Page 5 of They Will Fall

She’s right. Ridge, Maddox, and I shut our phones off to not risk anyone tracking our whereabouts. It’s been tempting to turn it on, just to get an update on the situation, but I know it’s a risk. I tap my fingers to the phone she handed me, smiling. “Always thinking ahead.”

“As a member of a fucked-up society, we sort of have to.”

“Scar,” I say softly as I tuck the phone in the side pocket of my black joggers. “There’s one more thing.”

“For fuck’s sake, Ry,” she sighs. “What else could there possibly be? You’re wanted for murder and you’re going on a manhunt for a deranged psycho. I swear to fucking God, if I see you onAmerica’s Most Wanted…”

“Shut up.” I punch her shoulder playfully. “It won’t come to that. At least, I hope not. It’s just that, I’m not telling Ridge and Maddox I’m leaving. The last thing I want is for two innocent guys, who I care deeply about, to get in trouble for something they didn’t do.”

“You mean, in the way that you’ve been set up to fall for somethingyoudidn’t do?”

“Exactly. I don’t want them to get hurt.”

“You’re really falling for these guys, aren't you?”

This time, I’m the one gnawing on my bottom lip, but I do it with a sly smile creeping up on my face. “Harder than I thought it was possible to fall.”

“And Lev? Are you two just…done?”

With my eyes downcast, I release my lip from my teeth. “Lev and I were nothing but an illusion. A budding relationship built on fraud. Not only is it over, it never even had a chance to begin. Now, it never will because Lev Pemberley is going down and I sure as fuck am not going with him.”

“I’m sorry to say this, but it’s probably best you learned the truth about him before your heart was too invested.”

But my heart was invested. So much more than I’m letting on. I can still see his face in my memories and taste him on my tongue. If I think hard enough, I swear I can remember what it feels like to be wrapped in his arms, and it was probably one of the best feelings in the world. Lev doesn’t attach himself to people or things easily, yet he did to me. I felt special. Now, I feel like a joke.

My mouth goes dry and a boulder rests on my chest. “It is what it is.”

“You always go with the easiest response.”

“It’s the only one I’ve got.” I shrug.

“Scar,” Neo hollers. “Come on, baby. We’re leaving.”

Scar’s eyes roll. “There’s always that one that can’t play nice with others.”

I chuckle. “Gotta love him.”

“Oh, I do.” She smirks as she pulls the bathroom door open. “More than life, but it doesn't mean I don’t wanna smack him sometimes.”

Neo’s voice rises to a near shout. “And you keep that fucking maniac away from campus, and my girl. I don’t care how close you assholes are. He comes near us, or her, I’ll take care of him myself.”

Ridge shoves Neo out the door then slams it shut before Crew, Jagger, and Scar even have a chance to make their exit.

“Keep in touch,” Scar whispers as she pulls me in for a hug. “And be safe.”

“I will,” I tell her. “This will all be over soon.”

If only I could believe the words leaving my mouth because I’m scared as hell, and something in my gut tells me, this is only the beginning of my descent into the fire.

CHAPTER3

RIDGE

“Don’t lether out of your sight for a second,” I tell Maddox quietly as my sweaty palm wraps around the door handle. “I get the feeling she’s plotting something.”

“Don’t plan to take my eyes off her.” He glances at Riley, who’s writing in her notebook on the couch. Her knees are bent, feet pressed firmly to the cushion, and the spiral book is resting on her upper thighs.

After Maddox mentioned going back to campus for supplies, I volunteered myself as tribute. I didn't really expect him to agree so quickly, but he did. So here I am, lacing up my boots with a wool beanie pulled down over my ears so I can fill the two oversized backpacks strung over my shoulders with enough food to last us a few days.

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