Page 19 of Mad As Hell

“It wasn’t yours either,” she pointed out, looking down at me. Her hazel eyes were wide as she sighed. “I could punch Ryan—”

“I don’t want to talk about Ryan,” I interrupted, feeling my heart start to race at the mention of him.

“Right. Sorry.” She made a face. “I tried to come and find you, but my mom had me on lockdown after Gary threatened to file charges for grand theft auto.”

I groaned, but she waved it away.

“It’s fine. Mom was pissed, but she’s always pissed about something. The idea of me ruining my collegiate future because of that girl.” She paused and gave me a look. “Mom’s not your biggest fan.”

“My twin made your life hell for years.” I felt my returning smile crack around the edges. “I have no idea why she’d hate me.”

Bex rolled her eyes. “I wish I could just tell her the truth.”

“It won’t do any good.” I really didn’t want to dive into the fact that I was legally dead.

“I tried calling, but your phone just went to voicemail.”

“He took my phone,” I muttered. “I have a new one. New number and everything. It’s in my purse.”

“Wow. New phone, new diet, new… you.”

“No,” I said flatly. “The same me. Or the me I’m supposed to be. The dutiful daughter that Gary can manipulate.”

She smiled. “Then he doesn’t know you very well.”

I glanced down at my lap. “He took my mom.”

She stilled and then took a step back. “What?”

I looked up at her and tried to swallow the wave of panic. “He took her out of rehab, I guess. He has her at the house, totally drugged up.”

“She’s at Gary’s house?” Bex demanded.

I nodded.

“No, she can’t be there. She wasn’t there the night…” She trailed off and gave me a guilty look.

“The night what?” I prodded.

She backed up and sat across from me on the edge of my bed. “I’m only bringing him up because it pertains to your mother.”

Well, the only he that she would hesitate to bring up would be the guy who’d mutilated my heart.

I braced myself for whatever came next.

“He went looking for you the night after the engagement party. He went to your house with the guys.”

I snorted and shook my head. “Why? So they could all jump me? Find a way to add to my humiliation?”

“No. Because they figured out it wasn’t you in the tape, that it was Madelaine.” Her shoulders drooped and she rubbed her temples.

All I could get out was a strangled, “What?”

“Ash figured it out,” Bex added softly, almost reluctant to meet my gaze. “He figured out that it was your sister with Dean. He also found proof of Dean going into Ryan’s room and grabbing the playbook before you locked the door.”

Time seemed to freeze around me as I processed what she was saying.

“Ryan knows you didn’t betray him.”

---