Page 47 of Giving In

“The phone isn’t here, Rose. Where did you put it?” Chris asks.

“In my bag, I told you.”

“It’s not in your bag.”

“Ugh, of course it is. I put it there before practice,” she huffs as she joins Chris and picks her bag up from the floor.

She looks through it, picks up stuff from the floor, pats her pockets.

“Shit,” she concludes. “Shit, shit, shit.” She goes through the bag again but nothing.

“Are you sure you put it there?” I ask.

She’s now running her hand through her hair in panic. “Yes! Before practice, I put it in my shoes and then I put my shoes in my bag. I didn’t bother switching my sneakers after practice.”

She grabs her everyday shoes on the floor and looks inside but nothing. “Someone’s taken it,” she drops. “It’s gone.”

“You lost it,” I scowl. “Could you possibly get more annoying?”

“Fuck off, I didn’t lose it, someone took it!”

“Jake, back off,” Chris says calmly. “Rose, you put it in your shoe before practice, and did you check after?”

“No, I just threw my shoes in my bag,” she admits.

She thinks a few seconds and seems to come to a conclusion.

“Fuck,” she turns to me. “Jamie, that...ugh,” she huffs in frustration. “She left practice early. It’s her. I know it’s her. No one would fucking dare steal shit from me. But that bitch? And she asked me questions about you and your gun. She knows shit, Jake. She must have gotten into my locker. She took it.”

I don’t need to question Ozy again. She’s not stupid. In fact, she’s a damn genius and if this is her conclusion there is no second-guessing her. It wouldn’t be the first time Jamie Williams puts her nose in our business. I don’t know for what reason she would do this, but I clearly haven’t scared her nearly enough. And here I was, thinking I went too far.

“I’ll handle it,” I say coldly.

“No, you won’t,” Chris interjects. “I’ll talk to her. You stay the fuck away, Jake.”

“Sure,” I mutter without meaning it.

He scowls at me. He knows I’m not leaving her alone but what is he gonna do about it?

Oh, Angel, you have no idea how bad you fucked up. No idea what’s coming onto you.

CHAPTER 10

‘I feel danger on your lips

But it tastes good’

Casanova – Allie X, VÉRITÉ

Jamie

I’m in bed on the phone with mom when the burner phone beeps on my bedside table.

“Mom let me call you back. Love you.” I hurriedly hang up and grab the burner phone.

Unknown:This is your last chance. Friday night. V’s strip club in Silver Falls. Roy will drive. Try to fit in.

Ew, this guy is sending a teenager to a strip clubandasking her to dress the part. I’m instantly brought back to Sam reminding Rose she was in love with him. How? Why? You must be a certain shade of fucked up that I don’t quite understand.

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