And then Lacey flashes in my mind. Sweet, bubbly, big–hearted Lacey. The girl who’d drop everything for Céline. Who looked out for her when no one else did.
My hands are shaking.
I don’t even realise I’m trembling until I look up and see her again.
Céline. Smiling like she just won something. Like my words moments ago hadn’t cut that deep.
“I think…” she murmurs, eyes glassy and unfocused. “Yes. I’ll do it. That’ll fix everything.”
What is she even talking about? My brain can’t keep up.
Then she snaps. Her tone turns sharp. Cold. “Alright. Time’s up. Tell your parents to wire the money, or I’ll post it.”
The instability in behaviour has me adapting to her moods as well. I calm my anger and follow her lead.
My heart pounds. “Post what?” I take a breath, trying to steady my voice. “You’re the one who’s been leaking everything… right?”
Her expression flickers. Then slowly, she nods.
“Irma,” I say, my voice tight. “That video of her… did you edit it? Did she actually say any of those things?”
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Céline scoffs. “Of course not. She was talking to Margot. Some creep broke into her apartment last month. She was scared, that’s all. But who cares? Honestly?” Her smile turns sick again. “He should’ve killed her too. Would’ve saved us all the trouble.”
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. “That thing you want to post, what is it?”
She doesn’t even blink. “I don’t want to do this, okay? But you’re pushing me! You always push me!” Her voice cracks, manic and high–pitched. “Send the money or I’ll post the videos! Did you really think I wasn’t recording? I’ve got pictures, videos everything! Once they’re out, everyone will know you’re just a whore. I’m protecting you! Don’t make me do this!”
—
It doesn’t take long for me to put two and two together. “You have évidence that Stone assaulted me.”
Céline tilts her head, narrowing her eyes and for once she seems clear–headed. “You’re only half as daft as I thought you were. You still don’t know, do you?”
She slowly intrudes my personal space, her lips curling. “How do you think he knew where to find you? Who do you think led him right to you?” She must see the horror on my face because she actually lets out a laugh. “You didn’t notice how hard it was to run away? You were on more than just some alcohol, so I was hoping he’d do more bu-”
One second, my hands are clenched into fists at my side, the next they connect with Céline’s face. Once. Twice. Thrice. Until both her cheeks are scorching red and her head is jerked to the side.
I’m fuming, unable to contain my rage. My palms sting, but with
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each second that ticks I’m closer to murder. “How–How could you?!”
“Oh, spare me the sob story,” she runs a thumb over her bruising lip. “I bet the only reason you called your brother that day was to get rid of competition for inheritance, right? Did you pay the truck driver, too? You’re a sneakier bitch than I thought.”
“How…” I can’t understand a thing that’s going on. No, I won’t. Because if I do, something tells me it’ll be worse than I expect. “How do you know what happened to my brother?”
Her eyes narrow and from the look on her face, I know she takes me for a fool. “Didn’t I say it already? Boss told me all about it. And besides,” she sneers, “bad things happen to bad people, Emily.”
My whole body recoils at the sound of that name in her mouth. I want to scream. But my confusion holds me from murdering her.
What the hell is going on here?
Then, a voice breaks through the madness.
“What about you?”
Céline spins around.
Standing at the end of the hallway – right at the edge of the deck – are Lacey and Liam.
Lacey’s face is streaked with tears. Her chest rises and falls like she can barely breathe, and Liam’s making his way over to me.
He grabs my hands, inspecting my palms. “You didn’t hit hard
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enough for it to be this red,” he whispers.
Somehow, in the midst of my confusion and anger, he finds a way to make me scowl, until I see the stormy look in his eyes. “You…?”
“Yeah.”
Céline goes pale.
Lacey steps forward, her voice trembling with rage and heartbreak. “If bad things happen to bad people,” she says, voice cracking, “then what the fuck should happen to you?”
LACEY
TW: Depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Please proceed with care.
I’m so tired.
Not the kind of tired sleep can fix.
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