Page 77 of Hell on Wheels
“Truth,” Angelo adds with a smirk. “But even so, you know you can’t flash the death glitter if you can’t justify it. Everyone will be after you if that gets out.”
I frown as I wiggle out of my lion’s grasp, looking at them as his words process. “You’re right.”
“Of course he is, Sparkles, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“D, my Fae dust being lethal is mymost guarded secret. It’s the one I’ve been tasked with keeping to prevent a bunch of bullshit, right?” He nods, his brow furrowed as he waits. “Sowhyisn’t that the first thing that bitch is crowing about far and wide? She knows; she was my best friend.”
The gravity of that revelation settles over us like a stone blanket. No one has an answer—it’s not like Mina gives a shit about the Society or getting me disciplined as a Guardian. Outing that fact might put me under even more scrutiny, including legal issues, because of how I handled my ass beating in the alley.
So why has she ignored it entirely?
“Princess, I think you’re on to something. Your ex-bestie is keeping mum about something that could destroy your career. If everyone knew what you can and have done, you’d skyrocket into notoriety. Some people might praise you, but more would jump on the ‘she’s evil’ bandwagon.”
“Exactly,” I say as I nod at Angelo. “She could use it to fuck me over with the team and with my other position. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Is she keeping it like an ace in her sleeve?” Archie asks. He scratches his chin, and I know he’s considering it like he would play out a game before taking the ice.
“Maybe. But this is big enough to blow a hole in my boatnow.” Damon looks troubled, and I tilt my head at him. “Tell me what you’re thinking, little demon.”
His cheeks flush and he shrugs. “Mina could keep this under her hat to use later, but the longer she waits, the less likely people will respond the way she wants them to. She’s proven to be reckless and completely unhinged when it comes to self-preservation. It doesn’t seem like her style to strategize. She’s kind of a moron—sorry, Sparkles. It has to be said.”
My head falls back as I laugh, the sound coming from the depth of my gut. It’s not like I didn’t know Mina was… not on the same level as me intellectually… but I’ve never been able to say it. She was my friend, and it didn’t matter if she was a couple of steps behind me when it came to that. Maybe more like a couple of miles, but either way, it didn’t make a difference. But now…
At least Damon said it first because even though she had me beaten to within an inch of my life and has done nothing but try to harm me, I still feel bad even thinking it.
“Wheels, it’s okay to admit she had faults. We all saw them, but we kept our big yaps shut because you were happy. If you think you’re the only person who saw those flaws, ask Rebel what he really thought about her. He’s been sitting on a gold mine of snarky shit, all to keep the peace with you.” Archie gives me a blindingly bright grin and my shoulders drop as the tension eases out of me.
“You, too?” I squint as I look at Javier and Angelo.
“Princess, that woman isn’t worth the TP you wipe with after a shit.” I blink and the demon chuckles, his eyes dancing with evil mirth. “She treated you like her personal whipping boy and sponged every ounce of talent and skill you had to further herself with her ‘fans.’ Half her bullshit fame is because she made cuts of practices, games, and trick skatesyoudesigned or called the plays for. She took all the credit, did none of the work, and focused every bit of the promo onher.”
Biting my lower lip for a minute, I think about that. Mina was always scheming to get views or attention; I didn’t care about followers or views. I took part when she wanted me to and I sure as hell made certain the team looked good if she was going to feature them. But I don’t think I really paid attention to what she did with it afterward because I thought, like me, she was trying to bring in fresh blood for the team.
Son of a bitch, that skank used me to build her base and tossed me out when I wouldn’t stay under her skate.
“Having a revelation, Dragonfly?” Javi asks quietly. His dark eyes are full of empathy as I nod. “It hurts when someone you cared about and respected wasn’t who you thought they were.”
“Fuck, yes, it does.”
Damon joins me in Archie’s embrace, wrapping his arms around me and the lion so he can be close. His lips press against my ear as I struggle to stay unaffected in this place where I cannot allow them to see me crack. “You’ve been trying to justify what happened, despite knowing you did nothing wrong. I think you just realized that not only were you innocent of wrongdoing, but you also were a victim of her self-centered bullshit. It’s okay for that to make you emotional.”
My jaw tightens as I shove all the hurt, raw emotions into my feet like I’ve done with Graciella for my entire life. I suck in a slow breath, then let it out carefully before I pull back from the two men to gaze at my mates.
“I’m going to destroy that crazy bitch if it’s the last thing I do,” I whisper to them. “But for now, we need to get to the checkered flag zone and wait for Reb. I have a race to run.”
And I’m going to smoke the shit out of everyone in it, just to prove to myself that Mina doesn’t control me anymore.
Damage Control
When our friend’s car comes shooting around the last curve, it’s obvious we were right. There are dings and dents, but the actual damage is in the form of several large caliber bullet holes in different places on the body. Reb must be ready to kick the living shit out of someone, but he’s driving as if nothing is wrong. Rogue’s gasp makes me squeeze her palm, reminding her to keep the mask on until we’re away from the crowds.
Rebel clears the flag first with ease, rolling into a spot among the other racers carefully. My twin nods at us, then leads us over to the fucked up Shelby at a deceptively slow pace. I get what he’s doing, but the tension radiating from our girl is about to burst. She has to see Reb to make sure he’s okay or we won’t be able to do anything else. Archie grunts, rubbing his chest, and I know it’s bleeding into him as well.
Rogue is powerful as hell and our bond gets deeper every day.
“He was well enough to finish the course and drive in without a hitch, Dragonfly. That means he’s not bad.”
She whips her head around to arch a brow at Javier. “He’s Fae, Javi. We can do that with a spell if we absolutely have to.”