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Sout It actually makes my bones ache

Add on top of that, I haven't heard a peep fro haywire He should have called by now, as he knows his deadline is loo he acceptedto get eto just roll over and take what I offered He's a businessotiate, of that I'e over me, and he'd use it to his benefit

And now Sela seeest source of leverage JT could get his hands on

But no

That's fucking ridiculous to even think that JT would have Sela Or that Sela would go near JT Or that she's anywhere other than the library studying, for soot to text me, and has her phone off so as not to disturb others

The doorbell rings and I nearly ju she wouldn't be ringing the doorbell

I stride to the door, look through the peephole and confirm it's Caroline and Ally, and then unlatch the lock to let the her as wide a s down to pick her up Her little arsfor the same smile at Caroline, but her brow immediately furroorry

"What's wrong?" she asks me bluntly, because she can just tell

I shake htly to her to let her know that I don't want to discuss this in front of Ally She steps in, brushes pastroom "Allycome watch some TV for a few minutes I need to talk to Uncle Beck privately"

I follow her in while Caroline expertly navigates the prograuide until she finds Dora the Explorer I drop Ally down on the couch, ruffle her hair, and whisper, "Be back in a jiff, cutie"

She slued there

I walk back toShe shuts the door behind her and says, "Where's Sela? Did you two get in a fight?"

I whirl around in surprise "God, no We're fine Perfect But she's not here and she should be, and I'm worried"

Caroline's look of concern turns to one of amused exasperation "Geez, Beck So she's a few h I think it's adorable the way you worry about her"

"No," I say harshly, and Caroline blinks ata fewmore than thatI can just tell There's just some stuff that--"

I stop, not even sure what I should to say to Caroline I'm sure she'd understand, but there's still a tiny part of h the door any y on her face

"Hey," Caroline says softly, stepping toward ht be wrong, aren't you?"

I take a deep breath, scrub h h "Yeahthere's so on that I really can't--"

"You tellminute, Beckett North," Caroline says with an imperial tone and a look that says she ot your back always Just like you've had ht now"

My lips curve upward involuntarily, because my sister is fierce and cute all at the same time She's also been the only one I've been able to turn to in my life who supports me one hundred percent, no questions asked And I know I can trust her withbasis for them

"I don't even knohere to begin," I say hesitantly, "because reallythis story is beyond complex and unbelievable"

"At the beginning," she says cal, she leads uest chairs and pushesit to face me She sits down, leans forward, and says, "Spill it"

I take a deep breath, hold Caroline's eyes with aze, and start to tell her the story "A little over ten years ago, Sela was raped by JT It's e invited you over tonight She was going to tell you, soyou knowyou would have someone you could talk to if you wanted"

"What?" Caroline gasps, jerking backward until she's sitting raht

I nod "He drugged and raped her, along with two other guys She didn't knoas hio identified him by the tattoo on his ribs"

"What tattoo?" she asks curiously

"A red phoenix Same one I haveI mean had on the back of my shoulder"

"Was it a fraternity thing?" she asks, as she knows the origin of my phoenix

"Not sure," I tell her truthfully, but then try to steer her back to the full story Because she's only got the very tip of the iceberg "But she cae Met s developed She eventually told me the truth about JT"

"Jesus," she mutters "What did you do?"

"You don't want to know," I say, dropping aze to my lap

"Uhyes, I do Are you in trouble? Is she in trouble?"