Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

“Can you get it?” she asks, and I extend my arm forward to scoop it up.

“It’s a text from Kendrick. He went to the movies with Jay and Allie,” I read and put her phone back down.

Her lips lift into a smirk. “Want to go have that breathtaking sex now?”

Is that even a question? My dick is already straining against my jeans from all that kissing.

“Now how on earth could I say no to that?”

She wiggles off me, pulls me to my feet, and leads the way to the first-floor guest bedroom. She tells me that no one ever uses it as she’s pushing me down onto the bed. Before she closes the door, she realizes she forgot her phone in the kitchen. Mine vibrates in my pocket the instant she leaves the room. I have two new messages. From Tanner.

I eye Winter. She’s standing by the table, talking on the phone. It probably rang when she went in.

Tanner: Don’t thank me. I told you I’d always be looking out for you.

Tanner: Listen, this guy owed me one and after our phone call, I dug a little deeper. I don’t know if you’re still interested, but I found this.

Attached: Holland Motel Surveillance Video Tape 6245.

I know what I do next is going to define… everything. I can choose to never open that video, abandon my obsession with revenge, be happy with the girl I love more than life itself. I want to make the right choice. I want to be noble. To be good. Fuck do I want to. But because I want to, doesn’t mean that I can.

I glance at Winter from afar.

And click.

30

If It Can’t Be Me

HAZE

The video takes an insanely long time to load. Nervously glancing back and forth between Winter and the screen, I battle a mini anxiety attack. Come on. I don’t know how much time I have until she comes back. I let out a sigh of relief when the video starts.

I recognize the outside of the trash motel.

It’s nighttime.

Someone walks out of the motel. The silhouette fumbles with the front lock. They must be closing up. I can tell this was recorded with the camera hanging above the door. I remember seeing it before. The stranger turns around, and nearby streetlights reveal

a crooked face.

Wait, I know her.

This is the woman who tried to exchange sex for information about Marcus. Her phone rings. She slides her hands into her purse and pulls it out.

“I’m on my way,” she says right away.

…

“What are you saying?” She sticks a finger into her ear to hear better. “Babe, stop it. What did I tell you? You’re completely paranoid. We’re good. We’ve been good for a long time now.”

…

“What are you so worried about?”

…

“What, you mean him? Don’t be ridiculous. He’s nothing. I’m telling you, we’re good.”