Page 124 of The Invite
“Who’s she?” I ask in Scarlett’s ear.
“She’s a junior.”
Daisy hops over the fallen bright yellow tape and gazes nervously at us individuallyfrom behind her nerdy glasses, as though we’ll pounce on her at any second. I frown at the book she’s holding in her hand. A flash of a Gothic castle on the cover catches my eye.
Who brings a goddamn book to read at a crime scene?
“How long have you been listening to us?” demands Kaid darkly.
She swallows and stares at him wide-eyed and guiltily. “Long enough to confirm I’m not the only one invited to play the game.”
“Fucking hell,” cries Wolf. “Is everyone receiving notes besides me?”
“Feeling left out, Tanner?” jibes Maverick.
“What’s your secret then, Daisy?” I ask her, cutting off the bickering.
“What?” she stammers.
“What is Anonymous holding over your head?”
“Do you not believe me?”
In my peripheral, Kaid crosses his arms and probes, “What skeleton could you possibly have buried in your closet?You’re the odd one out here. We’re all seniors from the same class and you’re a junior who nobody knows about.”
The color drains from her cheeks as she scrambles for an answer. Finally, she utters, “Well… I’m not telling you.”
Hmm, so she has a little backbone.
“You want proof. Here it is.” Flipping open her book, she pulls out the black envelope and waves it at us.
“Should we send a search party to ensure nobody else is hiding or waiting to pop up?” mumbles Capri. “Otherwise, the eight of us are targets.”
“Six,” I correct.
“Did you forget how to count?”
I brush off the insult. “Wolf and Maverick didn’t get the notes. So, they’re out.”
“Right,” she mutters low, nose pinkening.
I notice how she’s keeping her back to the back of the classroom. She’s hiding well how distressing it is being inches away from where her sister was killed.
“Can we all agree none of us are giving in to Anonymous’s demands?” I ask everyone in the room.
Some nod and some whisper yes.
“What are you suggesting, Grayson?” asks Kaid suspiciously, arms folded over his chest.
I shrug. “We work together to catch him.”
“Who’s to say you and your sister won’t stab us in the back?” Wolf asks. Capri nods along and glares at us.
“I can ask you both the same. But I’m willing to take that risk.”
“Because we have no other choice,” states Kaid, agreeing with me.
“Sort of like the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” murmurs Daisy with palpable excitement in her round eyes. “Right?”
