Page 57 of Poor Little Rich Girl

“You should, but you’re not going to.” I jab a forkful of pancake in Eli’s direction. “Not unless you want another visit from my family friends. I’m not having some stranger root around in my lady bits.”

Noah grinds his teeth, and I notice he hasn’t touched a bite. The air twangs with tension, like a bowstring pulled taut. Gabriel slouches over the end of the table, but even he looks uncomfortable.

“What?” I glare between the three faces. “How was I supposed to know you’d all turn into my knights in Armani armor?”

“I’m not hungry.” Noah pushes his plate away and stalks off to the bathroom. A moment later, the door slams behind him.

Eli winces. “He just got a call from the hospital. His stepmom, Grace, is being discharged after the scare your ‘friends’ gave her.”

“If you want me to feel sorry for doing that, it’s not going to happen. Alec came to my house and hurt my cat.”

Eli taps the table with his fingers. “I’m starting to wonder about that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did Alec really do it? He would’ve boasted about it if he had, posted photos on Facebook, nicked some of your panties.”

“Gross.”

“Exactly. That’s Alec for you, and that’s why it’s odd that none of us heard a peep. And since I didn’t tell him about the secret entrance—” Eli glares at Gabriel, silencing him before he can say something crass, “—how did he get in?”

“I haven’t decided I believe you about the secret entrance,” I glare at him. “I saw Alec run away – he vaulted the wall like a pro, and he was wearing his letterman jacket.”

“Alec had his jacket stolen,” Eli says.

I snort. “Oh, sure. I believe that. He can’t wear it because it’s covered in my cat’s blood.”

“Is it possible that Alec wasn’t responsible for breaking into your house?”

“Who else could it—” I choke on my pancake.

I know exactly who it is.

Brutus.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck, fuckedy, fucklestein.

I’m an idiot for not considering it before. I thought we had him under control, that there’s no way he’d be able to connect the dots. But with my face in the news, he might’ve put everything together. He might’ve stolen Alec’s jacket. He might’ve seen me use the secret entrance.

If he’s figured out our plan, he might be back to finish what he started.

He might be here to bury my secrets for good.

Mackenzie

Gabriel wants me to stay and hang out for the day, and as tempting as that is, I need to get home and call Antony and check on Queen Boudica. Eli offers to drop me at Malloy Manor, and against my better judgment, I accept.

“I’m sorry about Noah,” Eli says as we pull out into traffic. “It’s going to take him a while to stop seeing you as his brother’s killer.”

“I understand. I’ve lost people I loved, too. It’s impossible to let that shit go.”

“I don’t know. You seem adept at letting shit go.” Eli drapes his hand out the window. He’s got the top up now, and my playlist on low volume. It’s quiet enough to talk. I squirm in my seat, feeling the layer of sand grind into my ass through Gabriel’s sweatpants. “You don’t seem cut up about the fact you terrified Noah’s stepmom or branded Alec’s forehead in error.”

“You don’t seem cut up about your father being in prison,” I shoot back.

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