“Not if that file was removed and destroyed. I’d put it down to an organization covering its back.” Fred slammed the book closed. “You warned me this shit was deep, but I’ve got to ask, how fucking deep?”
I ran a hand down my face. “Fred, I need you to make sure that everything you find, you get rid of. If anyone even suspects you’re involved…” I couldn’t bring myself to say it.
“Got it,” Fred said.
“This is serious.”
“Dude, I get it. The fact you trust me with this means a lot. I’m going to keep doing what I can.”
“Do you have anything on Drew?” I asked.
“She is proving to be difficult to find. Like I said, between Sian being born and coming here, that part of her life is a complete mystery. I don’t know where she went to school. What she did.”
“She went to a public school,” I said.
“But where?”
“Doesn’t it tell you that in her file?” I asked.
“It’s another mystery.” He went back to the computer, typing away and bringing up Sian’s file. “Previous schools are a blank. Her history, other than her grades, doesn’t exist.”
“Okay. I’ll see what I can find out. Make sure no one knows about this, and I only want you to talk to me.”
“You don’t trust your other Saintly Devils?”
“I think less people knowing about your involvement is good for your own safety.”
****
William
After Mateo left, I decided to head to Homeroom, splitting away from the guys as they finished up their lunch.
Living with Sian was supposed to be fun, but this weekend had been tense. I didn’t like tense. If I wanted to live that way, I’d go back home. There was a lot of tension waiting for me back there. I wasn’t interested in it.
Heather and Sian were whispering.
I saw Heather stroke Sian’s shoulder, and I was getting tired of this girl getting close to ours. She wanted to fuck her, that was clear. Well, she was going to have to get in line. Not that I minded a bit of girl-on-girl action. Now that had possibilities.
I stared at the two girls, their heads close together, and what surprised me was I didn’t fucking want that.
Sian wasn’t Heather’s.
She was ours.
I took the seat at the desk in front of them, spinning the chair around to look. “What are we talking about?”
“Sian was telling me how clean you guys are,” Heather said.
I gave Heather a look, and she glanced between me and Sian.
“I … er … I need to use the bathroom.”
“Do you want me to come?” Sian asked.
“No. No. It’s fine. You stay here. Keep my space.” Heather got to her feet and left.
Alone at least.
“What did you do?” Sian asked.
“Nothing. I was sitting right here.”
“And you think I don’t know your tricks?”
I held my hands up in innocence. “I didn’t do a single thing.”
Sian stared at me, and I kept my focus on her, resting my elbows on the table, my face between my palms.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I guess everything has me a little paranoid.”
“Clearly.” I chuckled. “We’re not all bad guys.”
“So you’re saying that some of you are.”
I snorted. “Now that would be telling.”
She breathed out a sigh. “What was supposed to happen this morning?” she asked. “I woke up and I was starving. I didn’t want to have an argument, so I just left.”
“Not everything is going to be an argument.”
“You could have fooled me.” She pushed some of her hair out of the way. She’d pulled most of the length back into a ponytail that landed at the nape of her neck. Some strands had escaped.
Looking at her now, I noticed she looked so tired.
Had we caused that?
“Our place at this school is all about image. Clearly, you’ve never considered previous selection processes.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t like listening to gossip and being nosey. I have my own life I want to lead.”
“And that is perfectly justifiable. We were supposed to show a united front. I know you’re doing this as an unwilling participant, but you’ve got to play the role like a pro.”
She laughed. “We’re high school kids. This makes it sound like some kind of … ugh, I don’t even know what to call it.”
“This is All Saints, Sian. There is no room for error here. I know you don’t like it, but it’s the way it goes.”
Her hands lay on the table, and I went to touch her, but she pulled away, dropping her hands into her lap.
“I don’t have any diseases.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’ve got to learn to trust us,” I said.
“Do you think it’s that easy?” she asked. “I don’t know you guys, and because you picked me you think I, what? Should be so happy?”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her others would have been, but Sian didn’t work that way and to be honest, I was tired of repeating myself.