A Whole New Crowd

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

When we headed to Rickets’ House, my only goal was to find the girl that I saw with Brian the night he died. When Amber and Jennica came into the room, they said that girl had been asking questions about Brian’s death. As we drove up the long, windy gravel road to the house, Tray asked, “So, let’s run this over again. What did Amber and Jennica say again?”
“The cops said it was a robbery, but they said some girl was asking people about that night at a party. Amber told her to shut up and to stop asking questions. This girl didn’t back down and started saying things like it didn’t happen that way and it was all a set-up. Then Jennica told her that they knew his ex-girlfriend and she should respect the dead.” I paused. “That’s what they told me anyway.”
Tray drove past the house, which was lit up and had people spread out onto the front yard. He turned the car down the first row of parked cars, looking for a slot. “You were quiet at Dylan’s house. What were you thinking?”
“I have no idea why, but I can’t stop thinking about this one night. Jace joined the Panthers when he was young. He quit school and a few years later, he started working for Galverson. He changed and it was almost overnight.” The memories flared in my head and I swallowed against the bitterness that came with them. “He was more confident. No, he was arrogant. Their dad started to fear him. Then he started paying for things, throwing his money around like everyone owed him. I wasn’t always there. The Panthers aren’t a bad gang. They drive around and mostly protected people around the area, but they didn’t like that Jace was working for Galverson. I knew there was a divide between him and the rest of the gang. Then, I don’t know.” I shrugged and turned to the window. I wasn’t seeing the scenery. I was lost in my head, in my past. “Then it was like it didn’t matter. Jace came to the house one night. It was in the middle of the night and he just sat there. Brian was sleeping and their dad was having health problems by then so he always sleeping, so when I went to get food, he was in the kitchen.”
My voice grew faint as the memory reenacted in my head. “I was hungry and I didn’t turn the light on, but when I opened the fridge I saw him at the table. There was blood on him, all over him. And he had a gun.” I closed my eyes. “I didn’t notice it at first, but I saw the jacket. It was his Panther’s leather jacket. It was on the table and when I moved closer to him, he covered the gun with his jacket. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say. Jace was always…he didn’t talk much. I mean, we joked. He used to wrestle with Brian, but all that had stopped for a long time. I was scared of him. He had become Brian’s jackass brother, but that night it was like the old Jace was back.” I faltered, remembering the haunted look in his eyes. “I never asked him what was wrong. We didn’t talk at all, but I sat there and,” a grin left me, “I ate a bowl of ice cream. It was the oddest and most surreal night of my life.” Everything went back to normal after that night, but I didn’t know how to explain it. It didn’t make sense to me.
I turned to Tray and found him watching me. I felt the kindness. I felt the understanding and knew Brian would never have reacted this way. That threw me. Brian would’ve been jealous. He was always so jealous, especially of his brother. I shook my head and continued, “Jace changed after that night. I don’t know what happened and I always wanted to ask, but now...” It was too late. “I don’t care about him anymore.”
“Taryn.”
I didn’t want to hear what he was going to say. It was going to be beautiful and it would probably make me want to cry. I shook my head. “I’m here to kick some ass. Let’s save the poetry talk for later, like never.”
He grinned, then reached over and cupped the side of my face. I leaned into his touch before I could lecture myself against it. He was there. Strong. Caring. As I thought of what a great guy he was, my heart sunk. I was spoiled for anyone else. He was it.
Shit.
“What?”
“We have to go to the same college.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m ruined for guys. No one else will ever measure up to you.” He opened his mouth, but I shot a hand up. “I don’t want to talk about it, but you’re stuck with me. Got it?” I didn’t wait for his reply. “Good. Let’s go.” And I shoved out of the car. As I rounded the back end—when the hell did we park?—I pointed at him. “You and I have to get it on. It’s sad that we’ve not fornicated yet.” I grimaced. “I’m not some damn virgin. What am I thinking?”
I started up the hill, but he caught my hand and pulled me back.
I groaned. I knew where this was going. He pushed me against the back of his SUV and lifted me. As I wound my arms around his neck, I said, “I know you’re perfect, but that doesn’t mean you have to prove it to me here.” My legs lifted and wound around his waist and I tugged him so he was pressed against my chest. “Although, public sex does have its own rush, and I have no doubt you’ll ace that as well.”
“Shut up.”
He was serious. All the jokes fled as he leaned down.
“Stop, Taryn. Stop fighting. I thought that we established this at Dylan’s house.”
I nodded. My forehead rubbed against his.
“Stop fighting yourself from feeling.”
“I have to.” I felt too much. “I just want to fight.” I didn’t want to cry.
“Let yourself feel. You need to.” He stepped back, shaking his head. “Use your emotions, Taryn. They’ll make you stronger in the end.”
A wave of sadness rushed through me. His words opened the door and I lowered my head. I felt the tears, but f*ck it. I’d feel later. Jumping off the car, I started up the hill. “Let’s go. I’ll use my emotions. I’ll use them to kick this girl’s ass if she doesn’t tell us everything.”
When we got to the house, people stopped talking. The music still blared. People were yelling and laughing from inside the house, but conversations trickled to a stop outside as people turned and saw us. No. I scanned around. They were looking at me. They weren’t focused on Tray. All their hatred was coming at me. I lifted my hands. “What? Is there a poster with my head on it somewhere?”
A girl stepped away from the crowd. She was holding a red plastic cup with her purse hanging off her arm. Her hair was braided to the side and it rested over her shoulder. She wore a skimpy black shirt that showed her midriff and baggy jeans. Her eyes were cold. Her lip lifted in a slight sneer. “We know who you are. We don’t want you around here.”
I frowned. “I’m here for answers. Where’s the girl that said Brian’s death was a set-up?”
She laughed, rolling her eyes. “You mean every girl? We all know it was a set-up. No one believes Brian Lanser was robbed and killed. We’re not dumb.”
Tray tugged at my belt loop. He pulled me backwards. “This doesn’t make sense. They wouldn’t rally for Brian.”
I shot him a look. He didn’t have to explain that to me.
He tucked me behind him and asked the girl, “What else happened that we don’t know?”
“Ask her. The rumor is that she was there, that she was at the Seven8 with Jace Lanser that night.”
A shiver went down my back. Someone had seen me, someone that wasn’t Jace.
Tray said, “She was there for a different reason. That’s when she was told about Brian’s death too. She’s been in mourning since. This is the first we’re hearing about a set-up.”
The girl scoffed. “Yeah, right. She saw Brian that night. He died hours later. Gray told me he was going to see her. Now he’s missing too. Like I said, we’re not stupid.”
My blood ran cold, and I surged forward, around Tray. “What did you say?”
“Gray. He’s missing.” Her eyes were locked on mine and her hatred went up a notch. As she said that, the crowd moved forward. A few people called out, “Yeah, where is he, bitch?”
I looked around. This was it. They were rallying because of Gray, but I shook my head. I didn’t want to believe this. “You’re kidding me, right? Gray’s fine. Gray put you up to this.” I raised my voice, “GRAY! Where are you?”
“He’s missing.”
A guy stepped next to her. “He went missing last night. He wasn’t in school today and Dee told us that he went to see you.”
“What?” No, no, no. I couldn’t go through this again. There was no way. “Who’s Dee?”
The girl jerked forward. Her fingers tightened on her cup, and it broke in her hands. She kept glaring at me. She didn’t notice her cup or the liquid that was running down her arms and legs from it. “Stop insulting us. I hate you. Do you understand that? Gray is missing because of you.”
The guy touched her arm and said to me, “Dee was with Brian last.”
“That girl he was hooking up with?”
Just then, the crowd parted and two guys brought a girl forward. She was struggling against their hold. She didn’t see me at first and when they shoved her forward, she rounded and punched one of them. Then she turned to the girl. “What the hell, Ro? You guys just grab me?”
Ro pointed to me, her arm dripping with beer. She made no move to clean herself up.
Dee rounded and saw me. Her eyes got big, and she paled. Then she bolted.
“Hey!”
I started after her, but Tray grabbed my arm. “Stay. I’ll get her.”
“But…” I stopped. He was already gone. The guys who had brought Dee to us took off after her, but Tray lapped them in seconds. One of them stopped and came back, while the other continued after Dee and Tray. He gestured to the parking lot. “I forgot Dee ran track last year.”
Ro’s lips were pressed tight. She said through them, “Jake will bring her back.”
The guy grunted and looked at me. “Evans will bring her back. Jake’s there to help in case she knees him in the balls.” He nodded to me. “I played against Evans last year. I forgot how quick he is too.”
“Shut up, Frank.”
He shrugged. “You got your panties in a twist, but she’s here. She’s not going anywhere.” He was still staring at me and I realized he was talking about me. “I don’t think she had anything to do with Gray.”
The other guy who had first spoken for Ro shook his head. “You’re not helping, Frank.” He glanced down at Ro. “But I agree with him. We know Matthews. She’s not down like that.”
“I don’t care. Gray’s missing. He always took up for her and now he’s gone. She’s the common factor.” Her eyes sliced to mine, cutting through the air. “If you had anything to do with Gray or if he shows up dead like your ex-loser, you’re the one I will blame.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t accepting what they were saying. Gray was fine. He was always fine. “Why don’t I remember you?”
“Because I’m not like you. I don’t hang out with druggies and criminals.”
“You’re one of the popular crowd?” She wasn’t acting like it, but scanning the guys I recognized them as being a part of the athletes from Pedlam. Gray was popular. She could’ve been there and I wouldn’t have known her. I didn’t care enough to know people at that school. Gray and Brian. That was it.
“They’re coming back.” Frank laughed shortly. “Evans has her.”
He swung back to me. I sensed unspoken questions from him and bit out, “What?”
“Nothing. Just never would’ve pegged you as a girl that would get with Tray Evans from Rawley. He’s high-class.”
I bristled. I got the insult. “If Gray is missing, you’re going to want my help. Pissing me off is not the way to go.”
He lifted his chin. “How do you figure?”
“I know Jace Lanser and I can get places others can’t.”
“She’s right.” The third guy pulled Frank back. “We all know her reputation. Let’s just chill for a moment.”
Dee was being dragged by Tray, who had a firm grasp on her arm. As they neared us, he let her go and shoved her in front of me. She glanced around, but the guys formed a circle around her in seconds. She blinked, taken aback by how fast they moved. Then she swung her head to me, snarled, and glanced at Ro. The snarl dropped.
Ro asked first, “Why’d you run?”
“Because of this whore.” She nodded at me. “Brian’s dead because of her. Gray’s missing because of her too.”
Ro turned to me, but didn’t say anything.
A dark gleam appeared in Dee’s eyes as she added, “She probably works for Jace Lanser.”
I laughed. “This is a joke, right? I want to kill Jace Lanser.”
Ro said, “I’m starting not to believe you, Dee. You were with Brian last. You were with Gray last night too. You blamed Matthews today, but she’s here. She’s acting like she’s in the dark. That tells me one of you is lying.”
“You were with Gray last night?”
Dee became quiet, and she looked over her shoulder. The guys pressed forward, tightening their circle around her.
“Why’d you run when you saw me?”
“Because you killed Brian. You did something to Gray. You’re going to do something to me too.” She was pale and began trembling.
I repeated my question. “You were with Gray last night? Why? What happened?”
She started laughing. The sound started out like a genuine laugh, but as she kept going, it turned panicked. Bitterness and a maniacal sound mingled with it. Bending over, she whispered, “Gray didn’t believe it. He said Brian wasn’t killed in a robbery. I believed him. Maybe I shouldn’t have.”
I glanced at the other girl, Ro, and asked, “Did Gray say this to you too?”
For the first time, the loathing from her shifted and a look of pain glimmered back at me. My gut clenched. I heard the sadness in her voice when she said, “No. I wish he had, though.” It was really starting to sink in. Something happened to Gray.
My own panic was rising. No, no, no. Not again.
Tray had been watching me. He stepped close, his chest brushed against my arm, and said, “Why did Gray only tell his theory to you?”
My eyes closed and I knew what he was doing. He was reminding me he was there for me and giving me his strength. Touching him, hearing his voice so close to me, I clung to it. Gray was gone. Jace killed Brian and he was going to take Gray away too. A darkness was swirling inside of me, lashing against the pain and fear. Rage was taking over, filling every pore in my body, until it blossomed full force.
My control snapped and I lunged for Dee. Grabbing her around the throat, I lifted her until her body slammed against one of the guys. They fell back, surprised by the force from me, but then they grabbed around Dee’s waist, lifting her so I wasn’t strangling her.
Her eyes threatened to pop out of her head. She couldn’t talk. Choked gasps spilled out of her and she tried to kick at me.
My hand tightened.
“Shit, let her talk,” someone said.
My hands kept tightening.
Jace. Her. Gray. Brian. Shelly. Kevin. All of them flashed in my mind. Betrayal. Loss. Pain. Lies. Manipulation. All of it. Everything that had happened to me was coming back at me. It felt like I was being seared on the inside, like someone had plunged a hot poker through me. I wanted to hurt someone else. I was sick of being the one to get hurt. In that moment, Jace’s face merged with hers, and he was all I could see.
Then I was pulled backwards. I kicked out, trying to get back at him. He needed to pay.
“Taryn!” Tray was yelling in my ear. But I wasn’t listening. His voice sounded like a small whisper against the rage that had taken over me.
Then Ro was in front of me, between me and him. She tried to help with holding me back.
Tray grunted and readjusted his hold on me as I strained against him. I smacked Ro’s hands off me and then three other guys stepped between us.
I yelled over them, climbing up, “You killed him. You killed Brian. You were with him last. And now Gray. That’s on you!” Tray grasped me around the waist and tugged me back down.
He twisted around, his back to the rest of the group, and wrapped his arms around me. There were other guys there, all holding onto a part of me, trying to help him. He tucked his head down so his lips were on my ear and yelled, “TARYN! Calm down.”
I struggled. She was Jace. He was her. He was in front of me. I could get at him.
“You’re not making any sense. STOP!” He kept rocking back and forth. “Stop, Taryn. Listen to me. Taryn, listen to me.” His head lifted and he said to someone else, “Let me through. I’ll calm her down and bring her back.”
“You sure, man? She’s like a wildcat.”
“I’ll be fine.” The crowd parted and Tray moved me forward. I was in front of him. His arms were holding me in a big bear hug from behind, and he kept urging me forward until we were near the cars. He kept whispering in my ear, “It’s me, Taryn. It’s me. Calm down. Come on. Come back to me.”
When I felt the cool metal of a car, I bent forward and rested my forehead to it. I gasped for air, and my heart raced. Slowly, the panic and hysteria started to ease from me. I felt a tightness in my chest and tears on my cheeks.
Tray was bent over me, still whispering in my ear, “Come back to me, Taryn.” His hold gentled and he lifted a hand to my cheek. His finger caressed me, moving back and forth. It was a tender touch and I brought my hand over his. I turned to look him in the eye.
“Tray.”
He pulled back, moving so he was beside me. He cupped my face. “It’s me.”
“I wanted to hurt her.”
A soft laugh came from him. “You wanted to kill her, Taryn. You were calling her Jace.”
“I was?”
He nodded. “I think they believe you now. If we hadn’t been there, you would’ve done major damage to her.”
I closed my eyes. Oh my god. I shook my head. “I can’t think about that.” Gray. “They did something to Gray. She has to know something. I have to find out.”
I pulled away, but he caught my hand. “Hey, hey.”
“Tray.” I didn’t have time to argue. I looked at them, saw they were watching us, and my eyes went straight to Dee’s. She was bleeding. Her lip was swelling up and she was holding a hand to her eye, but she shrunk down at my gaze.
I started forward again. Tray didn’t stop me this time. He was right beside me. Three guys formed a wall between me and Dee, but Tray motioned them aside. “She won’t attack her again.”
They nodded and moved aside, but stayed close. I knew they would jump in if I attacked her again. I shoved them out of my mind. They weren’t important. “Tell me everything.”