Page 89 of The Hate We Breathe
Despite the lack of alcohol provided at the ‘bar’, it’s clear that several of the dancers are intoxicated. They grind together, glassy-eyed under the strobe lights as girls in short white and blue dresses bounce against their male counterparts.
“Where the fuck are the chaperones?” I mutter absently. Even Silverwood Prep always had adults at school-sanctioned events. They were, of course, easily bribed to look the other way when students brought in drugs or alcohol, but at least they were there and somewhat mentally present. I catch sight of a few staff that I’ve seen before—a librarian and a teacher that I’ve seen in the halls, but never had a class with.
There are a handful of other adults lingering against walls, their phones glowing against their faces as they focus on anything but the party in front of them. No one’s watching. No one even seems to care. I don’t even catch sight of Principal Long, which is the most shocking part.
The music shifts, changing to a slower, sultry beat and a few of the dancers groan and shuffle off the dance floor. More than half stick around, though, and move into an almost lethargic bump and grind. I’ve been to more than my fair share of parties before, but there’s something about tonight that has me on edge.
It probably has something to do with the fact that we’re about to come face to face with the person who’s made my life a living nightmare. Either way, I feel an edgy sensation creeping up my spine. Like someone’s gaze is slithering over my skin or invisible nails are trailing up my spine. It makes my stomach feel tight and queasy and my palms damp.
Nolan leads us around another decorated pillar and I spy a familiar face in the crowd of dancers. My upper lip curls back. Hudson Grey. He’s got his arm wrapped around a pretty redhead, his head thrown back as he laughs loud enough to be heard over the ear-piercing music. I narrow my gaze on him in annoyance.
Thankfully, there’s no sight of Roquel. Some friends might think it’s best to act as if your heart isn’t broken, but for her sake, I hope she decided to dip tonight. I’m sure seeing Hudson would only upset her.
“Everything okay?” Lex’s voice is a rasp in my ear as he moves up to my side and laces his fingers through mine.
“Fine,” I say, shaking my head. Hudson Grey is not a priority.
Nolan’s hand slides away from my back as he moves ahead of us, calling back over his shoulder, “This way.”
We follow and he directs us towards what looks like a door to an employees’ hallway. He stops us with a fist raised, checking that it’s unlocked and clear before the four of us hustle in. The second the door closes at our backs, the blaring music is dampened and I can think again. I squeeze Lex’s hand in mine.
Nolan checks his phone and nods. “We’ve got fifteen minutes until we’re supposed to meet them,” he states, lifting his head and glancing at Gio. “Do you have everything you need?”
Gio reaches into his suit coat—taken back after we’d arrived—and pulls out a small black box of a device with a screen that’s only about the size of a thumbnail and a red light at the top.“Want me to start recording now before we get to the room?” he asks.
“Let’s wait a bit,” Nolan murmurs. “We need to get inside a little early anyway to hide Juliet.”
“Do you really think this is going to work?” My voice sounds steadier than I feel. “That they’ll believe the three of you aren’t with me?”
Lex’s thumb caresses the back of my hand. His eyes gleam with that dangerous calm of his that makes me wish this fucker was already dead—not that we’re going to kill them, but I haven’t completely ruled murder out as an option. “Are you worried they won’t show up?” he asks softly, but there’s steel beneath it.
“It just feels… too easy,” I admit, my brow furrowing as I try to peel back the layers of my unease for a reason.
“Easy?” Gio snorts, the sound loud and echoey down the barren hallway that’s unadorned by any of the regular decor that’s present for hotel guests. “This has been anythingbuteasy, Prep Girl. Lex spent hours working on that fucking flash drive just to get a damn email address. Then it took several accounts—false leads and bait messages—just to get this fucker to agree to a meeting.”
The hallway stretches around us, the hard concrete floor beneath my heels making the arches of my feet ache. “No, I…” I inhale and slowly release the breath. “I know, but you don’t think it’s odd either?”
Nolan’s crimson-brown gaze is centered on me. “What’s odd, Juliet?”
I gesture around us. “Why here?” I ask. “Why the winter formal? If they wanted privacy, they could’ve picked anywhere else. Why a ballroom filled with half the school?”
“We’re not meeting them in the ballroom,” Gio says. “We’re meeting them in?—”
“The greenhouse attached,” I huff, cutting him off. “I know, but it’s weird that they chose the night that most of the school will be in one locationawayfrom Silverwood, isn’t it?”
Lex and Nolan exchange a look and Gio snaps his lips shut as his expression takes on one of contemplation. “Most everything has happened in Silverwood at this point,” Lex points out, his eyes still on Nolan’s face. “Save for Morpheus’ death.”
Nolan’s voice cuts through, low and certain. “Whoever it is still has to have ties to Silverwood and everyone in town knows that Silverwood Public’s winter formal is a somewhat public event. Yes, it’s reserved for students of the school, but everyone in town would know when and where it is.”
“We don’t know the layout,” Gio mutters, and all of our heads whip towards him.
“What?” Nolan demands.
Gio blinks and realizes that we’re all staring at him. “If this meeting were to happen anywhere else in Silverwood—we’d probably know more about the location. Layout, employees, hours. The fact that we’re here—in the city—instead of Silverwood, might be because they know that the SPD doesn’t have jurisdiction here.”
He’s right and that only makes the unease I’m feeling grow stronger—coiling around me, clawing down my spine, gnawing at my ribs until I can barely breathe.
Why do I have the distinct feeling that whoever this is already has a plan in place? Why do I feel like we’re playing a game and we’re already several paces behind?
