Page 103 of Mafie Trials

Laney: I have information for you.

Adrik: I’m listening.

Laney: She’s sleeping with them.

Adrik: Them?

Laney: Yes. All three of them.

Adrik: Does she still seem to care for them like before, or is it more of a job?

Laney: She acts caring in public, but when she comes to spend time with me, I don’t know if she actually wants to go back to them. She usually waits until one of them comes to get her.

Adrik: How do I know you’re not lying? You’ve been radio silent for weeks.

Laney: I’ve been trying to get close to her and figure out how to pass the trials. This is a full-time school, you know. You also told me she would be suspicious. I went silent so I could focus on the task at hand.

Adrik: Not good enough.

Laney: picture 1, picture 2, picture 3. I haven’t forgotten my mission.

Adrik: I expect more information to come. For now, I’ll call off the manhunt on your family. If I find out you’re lying, they will be the ones to pay.

My hands shake as I type out a reply, tears stinging the back of my eyes.

Laney: Understood.

My breaths come out in shallow pants as I close my eyes, not wanting the tears to fall.Why does this feel so hard? I have to protect my family. I have to keep them safe.

“I know that was difficult for you, Firecracker,” Evie whispers in my ear, pulling me close. “But we need him fooled. Are you going to be okay?”

I know she isn’t the biggest physical touch person, but her body next to mine right now is the reassurance I need to know I chose right.

We planned on me reconnecting with Adrik in hopes of getting my family to safety. And now I’ll be able to manipulate him in other ways. We can never have too many advantages when it comes to that man and his reach. Even though I hated sending those messages, because it felt like giving him power over me again, I can’t allow myself to look at it that way.

This time was different. This time, my best friend was by my side. This time, he was going to be the one that got hurt.

“I will be,” I say honestly. “Hopefully him calling off the manhunt means Boris will be able to find my parents and sister. I’m hoping he can get to them and protect them.”

“If they are anything like you, Firecracker, I’m sure they are all doing just fine.”

A light knock sounds at the door and I half expect Nessa to walk in. Instead, large arms come into view and I roll my eyes.

“This is betrayal,” I say as I lean my head back and press my fingers to my eyes, willing myself not to cry in front of this man.

Evie kisses me on the cheek while she whispers for only me to hear. “I’m still pissed about what he said too, but there’s just something about them being here when it counts, ya know?”

I shake my head, not willing to move an inch.

“I don’t know that. I don’t have a harem of men who follow me around and scoop me into their arms when everything goes to shit.”

“Not yet, at least.”

I can’t help but think she knows more than she’s letting on. I feel when the bed dips then returns to normal as she gets up.

“Behave. If you make her feel worse, I’ll cut off your balls.”

I look at Arrow’s expression to her comment from where he stands in the doorway looking like a wounded freakin puppy. What is it about men that makes them think they can be jerks then turn around and act like we kicked them?

---