Page 51 of The Sinner (Haven Grace Prep 1)

It’s not the furthest thing from the truth. I did drop her off, and she did go inside alone, until I turned my damn car around like something from Fast and Furious and waited for her inside her room. She’s simply leaving out the details between when she went in and when she fell asleep.

“All right, all right,” Carter caves. “You two didn’t bang. Fine.”

I can’t help but chuckle. “Why do you sound so disappointed?”

Jace ruffles Carter’s hair and grins. “He lives in this world where Savannah is completely untouchable by anyone other than Brady Laurence. If you got with her, then maybe he has a shot.”

“Fuck off, that’s not true,” Carter argues, but Savannah is grinning from ear to ear.

“Aw, my little Cartercakes.” She reaches forward and pinches his cheeks, making him blush.

It’s as innocent as something you’d see between kids at a playground, but tell that to the green-eyed monster inside of me, who wants to grab Carter by the throat. I look away and try to calm myself down, but it isn’t easy. She needs to keep her hands to herself.

“Well, well. If it isn’t my good friend Savannah.” I glance over to see a kid, who looks about fifteen, coming toward us.

He’s not wearing a uniform, which means he’s from NHH, and judging by the look on her face, they’re anything but good friends. She rolls her eyes and tries to seem unaffected, but I can tell she’s nervous.

“What do you want, Trey?”

He looks like a douchebag as he comes and plasters himself against her side, way too close for my liking. “I thought you’d want to introduce me to your friends.”

“I’d really rather not.”

“Oh, come on,” he presses. “Don’t be like that, neighbor.”

Everyone looks at him, confused, except me. I’m ready to kill the fucker.

“What is he talking about, Sav?”

She looks to me for saving, but even I’m not sure what to do. In perfect timing, Knox jogs across the street. He calls out Trey’s name, and it looks like this kid is about to piss himself.

“Sorry, guys, this little fucker likes to start shit,” he explains, grabbing him by the back of the neck and dragging him back across the street.

Carter glares at Knox. “Keep your trash on the other side of the street, Vaughn.”

“Yup! Will do!”

Savannah sighs when she notices the threat is gone, and the conversation returns to normal, but I’m not completely satisfied. Had he outed her secret, I would have nothing left on her. Judging by her recent actions, she’s unfazed by what we have going on behind closed doors. That secret is mine and mine alone. The only one that gets to fuck with her is me, and this little dipstick needs to learn that.

I take out my phone and send a quick text to Knox.

Grayson: I want to see that shithead in 20 minutes. No witnesses.

Watching him from where I stand, he reads my message and nods.

AFTER SEPARATING FROM EVERYONE else and waiting in my car for a bit, Knox sends me a location. When I get there, it’s just him and Trey—whose fear can almost be smelled, it’s so palpable. He turns around, and his eyes widen when he realizes who I am.

“I’ll keep a lookout,” Knox tells me, snickering and shaking his head as he walks away.

As I stalk toward Trey, he tries to take a few steps back. “Listen, man. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just messing around.”

I grip him by his shirt collar and slam him up against the brick wall. “Tell me what the fuck you know.”

“I don’t know anything,” he pleads. “Just that I moved into a shitty neighborhood and found out that the most popular girl of Haven Grace Prep lives right next door. That’s all, I swear.”

Trying to pry my arm off, he doesn’t get anywhere. I pull him off the wall only to push him right back into it, grinning evilly as he bangs his head. “You leave her the fuck alone; do you understand me? And if I find out you’re telling anyone what you know, I’ll make it so no one hears from you again.”

He nods rapidly, and I drop him to the ground. Feeling satisfied, I leave him to tend to what is probably a killer headache. Knox is around the corner, and when he sees me approach, he smirks.

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