by Ruby Vincent
“Val, stop.” Sofia darted into my path. “She’s not worth it.”
She pulled me away over the sound of their laughter. I sat down and forced myself to eat as the dining room filled up. Evergreen students took up all the tables, and in the back by the professors, the Knights claimed a table for themselves.
“I’m never skiing again.” I jumped as Kai slammed his plate down. “So we’ll have to find something else to do, Moon.”
I forced myself to look away from Ezra and focus on Kai. “What if I don’t want to do something else? I didn’t suck at it nearly as much as you.”
“Come on. If I don’t hang out with you, I’ll be stuck with this guy.” He leveled a finger at Zane as he took the seat next to Sofia. “Don’t do that to me.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why do you guys act like you’re not best friends? You laugh and joke together more than me and Sofia.”
“I love the guy like a brother—”
“He is your brother.”
“—but you can only put up with him for so long.” A biscuit went whizzing at his head and bounced off his nose. “See what I mean?”
“Why don’t we all do something together?” I glanced at Sofia. “What do you have left on your list?”
“There’s sledding, building a snowman, having a snowball fight, and chilling in the hot tub.”
“Hot tub.” The boys answered so fast I swatted both of their shoulders.
“What?” Kai laughed. “Sofia suggested it, not me.”
“We can do the other stuff first,” I said. “Then tonight we’ll hit the hot tub with drinks and music.”
“Won’t Markham have a fit if she catches us?” asked Sofia.
“It’ll be a group of us—boys and girls. It’s not like we’re going to have an orgy.”
Kai inclined his head. “Although—”
Whack!
The guy guffawed as he protected his arm from more beatings. Yep, he was definitely back to his old self.
In my pocket, my phone vibrated. I took it out and looked at the screen. My good mood blew away like dust in a storm.
Ace.
I spared my laughing friends one more glance then smoothed out my face. I didn’t want them to think something was wrong.
Ace: Looks like you’re having a good time, but I hope you haven’t forgotten about me.
I raised my head. Through my lashes, I looked around taking note of everyone who was in the room and on their phones. Almost all of the junior class and our professors had come down to breakfast. A phone was in nearly every hand.
Buzz. Buzz.
Ace: Looking for me? Well, I’m here. Let’s see if you can find me.
My fingers flew across the screen.
Me: How about we stop playing these games? Tell me who you are.
Ace: Why would I do that?
Me: You wouldn’t do that because you’re a coward. You know it won’t end well for you if I ever find your bitch ass. You want me to be afraid of you, but the truth is, you’re afraid of me.
I waited for the reply. A minute passed. Then another. Then five more and nothing came.
“Val, you ready?” asked Sofia. She, Zane, and Kai picked up their empty plates to go.
“Yes, I’m ready.”
I put my phone back in my pocket and joined my friends—leaving the lurking shadow of Ace behind.
THE FOUR OF US WERE having so much fun it got noticed. Our shrieks brought attention to our snowball fight and soon Eric, Ciara, and Paisley joined in. It was like nothing ever happened between us as we raced our sleds and challenged each other on who could build the best snowman. Sofia and I beat out Kai and Zane by a mile.
“You guys are doing the hot tub with us, right?” Kai asked. He threw an arm around my shoulder as we gathered in the lobby. “But I warn you, Val says no orgies.”
Eric burst out laughing. “Damn. There goes my night.”
I clapped my hand over Kai’s face and playfully shoved him. “Ignore everything this guy says.”
“I always do,” Zane piped up.
The group laughed. Happiness was brimming so high I thought it would spill over. I wasn’t ready for it to end either. “Join us. Sofia is going to get glasses and cider from the kitchen and I’m bringing my speakers.”
“Can’t pass that up,” said Paisley. “I’ll change and meet you guys down there.”
Everyone else agreed and we broke up to go to our rooms. I changed into my bathing suit. It was a one-piece so not very scandalous, but it looked cute on me.
Sofia and I took up our towels and headed out. I went straight for the hot tub while she veered off to the kitchen. The folds of the fabric chimed just before I reached the room.
Maverick: Coleman came down with a cold and is laid up in his room. Felton is asleep and Ezra is off talking to his mom. If you come up now, we’ll have the room to ourselves.
I stopped and looked back the way I came. That was tempting. So very tempting.
Me: I can’t. I’m supposed to hang out with my friends. Besides, I’ve almost been caught once. Don’t want to push my luck.
Maverick: We haven’t spent any time together this whole trip. We should be watching movies together and sitting in front of the fire.
Me: I wish we could.
Maverick: I keep thinking about last weekend when we went to my place and
I stopped reading right there. I remembered vividly what we did at his place while his parents were out and if this kept up, I would give in and run up to his room. I avoided reading his message as I typed mine.
Me: We’ll be together soon. I promise. Talk to you later.
Maverick: Bye. I love you.
Those three final words warmed me better than the hot tub ever would. I had yet to say it back to him, but I had a feeling the time was getting closer when it would be right.
I tucked my phone back into my towel and went inside. The hot tub was already bubbling from someone else’s visit so I turned on the music and got in. It didn’t take long for everyone else to arrive and soon we were laughing and goofing off over flutes of cider.
“Let’s do truth or dare,” Paisley asked.
I shook my head. “No way. I’m still traumatized from Isabella’s party in freshman year.”
“Then you’ll have to pick dare this time.”
“I don’t think that will end any better for me.”
Kai lifted a hand. “Hold up. What are we missing? What happened in freshman year?”
“You don’t need to—”
“Everyone made Val answer the most embarrassing truths imaginable,” Ciara piped up.
“You don’t have to tell him,” I cried.
Kai grinned. “I agree with Paisley then. It’s all dare for you.”
“Not when you have that look on your face.”
He adopted an innocent expression immediately. “What? You don’t trust me?”
“Not even a—” My phone chimed with a text. “One sec.”
I wiped my hands on the towel before taking it out. My smile melted away when I saw who it was. The party went on around me as I opened the message.
Ace: I’m not afraid of you. Why would I be? I hold all the cards. But if you want to meet me that badly, you only had to say. Come out onto the terrace behind the rec room. If you’re not there in ten minutes, I’m leaving.
I read the message once, twice, then a third time. Were they serious? They were finally going to reveal themselves? What do I do?
Go. This is my chance to end this. Find out what they want and what it will take to make that video disappear.
“Guys, I have to go.” I picked up my things and clambered out to their protests.
“Go where?” asked Sofia.
“I left something in my room.” I jammed my feet in my shoes and wrapped the towel tightly around me. “I’ll be back soon.”
I went into the hall dripping wet and not caring. The closed door muted the noise of my friends and plunged me into silence.
I looked at my clock.
Seven minutes.
There was no time to find the Knights or make a plan. I had to get out there before Ace was gone. The sound of my flip-flops smacking on the hardwood echoed through the halls. I could hear people in the distance having a good time, but at that moment the lobby was empty except for a lone employee behind the desk. A thought entered my mind as I neared the rec room.
Tell the Knights. They can come and confront them too.
I had my phone out before I finished the thought.
Me: I’m meeting Ace on the terrace behind the rec room right now. I’m ending this.
I sent the message to all the boys and then stepped into the rec room.
The room itself was a small, cozy space, but the double doors at the back led to a beautiful wooden terrace perfect for sitting out and enjoying the sunset.
The sun was long gone when I stepped outside. Darkness covered the deck and the shadows cast by the balcony above made it even darker. I reached out and flicked the lamps on, piercing the gloom, and I saw one thing right away.
There was no one here.
Slowly, I walked further out. The terrace led down to a frost-covered garden and then on to the woods. I shivered. The cold whipped and bit at me, making goose bumps break out over my damp skin.
“Hello?”
A glance at my clock told me I still had four minutes left.
Where are they? I took another step toward the railing. Are they in the garden?
“Hello? Where are you?”
I peered over my shoulder, but there wasn’t a soul in the rec room either.
This was a waste of time. They aren’t com—
Pain exploded in my shoulder. I screamed as something came down on me hard. The surprise made my knees buckle, and my phone went flying as I fell.
The last thing I saw was the railing rising up to meet me.
Chapter Ten
“...Doesn’t happen...”
“...on purpose...”
“This was supposed to be over!”
The shout ripped me back to consciousness.
“Wha—?”
“Val?”
I peeled my eyes open and found a figure standing over me. It took a few seconds for my vision to clear. “Sofia?”
“Oh, Val.” Concern was etched into every line of her face. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“I was going to ask you that.” I tried to push myself up and cried out. My shoulder throbbed its displeasure. Looking around, I saw I was in the infirmary and we weren’t alone. Markham stood next to a woman I assumed was the doctor. “What happened?” I repeated.
Markham stepped up to Sofia’s side. “You were found last night on the terrace with a ski on top of you. There was a cut on your head from where you hit the railing so you were brought here immediately.”
I gaped at her. That bastard dropped a ski on me?!
“What do you remember?”
I shifted my attention to the doctor. “Nothing. I didn’t see anyone,” I said honestly. “I was going back inside when I felt something hit my shoulder.” Talking about it made it throb more. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Your shoulder is fine, but you have a pretty nasty bruise,” said the young brunette woman. “Your head is okay too. The cut is superficial and should heal without a scar. If you do show signs of concussion, come back to me. Otherwise, let’s be thankful this accident wasn’t worse.”
“This wasn’t an accident,” Sofia snapped. I got the feeling it wasn’t the first time. “Skis don’t fall from the sky. Someone did this to her!”
Markham grasped her shoulder. “Miss Richards.”
“This was supposed to be over. Why would anyone do this?”
“Miss Richards, that is enough.” Her tone brokered no argument. “Val has had a long night and needs to rest. Help her to her room.”
Sofia opened her mouth, but I stopped her with a hand on the arm. “I want to get out of here, Sof. Please, help me up.”
She didn’t argue anymore. Carefully, she put my good arm around her shoulder and helped me out of the room. I was still in my bathing suit.
“Where is my phone?”
“Jaxson has it. He was the one who found you.”
“Okay. Can you get it back afterward? I want to—”
“I want to know what we’re going to do about Ace.”
The fury in her voice quieted me.
“I’m not stupid, Val. You got a text and then you went running out onto that terrace in your bathing suit. I know Ace attacked you.”
“I know it too.” I hugged her tighter. “What I don’t know is who Ace is. There’s nothing Markham can do.”
“I bet it’s Natalie.” Sofia was practically vibrating with anger. “You heard her yesterday. She said she was stalking you and waiting for the right moment to get you back. She’s gotten physical before.”
I considered that as Sofia let us into the room. Was Ace Natalie?
“It could be her.” Sofia set me down on the bed. I settled into the covers while she dug in my bag for a change of clothes. “But I don’t know how we’d prove it. She’s vicious, but she’s not stupid. She won’t admit it.”
Still, I thought. I’m keeping an eye on that chick. Airi and Isabella too. If this isn’t about the Spades then it has to be someone who simply wants to take me down. They fit that description big-time.
“If she did this, I’m going to do more than drop a ski on her head. Crazy bitch!” She ripped my top out of the duffle and my shorts got the same treatment. “And you!”
I sunk lower in the pillow when she leveled flashing eyes on me. “Me? What did I do?”
“Why would you go out there alone?!”
“Because I— Ace said they were going to reveal themselves. I thought it was my chance to end this once and for all.”
“Dumbass!”
I goggled at her. “Sof!” Sofia had never yelled at me like this before.
“Don’t ‘Sof’ me.” She stomped over to me and lifted the blankets off. Her hands were gentle as she helped me out of the bathing suit, but her words were anything but. “That was such an obvious trap. Why in the hell would they tell you who they are and then meet you alone? So you could show up with your band of Knights and beat them into the snow? Who would be that stupid?”
“I see that now,” I grumbled. “I was trying to provoke them and I thought it worked. Clearly, it didn’t.”
“They could have really hurt you, Val.” The anger was fading and being replaced by an emotion that made me feel worse. Sofia’s voice was thick with unshed tears. “You were almost killed more than once last year. You can’t afford to make it easy for psychos to get you.”
I caught her hand and held it tight. “Sof, I’m sorry. I should have told you what was going on and I definitely shouldn’t have gone out there alone, but if it’s worth anything, I don’t think Ace is trying to kill me.”
“How do you know that?”
“Dropping a ski on me hurt like hell, but there’s no way that would have killed me. If they wanted to do that, there are plenty of heavier things around the resort that would have caved in my skull nicely.”
She hissed. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s true. If anything, that was punishment for trying to push their buttons. They told me not to make them angry, and now they showed me what they will do if I don’t listen.”
“This is really freaking me out.” Sofia threw herself down next to me. I enfolded her in a hug as she fought tears. “We have to stop them. This needs to be over.”
“We will.” I rested my chin on her head. “One way or another, I will end this.”
We sat there in silence for a while. A silence that was only broken by a knock on the door. Sofia stood up to get it.
“Hey, Val.” Kai waved from the doorway. “Can I come in? Markham said it was okay if we left the door open.”
“She needs to rest, Kai.”
“There is someth
ing important I need to talk to her about.”
I sat up a little straighter. Is he here for what I think he is?
“It’s okay, Sofia. Let him in.”
Kai came through and perched himself on the edge of the mattress. Sofia propped the door open with a chair and then left us alone.
“How are you doing?”
“I’m okay. My shoulder is a bit sore but the doctor said it was nothing serious.”
“Everyone is talking about what happened, Val, and they are having a hard time believing a ski would fall from the sky on accident.” He shook his head. “I was really freaked when I heard, and I realized it was past time that we talked.”
I held my breath. This was it. I could feel it.
What am I supposed to say? I don’t have those feelings for him, but I don’t want to lose him again. How do I explain being blackmailed?
“Val, I want you to know how I feel.”
I stiffened. I can’t let him confess when I don’t feel the same.
“I think we should just be friends—”
“I don’t have feelings for you like—”
We both cut off, blinking at each other.
“Wait,” I said. “Did you just say friends?”
“Yes. What did you say?”
“I said I don’t have feelings for you like that.”
“Really? Then... why did you kiss me at the homecoming dance?”
“I don’t know. I guess I got caught up in the moment. Why did you kiss me back?”
He shrugged. “Because you’re hot.”
My foot shot out of the covers and shoved him off. He went down laughing.
“I’m serious,” he said as he righted himself. “A smart, beautiful, funny girl kissed me. I wasn’t going to run away screaming. But after it happened, I knew it was a mistake. I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
My relief was huge. The breath I had been holding whooshed out of me. “I’m so happy to hear you say that. You’re my friend. One of the only people I can say never let me down. I didn’t want to lose you.”
He cracked a smile. “Nah. You’re stuck with me for a bit longer.”
“It’s funny,” I continued. “People swore up and down that you had a crush on me.”
Kai’s smile twitched. “Well, I kind of did at first. You remind me so much of her.”