Page 81 of Twisted Assist

“Yeah.” My voice was hesitant and made her stop laughing.

“What is it?”

Taking a deep breath, I told her everything, even about Hunter and me in the club. It made better sense why I didn’t head to California for my break, but she was equally upset that I was in the middle of someone’s corrupt agenda.

“And you’re sure it's not Tatum?”

“Why would it be Tatum?”

“Look Tripp, I can tell you really like her, but she’s the only other person that would gain anything. She could have followed Hunter to the club and spiked your drinks out of anger. Then once she saw the photo opportunity, she could have decided it was her best career opportunity as well. Create a conflict with you and Hunter, add herself into the mix when she realizes you’re more into her. All I’m saying is, be careful baby. All of these problems started at the same time, and it wouldn’t shock me if she and Hunter conspired together.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to argue with her, but I would sound crazy because she had a point. The only thing was, she didn’t know Tatum. She hadn’t looked into her eyes and felt how much this affected her. She didn’t know that Tatum had somehow gotten a position with the Inferno just so she could help me.

“You there?”

“Yeah,” I spoke, my voice hoarse. “Mom, I gotta go.”

Hanging up, I started pacing my room. Everything I just thought of was sinking in, and as much as it hurt to admit it, I realized my mom might have been right. Despite telling me it wasn't part of her job, Tatum seemed to find her way to the Inferno’s realm. In fact, she made it happen quickly but never told me how.

Could she really be the one behind all this?

ChapterForty

Tatum

Tripp didn’t have to say anything for me to know how shitty the whole situation looked. He probably hadn’t even considered me an option as someone who would be on the other end. I was good at what I did and had already analyzed how bad it looked. Even though I was innocent, I was the most likely person to be involved.

But I wasn’t.

Meeting Tripp wasn’t planned or part of any plan to assist Hunter with his twisted agenda. I had been just as shocked as Tripp when I saw that hole in Hunter’s ear. We had spent so little time together, and with his hair longer than it used to be, I hadn’t even noticed the small hole.

Until I did, and then everything clicked into place. Hunter had been struggling since he returned to Miami, and I thought it was me, soccer, or his job. But maybe he was always struggling with himself. With discovering who he really was.

More than trying to get to Tripp, I felt used much more personally. A way for Hunter to try denying his true self and be who he was before he ever left Miami. Something had always been off with us, though. Even when we were blissfully happy, Hunter’s mind seemed to always be elsewhere.

Soccer. I had chalked it up to being nothing more than his love of the game.

If he had been honest with me from the beginning, though, I would have been a better friend to him. I wouldn't have had girlfriend expectations that he was never going to be able to meet. Instead of turning to me, he used me, hurt me, scared me.

Marching into work, I went straight to Sophia’s office and slammed the door, making her jump and then stand up angrily.

“Excuse me?” She demanded.

“Is it you?” I didn’t have any of the evidence with me, but if she was the one who had been terrorizing us, she would know what I was talking about.

“What?”

“This is a marketing and public relations firm, Sophia. You’ve been jonesing for dirt on the Inferno for a while. Did you create some? Did you use me as your little toy?”

“You better watch how you talk to me, and what you accuse me of,” she yelled. “You will find yourself without a job.”

“If you are the one responsible for the notes, the pictures and the tires, then I don't want to work here anyway!”

“Whoa,” she held up both hands, clearly shocked by my accusations. “Sit down,” she spoke softly. “Tell me what is happening.”

Just like with Hunter, I believed her. Sitting down, I took a few deep breaths and then told her everything that I had been dealing with, including using that picture of Tripp to get close to the Inferno with no intention of distributing it. Sophia sat on the edge of her desk, listening quietly, with her eyes widening when I got to the most outrageous parts.

“Hey,” she squatted down, her heels making it awkward and her pantsuit tightening on her thighs. “You should have told me this before. You should have trusted that I would have helped you.”

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