RAMSAY.

The look on Scout’s face said everything. I didn’t need to hear the words, the explanation, because I knew I was right. No matter how it happened, he brought this here. To me.

I was back by the lockers, but he turned, as if knowing exactly where I was, and he knew that I knew.

He did this.

My phone was buzzing in my hand, and I didn’t care about who was calling me, texting me, sending me death threats. I followed my cousins, heard everything, every single word that was said, and that school gossip, she knew too.

Everyone did.

She was guilty for spreading it.

I was going to remember her, and I was going to shatter her. I didn’t know how, but it was going to happen.

Fuck Scout.

Fuck everyone.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. I was past the hurt, the pain, the threats having any effect on me. I was ready to destroy people.

I shoved past the few people standing in front of me and stopped right in front of Scout.

His gaze was locked on mine, and we both knew the truth. Both of us. I didn’t know how that happened, or when it happened, but we were synced, so I used that connection.

“You did this.”

The people quieted, but everyone heard me.

I felt a presence next to me, knew it was Clint, knew he was there to back me up in any way I needed. It was the same way I knew the presence on my other side was Trenton, and he was barely containing the need to hurt someone for this happening to me. And then there was Alex. He had a different energy. More calm. More smooth. Alex was the peacemaker and he was going to say something to make this better.

I snapped at him, “Not this time, Alex.”

The vibrations shot through the crowd. I could feel it, could feel people reassessing me, stepping back because they knew this had reached a whole new level of pressure.

Alex surprised me. “I know. Not what I’m about to say, cousin.”

Cousin.

That word washed over me, reminding me of our connection, our blood. That he loved me, which I knew because all of them went so hard for me just now.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice, “Just saying we should have this talk somewhere without so many eyes? Can really say what needs to be said then.” He indicated Scout in the last statement, whose eyes flickered once.

His jaw clenched, and he jerked his head in a tight nod. “Locker room.”

“Gladly,” Clint seethed, leading the way.

The crowd scrambled back.

Two guys were outside the door, and Clint ordered, “Get lost.”

One guy started to argue.

Trenton growled, right next to me.

Scout clipped out, “Now, Hastings.”

They scrambled.

It was the same thing inside. A few guys were changing, and Clint ordered them to disappear. He went to the office in the corner, but no teacher or coach was in there so once the guys were gone, the door was locked from the inside.

“Cohen will guard the door for us.”

“Don’t you need backup?” My tone was taunting.

His gaze latched to me, and I felt singed from the ice.

His eyes narrowed. “I can handle myself just fine.”

I was sure he could. A memory of his fight flashed in my mind.

“You told!” I didn’t care how well he could fight. That didn’t scare me, and it was because somewhere inside me, I knew he wasn’t like Max. It was the same connection we had where I was starting to just know when he was around, the same knowledge that we could read each other’s minds from a look. It was that feeling that, no matter how fast he could use his fists, his body, his speed, his power, he’d never hurt me physically. And because of that, I unleashed everything inside me. “Fuck you for doing that! I told you because, for once, you weren’t such an asshole. You helped me out, but were you just manipulating me? Hit me when I was weak? When I let it out to someone because I needed to get it out of me because, if I didn’t, he’d always be in there? He’s like cancer. I can’t get him out of me. He’s inside me, under my skin, controlling my thoughts, my emotions, and for one second, I let it out to someone. I’d not even talked to them about him. So fuck you, Scout Raiden. Fuck you.”

There was a moment of shocked silence.

Not from Scout. His eyes were sparking from his restraint, and then he spoke, through clenched teeth, “Maybe if you’d fucking wait a beat, I could explain what happened?” He moved in, his head bending down as he was towering over me. His voice went soft, which made it more dangerous, “The only person I talked about it with was your cousin.” His head bent even lower. “Because again, I was calling to apologize to him, to make things right, and to let him know that I knew. I was trying to do that for you.” Even lower. He was just a few inches away. “How fucking stupid am I, that I thought my best friend might need one more ally in the group.”

I didn’t move back even though I could feel his breath. “You told.”

“I told your cousin. That’s it.”

I shook my head. “No. I saw the look on your face. It got out because of you.”

He didn’t comment.

Triumph flared in me. “Right?”

A brief wince flashed over his face before he lifted his gaze, taking in my cousins behind me. He went to one and stayed there. I knew without looking that it was Alex.

But his next words weren’t what I expected to hear.

“I didn’t sleep at my place. I went back to Cohen’s after I dropped her off. I called you from their place. Amalia overheard me. She called a friend asking about who Ramsay was.”

I waited.

He didn’t say anything else.

I jerked my head up. “And?”

His gaze went back to mine, stark.

“And what? What happened then?”

Clint asked, more calm than I would’ve imagined, “Who was the friend?”

Scout closed his eyes, regret tightening his face before it was gone and the wall came back down. “Gabby Real.”

I twisted around. “Who is Gabby Real?”

But Trenton was gone. Again.

Mad déjà vu was happening all over again, but this time, we went after him immediately.

“What? Again?” Cohen was taking us all in, his head following each of us as we passed until he fell in step next to Scout. “What’s going on?”

“Trenton’s going after Gabby.”

“Not good.”

Scout didn’t reply, and I got it then. He wasn’t going to stop us.

He was going with us.

We went to the cafeteria, and Trenton led us right to a table where Gem was sitting with her cousin and eight other people. “What the fuck, Real?” Trenton growled at one girl in particular who was sitting on the corner.

Gem jumped up. “Ramsay! Are you okay?”

I ignored her, focusing on Gabby, who showed no emotion as she blinked a few times and then leaned against the table behind her. One of her curls fell forward over her face. She reached up and twirled it around her finger before stretching it and letting it pop back up again. Dark brown hair. Puffy cheeks. Freckles.

Gem’s cousin leaned forward so she could see better. She didn’t seem to give a crap about whatever was about to happen, but she did have some mild curiosity.

“Rams—” Trenton started.

I didn’t look at him as I said, “I got this.” Then I asked, “Why’d you blast my shit out to everyone?”

Her eyes widened, and she sucked in her breath. Fear built in her gaze.

There. That was the reaction I was looking for. She didn’t think I knew.

“Who told you that?”

“Does it matter? You did it.”

Gabby flinched as if she’d been slapped.

Theresa stood and stepped away from the table, a hand on her hip. Her eyes moved from me to Gabby. “Is that the truth?”

Gabby’s eyes closed, and she seemed to be saying something under her breath before she pushed up from her seat. When her eyes opened, they were blazing. Fiery. “You’re lying.”

“You’re calling my cousin a liar?” Clint stepped to my side.

Alex moved to my other side. “She’s not a liar. Neither are we.”

The blood drained from Gabby’s face as Alex spoke. “I didn’t—I mean—”

“You spread that stuff?” Theresa asked her.

Gabby seemed to shrink. “No. I mean, yeah, but I didn’t mean for it to get out like it did. I mean, it’s messed up what happened to her.”

Theresa looked at me. “Who told you?”

I was prepared to give the same answer when Scout spoke up, “I did.”

The fact that he said it, that it came from him, that he was standing with my cousins and I had an impact. Everyone shut up except Clint, who snorted.

Gabby opened her mouth, but nothing came out of it. She closed it, and I could see the wheels turning in her head before she stood taller and squared her shoulders. Her bag fell to the floor, and she held it by the straps, letting it sit there. “I was curious, that was all, and I made a mistake of sharing it with a few friends. It’s my mess. I’m sorry.” She looked at each of my cousins. At Scout. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

Gem moved forward, looking at her phone. “You didn’t share it with a few friends. You posted it on your TikTok! WTF, Gabby?”

Gabby’s eyes closed.

Clint growled, “That’s so fucked up. You did this shit. You spread it—”

Theresa’s eyes narrowed when Clint started going off. She moved forward.

I didn’t know the dynamics going on here, but I knew one thing: a guy could not go off on a girl. There were rules, and I had to make a decision. My cousins had confronted her, but continuing was a whole different dynamic.

I stepped in, my back to Gabby, and put a hand to Clint’s chest. “Stop.”

“Rams—”

“I said stop.” I looked at Trenton. “I’ll handle this.”

His gaze was stormy, and when he didn’t respond, Alex moved forward. He took Clint by the arm, pulling him back. “Come on.”

“No—”

“Clint!” I got in his face. “I got this.”

“But—”

“Trenton.”

Trenton rolled his eyes before giving in and moving to help his brother. Both herded Clint out of the cafeteria.

Once they were in the hallway, I turned back. There was a whole audience now, but I didn’t care. No way in hell was I going to let this stand. If I did, they’d keep doing shit. I wasn’t certain who they were, but there was always a they.

“Listen—” Gabby began.

I waved her off and ignored the vibes Theresa was sending. Her energy was biting. I focused only on Gabby. “I don’t know you. I don’t know this school or the dynamics here, but you blasted my shit on your social media. You fully fucking knew what that would do.” She started to say something, but I got even closer to her. “Save your shit, but you and me? I now give a fuck about you. I give a whole lot of fucks about you. Are you getting what I’m saying here? I’ve been through hell, literal hell, and I’m standing here. If you think I didn’t grow some tough-ass skin going through my ordeal, you’d better educate yourself. Here’s my warning for you: I’m going to hurt you. And it’s not going to be today, tomorrow, the next day, but I’m the type of bitch who’s going to wait for the perfect shot, the one that’ll hurt you the most, and that’s when I’m going to make my move. Trust and believe, your shit’s coming back to bite your ass.”

I stepped back, sweeping my gaze over the table.

Scout had remained, and he ordered, “Take that shit off your social media. Now.”

It was gone within the minute. Gem told me later.