Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

She squeezes my hand, pain apparent on her face. “He’s getting you out of town.”

“But… why can’t we go back home?”

She pauses for a long moment. “There’s no such thing as home anymore, Winter.”

Deep down, I knew she would say that.

I have no idea how I could, even for half a second, think that I’d simply slide back into my routine after getting freaking kidnapped. After all this, a foolish part of me still dared to believe that everything could go back to normal—whatever “normal” means.

“Or at least, not for a while.”

I fidget with my fingers, the truth burdening me. “Where is he taking me?”

“You’ll be staying at Tom’s summer penthouse four hours out of town. He was nice enough to offer, and I’d much rather have you there than in dirty motels like this. You’re leaving in a few hours.”

It comes back to me when his name escapes her lips. She mentioned him earlier.

Tom.

As in Thomas, Maria’s ex-husband’s best friend. They’d spent their entire college years together, all three of them. But he ended up growing closer with my aunt after she divorced Nick, his supposed best friend. I think they always had a thing for each other, and from what I can see, that hasn’t changed, but she was his best friend’s girl and they could never make it work.

She was right. She knows complicated.

Now that she’s officially single, he probably wants to give it a shot. Letting her family stay in one of his properties sure is a big sign that he’s not over her. Not that I’d mind her with him. He’s a gentleman and a very successful doctor who recently opened a clinic downtown. She deserves it after what Nick did.

“What about school?” I ask, unable to believe that I’m trying to use school as an excuse.

“Thomas will get you and Kendrick a doctor’s note. We’re working on getting you online classes until you can come back.”

“And when do you think that might be?”

The look on her face tells me that I’m seeking an answer she can’t give me. I get it. Florida isn’t safe anymore. Not when Tanner and the East side’s countless enemies want my head. Whether I’ll even make it to the school’s prom is uncertain. I’ll probably graduate online and go back to Canada as soon as my mother and Harry, my stepfather, come back from their work trip.

“That bad, huh?”

“It’s for your safety. Kendrick made a lot of mistakes, but I know he only wants what’s best for you. He’s going to keep you safe while I take care of everything at home.” She leans in to kiss my forehead and gets up, heading for the door. “Tom said to notify him when you’re awake. I’ll give him a call.”

I nod and watch her walk out of the room. A few minutes pass. I close my eyes, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in my leg, and enjoy the silence. Unfortunately, it doesn’t stick around for long.

“She’ll be fine.” I hear distant voices in the hall.

The walls are paper-thin. Great to see the rest of the motel is as shitty as its rooms.

“She’s already fine. The question is will she walk again?”

I recognize Will.

“Wait, did you just say she was hot?”

And Alex.

“Yep.”

“You’re an ass, you know that?”

“Yep.”

I repress a smile as they struggle to unlock the door. When they walk into the room with pizza boxes in their hands, it’s a wonder I’m not drooling.