Page 19 of Giving In

Gorgeous villas and mansions unroll before my eyes one after the other. Huge fences, beautiful bushes. Gardens straight out of home magazines.

Find him.

Emily takes a corner. The last one before we enter our gated preparatory school.

Don’t do anything. Stay out of this. Danger warning.

The houses have disappeared. We’re now driving along the huge red brick wall behind which is Stoneview Prep. A place where I’m safe. A place where Volkov doesn’t belong. Where I can pretend I’m not still desperately trying to understand what happened that night.

Volkov is a ghost. This might be your one and only chance. Do something!

The gate opens quickly as the security guard sees the sticker on Emily’s car.

Breathe, Jamie. In. Out. In. Out. What is it you really want? Is it worth the risk? For answers? You wouldn’t just be looking into Volkov. You’d be looking into Jake’s past. He’s obviously hiding something dangerous.

Think.

Just. Think.

“We need to find out what Sam wants with Volkov,” I admit as we park in the school parking lot.

“Uh, no we don’t. We just agreed you should stay out of it.”

“Em,” I shake my head slowly trying to show her I’m sorry.

“Please, ‘Me, promise me you won’t.”

“I can’t,” I say closing my eyes for a few seconds. When I open them, I am determined. “I can’t possibly not get involved when it comes to this gang, Em, you know it. I’m sorry.”

“Jamie, these guys are dangerous! You don’t need to be told this, you’ve experienced it firsthand,” she insists. I automatically bring my hand to the scar under my bra strap. “Please, as your friend, I’m asking you to stay away.”

“Em, try to understand! How can you ask me this?” I flip.

I can’t and I won’t stay away from anything including Volkov. It’s hard enough to ever get close to something the Wolves are involved with, I finally have something to hold onto and adrenaline is thumping in my veins right now.

“I’m asking you because I’ve already lost one person to them, I’m not going to lose another because she’s too stupid to stay away!” She opens the door, gets out of the car, and slams it in anger. I jump at the strength she put in it and stay another minute to calm my nerves and boiling anger.

Emily and I ignore each other all morning but by lunch, I find her at our usual table. She’s looking apologetic and I know I have just as much apologizing to do as her. If not more.

“I’m sorry,” I sigh as I drop my tray on the table and let myself fall in the chair.

She looks up at me and takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry, ‘Me, but I’m scared. They went after your family once. What’s stopping them from doing it again if you put your nose in their business?”

“I shouldn’t have said anything. I know how you feel about this. And I would never want to scare or hurt you…” I continue.

“But,” she insists, knowing there’s more I want to say.

“But I lost my brother and my Dad, Em. I almost lost my life. The pain I see in my mom’s eyes when she talks about it, wondering where Aaron is or if he’s still alive...It’s killing me to watch her live a life without answers. I owe this to her.”

She’s about to say something but I cut her off.

“Look, I’m not putting myself in any danger. I won’t get even remotely close to Volkov’s gang. I just want to know more about Samuel Thomas’ business. If he’s going against them, you know what they say.”

“The enemies of my enemies are my friends,” she concludes in a big sigh.

I give her a nod in confirmation. She shakes her head for a few seconds before replying, “Ugh, fine. I’ll help you. Where do we start?”

“I guess for now our only link is the Whites.”

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