Page 74 of Racing Hearts
Unlike what I told everyone else, I lean forward and tell them everything I heard. I don’t know why, but it seems important that they know. Besides, I’m worried, and if anyone understands, it will be them.
“The cops also said they think they had drugs in their systems to keep them compliant and knocked out or they wouldn’t have been able to move them. They also had injuries consistent with them being held against their will. They didn’t outright say it, but they don’t think this is suicide. They think this is murder and that the bodies were placed there for a reason. They were trying to dig.” I glance around at the shocked faces. “Those two boys were murdered and hung there for a reason.”
Autumn looks pale, and she rubs her face. “It’s happening again.” It’s so soft that I barely hear it, but I frown.
“What did you say?” I ask.
Lifting her head, she swallows hard. “That it’s happening again.” She glances around. “None of you were here. It was five years ago, so before our time, but my older brother was head of Silent Rose then, and he told me all about it. There were some suspicious deaths on campus. They were suspected murders, and they were covered up. It was a big fucking deal.”
“How? Why?” I ask.
“The guy they arrested for it at first was a member, but he was proven innocent, and they had to drop the cases, but yeah.”
“And they died like that?” I murmur.
“The hanging is new, but the drugs and restraints? Yeah, they died like that and were left on campus as a warning—of what, nobody knew.”
“You need to talk to your brother again or any members from back then,” Bones murmurs. “We need to know who did it, then we can catch them before anyone else gets hurt. Evan almost took the fall, and the police are still looking at him, not for the actual killer. We need to clear his name.”
I peer at Bones in shock, and he catches my gaze and nods. “You’re one of us, Evan. We’ll protect you, and we’ll fix this. Until then, lie low, and don’t do anything stupid or give them any reason to come after you, okay? We all know you didn’t do this, so let us prove it.”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nod stiffly.
So this is what it feels like to have a family.
As I glance around at the other members, I have the insane urge to cry. This might have started as some fun, but knowing they are willing to protect me makes me feel like I’ve finally found a home.
THIRTY-SIX
“Why, for the love of all that is holy, are we here?” Alice gapes, turning her face up to meet my wide, innocent eyes. Her hair is up in a bun, and she’s wearing some leggings and an oversized shirt since I caught her during her movie marathon. “You like to work out, not me, so find yourself a buddy to do it with, not your sister. I am not made for exercise. I am made for comfort, naps, and snacks,” she warns.
“I know all too well.” I smirk, draping my arm over her shoulders and steering her across the parking lot to the gym. It’s late, so it’s empty, which is good since I know she’d be embarrassed if it wasn’t. “I tried to get you to work out with me for years, and I kept finding you hiding behind machines, watching K-dramas on your phone.”
“It’s called exercising my mind and imagination.” She huffs, trying to escape my hold, but she finally gives up and slumps reluctantly.
“Or watching, as you call them, daddy hotties.” I smirk as I push through the door.
“Hey, I’m all about equal opportunities. The women are hot too. I’m no better than a man.” That makes me raise my eyebrows, but she doesn’t seem to realize what she said so I let it slide. Alice will talk to me when she’s ready. If you push her, she fights back. My sister is as stubborn as I am, maybe even more so—she just hides it behind a polite smile.
Bones is already warming up inside, dancing across the gym mats while he waits. I texted him to make sure he was wearing a shirt because I’m not scarring my sister. Luckily, he agreed to do me this favor, which lets me know he’s probably worried about what’s happening on campus too. Besides, he always makes time to train anyone in self-defense—it’s like his passion or hobby.
“Why am I here?” Alice asks, looking over at Bones.
“He’s going to teach you some self-defense until I’m sure you can handle yourself in an emergency.”
“Alek,” she whines, pouting up at me.
“Not going to work, kid.” I shrug. “I’m serious about this. Please, for me. I hate that something like that happened here. For fuck’s sake, it’s supposed to be the safest school in the country, not to mention the richest. I need to keep you safe.”
Her eyes narrow on me, and it’s times like these I’m scared of my sister. I swear she can read my mind.
“You’re just upset and worried about Evan and using me as scapegoat to avoid being alone and overthinking everything,” Alice mutters.
“Ouch.” I press my hand to my chest. “Hitting me where it hurts. Please. Alley cat, do this for me? You’re the only family I have left.”
“Using the dead family card, you bastard, but you know it’s true.” She sighs as she turns to look at Bones. “But I’ll do it for you, and when you stop worrying about me, you can start worrying about fixing your love life.”
“I’ll never stop worrying about you,” I admit as I ruffle her hair. “That’s what big brothers are for.”