Page 230 of The Invite
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Later that night, Augustus and I are lying in my bed when he passes me the familiar black envelope. “He’s pitting us against each other.”
“What do you mean?” I act confused, even though I know the answer.
“The plan backfired but not in the way we wanted.” Sitting up against the headboard, he stares down impassively. “Unless I uncover Kenny’s secret or kill him, he will blast mine to the public.”
Playing my part by wearing an outraged and scared expression, I gasp, “By when?”
“Before The Massacre Ball.”
Believing it to be the perfect opportunity, I ask, “Do you think he knows your secret?” A tight nod. My gut knots. “Are you sure?”
“Read it.” He flicks his chin to the letter. “Then I’ll tell you the whole story.”
I hesitate, looking at him. “You don’t have to if you aren’t ready.”
“You told me your past. It’s my turn.”
Folding my legs in a crisscross pattern, I flip open the envelope and take out the letter. Augustus’s expression is sealed when I glance at him before focusing on the message.
The mighty Augustus Grayson,
Teaming up against me?
How you’ve disappointed me.
All of you have.
I really thought mean little Scarlett would be the one to fuck up.
Yet she turned out to be a good little girl.
Take some tips, won’t ya?
Then again, she’s alwayyysss been a good girl, hasn’t she?
You’d know.
You buried her last mistake, after all.
Having trouble remembering?
Missing a memory?
Missing! See what I did there?
I know the skeleton in your closet and its name is Matthew.
One tap of my finger and the rats will come sniffing.
Is that what you want?
Is it?
Unlike all of you, my secrets aren’t fake.
So, let’s try this again, shall we?
