I expect her to fight, to be her usual bitchy self, but she just remains quiet.

“If you don’t, I will,” Cole continues with frightening nonchalance. “Do you want them to hear my version?”

Silver visibly flinches as if she’s been slapped across the face.

“Get it over with, Queens.” Aiden’s impatience shows through his voice. “I don’t have all day.”

No idea if he’s oblivious to the tangible tension between the stepsiblings or he simply doesn’t care.

My bet is on the last.

When she lifts her head, her gaze instantly finds mine. “I don’t know why we keep getting involved, you and I.”

Same.

“This is my final warning,” Cole says. “Talk or I will.”

“Remember Adam?” she asks.

“Did he hurt you again?” I blurt and she winces.

“Again,” Cole speaks so low it’s terrifying. “So it’s happened before, yes?”

Aiden’s arm falls on my shoulder, gripping me tight, cutting off my concentration on Cole and Silver.

My eyes slide to his, and I swallow at the tightness of his jaw.

Oh, boy. He’s not amused. At all.

“How do you know about that, sweetheart? Hmm?”

“He was bothering her in the car park; I stopped him.”

“You stopped him,” Aiden repeats with a calm, yet terrifying edge. “How did you stop him exactly?”

“I just threatened him with calling the principal and pepper spray.”

“You don’t have pepper spray.”

“He believed I did.” I pause. “What are you so agitated about?”

“What am I so agitated about?” His voice is clipped, firm, and authoritative. “Why do you fucking think? He could’ve taken both of you to God knows where in his state. Do you have no sense of self-preservation?”

“I only did what I thought was right. Okay?”

“Not okay. It’s not fucking okay to throw yourself in danger like that.”

I meet his glare with mine. Okay, fine, maybe standing up to a buff bloke like Adam wasn’t the smartest thing to do. But how can he expect me to just stand there while he clearly meant Silver harm?

A shudder goes through me at the thought of what he could’ve done to her.

Silver and I may not get along, but I don’t wish ill will upon my worst enemy.

I know trauma. I lived trauma. It invades your personal space, claws at your walls, climbs them, destroys them, and then dances on the remains.

That shit fucks you up for life.

“Very well, Silver. Very well.” Cole stares down at the top of her head, not sure if he wants to choke her or chop her head off. “Tell them why we’re here.”

Wait. Wasn’t it about Adam and that day?

“I only found out yesterday.” Silver fixes her already immaculate jacket and stares at her violet nails. “Adam came over and… well, he said a lot of shit.”

“Say it,” Cole urges — or more like he orders. I’ve never seen this side of Cole before.

“Adam said that…” She licks her dry lips. “He was the one who pushed Elsa in the pool.”

My eyes widen.

“He did, huh?” Aiden’s eyes almost turn black. Not sure if he’s surprised or merely calculating.

“Go on,” Cole urges. “Tell them why he did it.”

“He said he did it to get in my good graces, okay?” She meets my gaze. “I swear I had nothing to do with it. I only just found out myself. If I knew, I would’ve told you.”

I don’t know why, but I believe her.

Silver is malicious, but she’s not a criminal.

“But you knew Adam’s intentions,” Cole says with a neutral voice. “And apparently, you knew about them for a long time.”

“Cole —”

“Not a word.”

“Cole —”

“Go wait in the car.”

She throws her hands in the air and blows out a frustrated breath. “Come here, Silver. Go there, Silver. What do you think I am? Your fucking toy?”

He doesn’t move at her outburst and simply repeats. “Go wait in the car.”

She flips him off and storms towards the entrance then stops, meets my gaze and whispers, “I’m sorry.”

As soon as the door closes behind her, Cole fixates Aiden. “Let’s meet later.”

“I’ll get in touch.”

Cole nods once. “And Elsa?”

“Yeah?” I’m still too stunned by the revelation.

“She only learned this information yesterday. Don’t beat her up again.”

I wince at the reminder.

“Says the guy who watched while she was beaten to a pulp,” Aiden scoffs.

“She brought it on herself that time.” He smiles at me and strides out of the Meet Up.

A long breath heaves out of me. “I can’t believe Adam was the one who did it.”

“That daft fucker actually plotted something.” Aiden tilts his head, seeming deep in thought. That head of his must be filled with endless methods to inflict suffering and pain.

“How do you know he plotted it?”

“No one went into the pool after Van Doren. For some time, I thought maybe he was the one who pushed you. Now, I’m sure that Adam has been in the pool, and when you showed up, he seized the chance.”

“But Knox didn’t see him.”

“He must’ve hid somewhere. Under the stairs or in the lockers. There are no cameras there.”

Makes sense.

For a moment, we remain silent. I’m trying to soak up what happened and Aiden is probably plotting something sadistic.

After a while, I realise that with Cole and Silver gone, it’s only the two of us here.

I peek at him through my eyelashes. I expect him to be deep in thought, and he is, it’s just that his entire attention is zeroed in on me.

“What happens now?” I ask.

A wolfish smile tilts his lips. “Now is our time. We’ll do whatever you want.”

“What if I want to go home?”

“Then I’ll take you home.”

I eye him suspiciously. “Really?”

He grabs me by the arm and tugs. I land against his chest, arm wrapped around his midsection.

“Later. I’ll drive you home later.”

“Aiden!” I start to get up.

“Stay,” he murmurs, eyes closing. “Just for a moment.”

Protests are about to spill free from my mouth, but I say nothing. My ear lands against his calming heartbeat and I do as he asks.

I stay.

19

Elsa

I didn’t mean to, but I must’ve fallen asleep.

When I open my eyes, a very familiar scent prickles my nostrils. All masculine and powerful and… hypnotising.

A spark races down my spine and worms its way into my heart. That faulty heart. That messed up, stupid heart.

I’m sprawled all over Aiden’s chest. The softness of my breasts mould with his muscles, all taut and hard. Even my legs are intertwined with his like it’s the most natural thing to do. Like this is where I always belonged, and it’s blasphemy to go anywhere else.