Fraud

The words hover over us as we make our way through the food court and up an escalator to the second floor. They’re still there, but silent, as I text my driver, Scott, to let him know where to meet us.

Like a ghost lingering in my shadow, the question I know is in her head trails us relentlessly. My muscles lock as I brace for it.

Really, it’s just a question. Nothing to be afraid of in the long run. But the moment it’s asked, I’ll have to answer it, and that’s what scares me the most.

Not that I’m worried about Ava’s reaction. It’s more that I haven’t yet admitted what I’m doing out loud, and I fear hearing my own words will somehow cement the truth inside me that I’m being stupid.

By the time we hit one of the larger department stores, the question slams down like a hammer against an anvil, the words floating over her lips with an i

“Why would she be mad at you?”

I’ve always hated moments of truth. Not because truth is a bad thing. More that it’s a difficult pill to swallow.

“I agreed to go out with Gabriel this weekend.”

I spit the words out like they’re acid burning my tongue. The instant they’re out, I clearly hear how horrible they are. Gabriel almost cost me everything, and now I’m turning to him for help. Just like I turned to Ta

Neither Emily nor Ava know the truth of what I’ve done. Ta

But no. There wasn’t a peep. Ta

Ten years. It’s a long time to sit on a ticking bomb, waiting for it to explode. Unfortunately, now the countdown has reached those final numbers, and the force of the blast will tear me to shreds.

The response I know is coming from Ava is even heavier than the question she took forever to ask. It sits on my shoulders as we walk outside and step up the curb. It’s an unwanted passenger as my car pulls up and Scott runs around to open the back door.

She doesn’t need to say it. I already know.

I ask Scott to take us to Sakura, a trendy sushi place up the road. Settling against my seat once he shuts the door, I brace myself again.

It’s coming, the truth perched on the tip of Ava’s tongue waiting to be unleashed.

“Why in the hell would you agree to that? Are you insane?”

Cringing at the stern tone of her voice, I want to tell her the entire story. I want to admit how badly I screwed up. Not just the fact I’d gone to Ta

Nobody knows. Ta

At this point, being chased through the woods doesn’t sound so bad. Sure, I’d probably lose my mind like everyone else who refused to pay their price, but would that be worse than betraying my dad?

That’s the other problem. What Ta

We all have secrets.

I have no choice but to beat these guys at their own game. To somehow trick Gabriel into helping me out. Of all the guys, he’s the worst choice for what I need. But he’s all I have.

Maybe it won’t be so bad. The years could have tamed him. He seems different, and I’ve been feeling him out in the texts we’ve exchanged. It’s possible he’s changed.

“He hasn’t changed, Ivy.”

Damn it...

Ava sighs as the car smoothly pulls forward to leave the mall parking lot.

Beyond the windows, the city moves past us in a blur of steel buildings set against small patches of grass, the well-manicured trees dwarfed by the shadow of the looming structures. Above that, the sky is a mottled grey, dappled sunlight breaking through the heavy clouds in shimmering streamers.

I seek out those bright patches, reach for them like the sporadic beds of flowers that add a pop of color to a cement and steel landscape.

A few seconds of tense silence passes between us, Ava’s soft voice breaking it on a confession.

“Listen, I shouldn’t be telling you this, and I wouldn’t if I wasn’t afraid of what might happen if you get involved with them again.”

Turning to her, I run my eyes down the length of her blond hair. It’s darker than mine, more golden, but the perfect shade to pop against the whiskey amber of her eyes. Unfortunately, those eyes are looking out the window instead of at me, and I worry about what she will say.

The car comes to a stop in traffic just as she sighs again and glances at me.

“They’re still ru

Of course they are. Why would they ever grow up?

“The gauntlets? You’re joking, right? They’re still ru

She shakes her head. “No. Not since Yale. But, honestly, the woods would be preferable to what they’re doing now.”

Ava gets quiet, her gaze flicking away for only a brief moment.

“They’re screwing with people’s lives, Ivy. Not just to bully them, and not just to be dicks like they were in high school. This isn’t the typical popular crowd bullshit anymore. I’m not entirely sure what’s going on. Mason hasn’t told me all of it. I just know it’s serious.”

The fact that he told her anything is surprising. “Did Mason tell you they’re screwing with my life? Or that they’re pla

I mean, it wouldn’t be a total shock to find that out. But beyond the pranks I pulled in high school, I haven’t done anything to deserve it. Can Gabriel really hate me that much?

She shakes her head. “No. Until you told me you’re going on a date with Gabriel - like an idiot, I might add - I had no idea you were involved with them again.”

“Then why are you so worried?”

Shame shadows her eyes, her expression tight as she shifts in her seat to face me. “Because I just helped them play that game on another woman.”

“What?”

The question volleys from my throat much faster and louder than necessary. But I can’t help it. If anybody would refuse to play their games, it’s Ava.

“Why would you do that? And to who?”

Her eyes lower, the shame I see on her face deepening. “We all have our reasons, but that’s not the point.”

“Who is the woman?”

“Luca Bailey. But you wouldn’t know her. She went to Yale and somehow ended up here. I have no idea what they even want from her, just that they want something.”

Okay.

Either the car just crashed into a building or my world imploded around me, the force of it shaking me to the core.

“Say that name again. I’m not quite sure I heard you right.”

Ava locks her eyes with mine. “You don’t know her.”

“Say it,” I insist.

Because...no.

There’s no fucking way that-

“Luca Bailey. Why?”

I don’t recognize her first name.

But her last?

Oh yeah. That rings a bell.

A shiver runs down my spine to think there is definitely more to this than meets the eye. And I’m sick over the fact that certain secrets aren’t as unknown as I’d believed.