When my phone buzzed again, she looked at the door. “I think I can handle myself.”
“I know you can—”
She walked out.
“Ugh!” I groaned at the closed door. It’s not you I don’t trust. My heart galloped, and I covered my face. What to do? I texted Mateo back, threw on some makeup, and jogged to the SUV.
Mateo grinned as I climbed in, and I tried to relax my mouth when he leaned in for a kiss.
“Turquoise looks great on you.”
I looked down at my long-sleeved shirt beneath a shaggy white vest. “Thanks.”
“It’s not as much bling as that sequin one. Maybe when it gets warm again, you’ll wear it?”
My airway compressed. “I threw it away.”
He waited a beat, and I watched his eyes as he realized that particular shirt held bad memories for me. “Oh. Right. Sorry.”
Johnny drove the car toward the greenhouse as I stared at my phone. Should I text Mackenzie? Do I have a prayer of convincing her to stay away from Blake? My cheeks puffed out with a long sigh. Probably not.
“¿Estás bien?”
I looked at Mateo, whose face had filled with concern. From the driver’s seat, Johnny seemed to be waiting for my answer, and I didn’t want to say anything in front of him. Pull it together.
I pasted on a smile. “Fine.” I ran my tongue over my teeth. “Just thinking about the best way to teach you euchre, Teo. We’ll be an awesome team.”
He smiled as his hand slipped into mine. “Dane’s been trash-talking me all week.”
“He’s a little competitive.”
“Just a tad.”
“What’d he say?”
He scrolled down his phone. “Here’s a good one: You suck more than a suck machine set on ‘suck a lot.’”
My brother was so juvenile.
He kept reading. “Get your popcorn ready, ’cause I’m gonna put on a show.”
And arrogant.
“Here’s my favorite, though.” He smirked at his phone. “Let me get you a menu, because you’re about to get served.”
“Well done for working volleyball slang into it.” I had to grin. “How’d you respond?”
“Fitch helped me come up with ‘Get the marshmallows ready, ’cause, baby, I’m on fire.’”
I chuckled. “Niiiice. How was rehearsal?”
“So good. We wrote a new song. I’ve never composed with other musicians before.” His eyes lit up. “It was totally organic, totally synergistic.”
When had he become vegan Reiki master?
“How was your meet?” he asked.
“Our relay rocked. Elyse swam back, I did breast, Mackenzie fly, and Emma free. My individual events were a little off, but we have five months of training before NCAAs in March.”
He considered that. “So you didn’t win IM and breaststroke?”
“No, I won.” I’d won by a lot, but I didn’t want to boast. “But my times could’ve been better.”
He shook his head. “You sound like Lucy. Maybe you’re being too hard on yourself.”
“Tell me this: are you ever completely satisfied with the songs you write?”
His mouth puckered. “Touché.”
When a text vibrated my phone, I looked down. It was from Elyse.
Mack says you’re not coming over?
I tensed. I hadn’t thought about Blake for five minutes, but now my worries for Mackenzie came rushing back.
Sorry—thought I told you I’m going to Teo’s.
Oh, right. We’ll miss you, chica!
Miss you, too.
I nibbled on my lip as I typed another text.
Would you do me a favor?
Would you watch over Mackenzie?
Why?
My teeth clenched.
She likes Blake.
Ew.
Elyse had always seemed wary of Blake. I aimed for a lighthearted response, ignoring my hammering heart.
I know, right?
Mateo was studying me, so I said, “Elyse is bummed I’m not coming over.”
“That sucks.”
“Mackenzie’s pissed at me, too.” A twinge of fear hitched my breath. Should I tell Mateo my roommate has the hots for Blake?
“But you just spent all day with them, right?”
I nodded.
“Don’t they realize you need some time with your boyfriend?” His dimple appeared when he smiled at me.
He’d started referring to himself as my boyfriend two weeks ago, after our first kiss, and my heart fluttered every time he used the word. He deserved my trust. I cupped my hand over his ear and whispered, “Mackenzie told me she wants to be with Blake.”
His eyes got big.
“So I asked Elyse to watch over her tonight.”
He nodded. “Good idea. Do you need to be there?”
I thought about it for a moment. “No, it’s okay.” I smiled at him. “I want to be with you.”
His grin lasted all the way to the greenhouse.
“Good, no media,” Karen said as we approached the gate.
I exhaled, and Johnny punched the gate code.
Karen held the front door open for us, and I ran inside, right into the wall otherwise known as Dane. He gave me a bear hug and studied me when he let go. “What’s wrong?”
I wished they’d stop treating me like a cracked teacup. “Nothing.”
“Jessica!” Lucia swooped in to hug me as well. “So happy you’re here.”
At least she didn’t ask me what was wrong.
“Do I get to hug little Monroe, too?”
I looked up and noticed a tall, sandy-haired Californian: Dane’s best friend. “Hi, Josh.”
He gave me a lazy smile and scooped me up.
“Hey, now,” Mateo said when Josh held me a beat longer than was appropriate. Did Josh know what had happened to me?
He let me go and chuckled. “Chillax, Teo. Don’t mean to make the moves on your wife before the double wedding.”
“Dude,” Dane said. “Shut up already about that reporter’s dumbass comment.”
Lucia’s face fell. “I didn’t think it was dumb.”
Dane stalked toward her and hauled her over his shoulder, which made her screech. “You’re right, Luz.” He patted her bottom. “Not dumb at all.”
From her upside-down position, she lifted her head, eyes shining. “C’mon in, guys. Let’s start the game.”
“Eager, aren’t we?” Dane teased, but he led us into the TV room where a card table was set up.
Josh took a seat at the square table and dunked a tortilla chip into salsa.
I counted five people for a four-person game. “Josh is playing, too?”
“He’ll be my partner.” Dane nodded. “You and Teo can team up to play the same hand until he understands euchre.”
My hand flew to my hip. “Teo’s smart. He doesn’t need me.”
“But he’s a Ramirez. He needs extra help.” Dane shrugged. “I know how hard it was for Luz to learn the game.”
“Ooooh.” Lucia’s eyes flared. “Wedding’s off. Good thing you’re not my partner, because I’m going to annihilate you.”
He cocked one eyebrow. “Bring it.”
I looked at Mateo, who shook his head. My brother and his girlfriend had issues.
I dug into my purse as Lucia slid into the seat next to Josh.
“What’re you looking for?” asked Dane.
“A tissue,” I said. “You have a little bullshit on your lip.”
To my side, Mateo cracked up. He cradled my cheek and drew my face toward him for a kiss. “Perfecto.”
“I’m gonna remember that line,” Lucia said as she got us drinks.
Mateo dragged over another chair. We sat side by side across the table from our partner, Lucia, while Dane and Josh had the seats perpendicular to us. When I felt Mateo’s body heat, I was glad Dane had paired us up.
I watched Josh guzzle sparkling water and wondered if he’d rather have a
beer. He and Dane were both of age, and Lucia was about to turn twenty-one. I hoped my emotional issues weren’t interfering with their fun.
Four drinks and a bag of chips later, I pointed to the jack of diamonds in Mateo’s hand. “That one.”
He turned to me and whispered, “Isn’t that the most powerful card?”
I liked him whispering in my ear. His sexy voice sent tingles through me. “Yeah. Let’s be aggressive,” I whispered back.
“Hmm.” His mouth twisted, but he led the card.
I noticed Lucia hiding a smile and knew I’d made a good choice. She was probably loaded with the trump suit of diamonds, and it helped to know her partner, instead of her opponents, had the granddaddy diamond.
“That’s an estúpido lead,” Dane said.
“Dane, I get so emotional when you’re not around.” Mateo tilted his head. “And that emotion is happiness.”
Josh laughed. “Bam.”
“Why’re you all ganging up on me?” Dane sulked.
“Aw.” Lucia rubbed his shoulder. “Poor little gigante. Dishes it out but can’t take it.”
She trumped our next lead, and we won all five tricks—two points for our side. Josh was about to deal the next hand when my phone buzzed with a text from Elyse.
Uh-oh. Blake just showed up. Creep.
My fingers flew over the phone.
At your place?
Yeah.
I wasn’t sure how to play this without telling her everything. All I knew was I had to stop Blake from hurting my roommate.
Is Mackenzie still there?
She’s talking to Blake now.
He’s got his hands all over her.
Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.
“Hey.” Mateo’s arm wrapped around my waist. “What’s going on?”
I looked up to see the cards dealt and everyone staring at me.
“Who’re you texting?” Dane asked.
I blinked at him, frozen.
Mateo’s hand pressed into my thigh. “You’re trembling. What’s wrong?”
Blake was going to rape Mackenzie. And I couldn’t stop it. He’d ruin her just like he ruined me.
“Jess!” Dane’s voice made me flinch.
Mateo unlatched my fingers from my phone and stole it away. “She’s texting Elyse.” After a few seconds of reading, he looked up. “¡Cabrón! Blake came over to Elyse’s. He’s making the moves on Mackenzie.”
“Holy fuck.” Dane scrambled out of his chair, with Lucia a second behind him.
“Who’s Blake?” Josh asked, looking confused.
So he didn’t know. I couldn’t move.
“What should we do?” Dane asked.
Johnny jogged into the room. “We should go over there.”
As he stood, Mateo’s jaw dropped, mirroring my own shock. “Were you eavesdropping?”
Johnny swallowed and looked at me, his mouth in a grim line. “I’ve known for a while.”
My eyes welled with tears as I darted my gaze to Mateo.
“Mateo didn’t tell me,” Johnny said. “I figured it out.”
Tears washed over me, but it didn’t matter that he knew about the rape. Mackenzie was all that mattered now.
“Please,” I breathed. “Please help her.”
“Yeah.” Johnny nodded. “Karen, we need you!” He typed on his phone as he waited for her.
Mateo took my hand and drew me to my feet, gathering me against him in a tight hug. Over his shoulder, I watched Karen fly into the room.
“Morrell’s about to strike his next victim,” Johnny told her.
She nodded, seeming unfazed by the news.
My body shook uncontrollably.
“Wait,” Dane said. “How do you know he’ll try something tonight?”
“Call it my spidey sense,” said Johnny. “We need to get over there to stop it.”
Dane’s hand fisted. “If something’s going down, I’m going in.”
“No.” Johnny looked at him. “You need to stay here with Lucia until her agents return from a meeting. And we might need an inside man—someone Morrell doesn’t know.” His eyes landed on Dane’s teammate. “Josh, you’re it.”
Josh rose to his feet, eyes wide.
“We need your help to stop Blake from hurting Mackenzie,” Johnny said.
Josh gaped. “He’s gonna hurt her?”
“He might drug and rape her.”
“How do you know?”
Johnny glanced at me. “He’s done it before.”
I watched Josh’s eyes, and when they flickered with sadness, I knew he’d put the pieces together.
“More than once, we think,” Johnny added.
I felt like I was about to be sick, and Mateo tensed next to me. “What do you mean, more than once?” His tone was sharp.
“I talked to campus police,” Johnny said. “There’ve been a few Title-Nine reports to the university about girls who suspected they were raped. But none of them pressed charges—probably because they couldn’t remember much. We’re not letting this happen again.” He turned to Josh. “You in?”
“Hells yeah.”
Johnny made for the door. “We’ll brief you on the way. Mateo, you’re with us. Maybe you can get Josh up to speed en route.”
“Sí.” Mateo nodded.
Johnny beckoned for me. “Jess, you too. Let’s go.”
My fear must have shown because Johnny said, “It’s okay—you’ll stay in the car. We need you to keep Elyse in the loop. Bring your phone.”
Mateo reached for my hand. “We gotta stop him from hurting her.”
I nodded and let him propel me forward, following Johnny and Josh.
Lucia caught my elbow. When I looked at her, she was crying. “Ten cuidado.”
Be careful. I wished I’d heeded her advice my first night here.
“Motherfucker!” Dane yelled. “I need to be there!”
Karen held out her arm. “Stay with Lucia.” She hurried Mateo and me toward the door.
Mateo sat between Josh and me in the backseat. He kept hold of my hand as he briefed Josh on what Blake, Mackenzie, and Elyse looked like. Then he told him skeletal details about the worst night of my life, more than a month and a half ago. Had it really been that long since I’d been raped? Since I’d lost my sense of peace, my easy trust?
“Jessica.”
I found Johnny’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
“You need to text Elyse. Tell her to stay calm. If he tries anything before we get there, we need her to stop him.”
My breaths came fast and hard. Mateo squeezed my hand. I can do this. I can do this.
On our way. Keep an eye on Mackenzie.
Ok?
I paused. Elyse needed to know what kind of douche we were dealing with.
Blake did something to me.
He’s a bad guy. Please watch him.
It took her a while to respond.
Ok.
We weren’t far from her house now. When my phone rang, her name popped up on the screen. “Yeah?”
She sounded breathless. “I’m in the bathroom. I-I-I think I saw Blake put something in Mackenzie’s drink.”
“What?” I straightened, and Mateo shifted next to me.
“I was writing a text to you, and I kept deleting it. Then I looked up and saw him pour something in her drink.”
“Oh my God.”
“What?” Johnny asked as we lucked into a parking spot not too far from Elyse’s house.
“What should I do?” Elyse cried. “She doesn’t know.”
“Does he know you saw him do it?”
“Don’t think so.”
My stomach twisted as I announced to the car: “Elyse thinks Blake spiked Mackenzie’s drink. You gotta get her. You have to help her.”
“Shit,” Karen said. She looked at Johnny. “I’ll go in.”
He sat still for a moment, but when Karen reached for the door handle, he grabbed her elbow. “No! We can’t barge in there.”
/>
Elyse chirped in my ear, “Do you want me to get the drink?”
“Do you want Elyse to get the drink?” I asked.
“No,” Johnny said. “Don’t get the drink, and don’t go in.” He turned to look at me. “We have an opportunity to stop Morrell for good.”
I gulped.
He stared at me. “We need Elyse to call the police, report what she saw.”
Police? My chest squeezed.
Johnny added, “Josh goes in, makes sure Mackenzie doesn’t get hurt, gets the drink before campus police arrive.”
When I paused, Mateo said, “It’s a good idea, Jess. The spiked drink is evidence they can use to stop Shithead.”
“Time’s ticking,” Johnny said. “I’ve already got Officer Whitworth on standby. I’ll tell you his number.”
Everyone in the car stared at me, and I nodded. “Yes.” Then I told Elyse, “We need you to call campus police. Tell them you saw Blake spike the drink.” I relayed the number to her and hung up.
Karen twisted around to look at Josh. “We need that drink. Morrell will try to destroy it when the police arrive. You and Elyse have to get Mackenzie and her drink away from him, okay?”
I couldn’t believe it when Josh actually smiled. “No problem, dude.”
“So you’re good with the plan?” Johnny asked.
Josh pointed to a couple of houses down from us. “That one, right?”
Johnny nodded. “Yep. I’ll text Elyse before we go in.”
Josh left, and it wasn’t long before a Highbanks police car pulled up next to us, its lights and siren off. Karen jumped out to speak to the same officer who had driven us away from the prying paparazzi at the dining hall.
Johnny turned to us. “Jess, give me your phone so I can text Elyse.”
I handed it over.
“You two, don’t you dare leave the vehicle, or I’ll tell the president you had premarital sex.”
With that he slammed the car door, and I looked at Mateo, who stared back, wide-eyed. The tension of the moment snapped, and I let out a giggle.
His eyes got even bigger as a smile stretched his mouth. “Loca,” he said.
“I know. I’m insane.”
“This situation is insane.”
“Sí.” I watched Johnny and Karen confer with Officer Whitworth and another campus police officer. After they talked for a minute or so, Johnny and the officers sprinted toward Elyse’s house. Karen stayed by the hood of the SUV.
Spiked (Blocked #3) Page 23