“Did I know what?”
“That they were going after them? Did you fucking know?” I yell. He’s been one of my best friends since we were in elementary school, but he’s also a member of The Court.
“No,” he says. “Of course I didn’t fucking know. I would have said something.”
“Would you?” I narrow my glare at Brad. I don’t trust him. I don’t trust anyone.
Actually, that’s a lie. I trust Jasmine. I always have. She’s the only one I’ve ever trusted completely. Even now, when I don’t deserve her compassion, her friendship, she’s here trying to comfort me.
“Do they know about her?” I’m not sure why I’m bothering. I doubt Brad would tell me.
“After you vetoed that plan, they suspected something but they don’t know,” he says.
“Why the hell would you bring her here? Do you have any idea the danger you’ve put her in?” Now I’m fucking pissed.
“I could either help her sneak in unnoticed or she was coming in on her own,” he counters, folding his arms across his chest. “I’m not the fucking enemy here, Jake.”
“Except you are. You are one of them.”
Brad shakes his head. “You’re grieving, so I’m going to forget that you said that.”
“I want you out of my house, out of my life. Don’t come back. And stay the fuck away from Jasmine,” I warn him.
“What the hell?” Jazzy steps into the room. “What’s going on here?” She looks from me to Bradley.
“Nothing,” I grit out. “Bradley was just leaving.”
“I’m not leaving without her,” he says defiantly.
“She’s not fucking going anywhere with you, asshole. Get the fuck out of my house.” My ribs fucking hurt from the beating I took yesterday. Everything fucking hurts.
“Jazzy?” Bradley asks, and I step closer to her.
Jasmine doesn’t know what to do, what to say. But I have no doubt, which is why I stay silent.
“I’ll be fine. You should go,” she says to Brad, and I smirk. Asshole actually thought she’d choose him. She will never choose someone over me. We are the same. Because there is no one I would choose over her either. Even my parents…
Chapter Thirteen
As soon as Bradley leaves, reluctantly while giving me awhat the hell are you doingglare, I turn on Jake. “What the hell is going on?” I ask him.
“I don’t trust him,” he says.
“He’s been your friend longer than I was,” I remind him.
“It doesn’t matter. I need to make some calls. Get you out of here without being seen.” Jake turns and walks away from me.
“Stop!” I yell. “Stop walking away from me, Jake.”
He turns back around. His eyes, red raw from crying, stare directly into mine. Waiting.
“I have never walked away from you. Stop leaving me. It’s not fair.”
“I’ve never left you, Jazzy,” he says.
I scoff. “You did, and you’re doing it again. Right now. Just… let me help you.”
He needs a friend. He’s just become an orphan. He’s an only child and he pushed out one of the few friends he has. I need him to let me help him.