by C. Shell
Her voice is quiet as she speaks. “Who?”
“Someone close to you of course. I tried warning you about him, but you never listen. He too longer than I expected to show his true colors, but then again, a snake always does.”
Irritation leaks from her words. My Jelly Bean is getting feisty and damn if that doesn’t make my dick hard. “Stop being cryptic and just spit it out. Who is the mystery manipulator that sold me down the river.”
I heave an agitated breath. “Your best pal Daniel Leamon. He’s the little fucker that hacked into the school newspaper blog for Lacey and helped try to ruin your reputation. He’s also the one who made a point to introduce you to Nicholas per Lacey’s request.”
Chapter Twenty- Four
Addison
My Daniel?
A monkey could walk in my room right now and slap me, and I wouldn’t be as shocked as I am at hearing that Daniel betrayed me. I can’t wrap my head around what Dex is saying. Daniel is the only guy I’ve ever trusted and counted on besides the CW Boys. It’s like I’ve fallen into an alternate Universe where everything is backward, upside-down, and turned inside-out. I bow my head as I try to hold back the tears threatening to be unleased.
My head cocks to the side and I glance over at Dex. I push myself to speak over the emotions clogging my throat. “He was my friend. One of my best friends. Why would he do that to me?”
He shrugs, his expression impassive. “People do crazy things in the name of love. I told you before that he wasn’t right in the head. The guys had a hard-on for you for as long as I can remember.”
My face falls. Nothing makes sense to me and the harder I try to piece it all together, the more my head hurts. I’ve got to be missing some vital parts to this puzzle. It’s like I’ve got all the outer edges, but none of the straight lines to connect them. Sighing, I give Dex a tired look. “Explain to me how you know that Daniel did those things. The guy you’re speaking about is nothing like the one I've known and cared for all these years.”
“Daniel showed up shortly after the police and ambulance arrived at Nicholas’s house. When he saw them carry you out on the stretcher, he mistook you being passed out for something more and started crying like a baby. Before we could tell him that you would be fine and just needed some rest, he was already speaking with a cop.”
“I just don’t get what I ever did to make him want to hurt me like that.”
Dex cleared his throat. “You didn’t do anything, babe. He was trying to put a wedge between us. People on the outside don’t understand the bond you and I have. Lacey had him believing that if she fucked with you enough you would blame us guys for all your problems and be done with us. Daniel was planning on swooping in and being the shoulder you could cry on. He wanted you plan as day and thought this was his way of getting closer to you once I was out of the picture. Daniel was just another puppet she manipulated into doing her dirty work.”
My sadness morphs into anger. Destruction, pain, sleepless nights, and a broken friendship- all over a stupid cunt who got her feelings hurt when she lost her favorite toy to play with. I inhale a breath, trying to relax.
Blinking, I look over to Dex. “Everything is so messed up. Where do we go from here?”
He leans back further into my bed while tucking me into the crook of his arm. “Well, for now, we have to be patient and see what happens with the police. They will be here soon to ask you a butt load of questions. Knowing Lacey’s dad, he’s already on the phone calling in some bigshot lawyer who will twist everyone’s words around until we’re all so confused we can’t think straight. Then he’ll call in every favor he has and flash stacks of money around until he gets both of his spoiled brats off with a slap on the wrists.”
I turn in his arms, my eyes wide with worry. “You think that could happen? After everything, that’s happened?”
Dex leans in, his voice low and dangerous. “I’m counting on it. It’s the only way I’ll get my chance to teach them both a lesson.”
I swallow hard, my eyes never leaving his. “And what lesson is that?”
“You don’t mess with the CW Boys, and Jelly Bean that includes you. I’ve told you before. You’re a part of us. Without you, we’re nothing. You make us whole.”
I curl further into his embrace and allow him to hold me. Despite all the chaos that has unfolded I feel safe and content. With his fingers stroking my arm, my stomach flips and my body warms. I close my eyes on a sigh.
I’m right where I belong.
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