Page 58 of Reign By Wrath

I swept my light over the space, revealing a mass of strewn clothes, a messy bed, textbooks, pictures of a handsome man and young Everleigh, and a laptop.

Jackpot.

Laid out casually on the bed, amid two pairs of tights and a random black dress, was a rose-gold laptop covered in stickers.

I dove for it, tearing it open.Please, don’t need a password. Please, don’t need a password. Please, don’t—

The laptop booted up to the home screen. I was in.

You’re a cruel, raggedy bitch sometimes, Fate, but then there are nights like tonight when I love you.

“Okay,” I said softly. “You pretty much confirmed that you have a way to see the real identities of the club members. I promised I’d bring it all crashing down on your pretty little head. I keep my word.”

The lights returned. Everleigh flipped the breaker. She’d be back soon.

I opened the browser and navigated to the history. I didn’t have to remember that long string of nonsense that was the club’s web address. If Everleigh didn’t password-protect her laptop, she didn’t delete the history either.

It has to be here somewhere.

I scrolled through the day’s history. Then the week’s. Then the weeks’ before.

“Come on,” I gritted. “Where is it!”

Creak.

I slammed the laptop shut and rolled, dropping flat on the carpet. Hallway light spilled into the room, trailing Everleigh inside.

My lungs crawled up into my throat, strangling any chance of making a sound. Of breathing.

I scuttled under the bed, clutching my chest. My heart thundered so loud there was no way she wouldn’t hear it.

My eyes followed her bare feet’s path. Slowly, they padded around the bed—coming nearer, nearer, closer, closer. They stopped right next to my head.

If it comes down to a fight, I’m ready. Everleigh doesn’t know I’ve got Cato for backup. This won’t go down the way she wants.

Everleigh turned and walked out.

I held still, not moving in case it was some kind of trick.

A minute passed.

Two minutes.

Three.

Grabbing a weapon and coming back to attack me wouldn’t take that long. I was safe. She didn’t see me.

I scooted out from under the bed and reached for the—

My hand fell on downy sheets. The laptop was gone.

I dropped my head on the covers and screamed. I was wrong. Fate was still a fucking bitch.

Shoving away, I marched out the door. I’d had enough of the bullshit. I was trying to get in and get out with the laptop so that Everleigh didn’t have a chance to defend herself or even know she was in danger before the fire started.

But that was just me being nice. It worked just as well for me to kick her ass, take the laptop, and leave her out cold on the ground while the fire raged around her. The same end she planned for me.

I stormed through the hall, not bothering to duck down or hug the wall. Let her see me coming and know all her planning, scheming, tricks, and plots were for nothing.

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