there… with S-Sloane. I wasn’t watching her, I just?—”

I slam my hands against the brick beside her head and watch her flinch. “You come near her again, you even fuckingthinkabout her again, Maya…” I lean in close enough that she can feel my breath on her face.“I’ll fucking bury you.”

CHAPTER

SEVENTY-ONE

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