Page 2 of Dark Tangled Truths
“I don’t know.” I pull out my phone and text the group chat. “She hasn’t said much except that it’s bleeding and it burns.”
Me:
Annie’s hurt. Something on her table during rehearsal
Annie inhales sharply and glances at me. Her eyes are strained. Her lips pinched, but she bites out, “The rose. Thorns. Burning.”
I tear my gaze from her and focus on the text. My insides scream to hold her and tell her everything is going to be okay, but I know we need to find out what actually is hurting her. We can do that, and then I can focus on her.
Me:
Someone needs to come get the rose and anything else on her table
Find out what hurt her
On our way to urgent care
Cam:
I’m on it
When Annie leans against me, I wrap my arm around her shoulder. My hand trembles.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper softly into her hair, wanting to hold back everything that could ever hurt her, but knowing something got by on my watch.
Cam was home, but at least he saw my texts. Damon is probably training. I don’t know when he’ll find out. Hopefully, he doesn’t come storming in when he does.
“Take a left on Lucas,” I say.
Mia turns and goes as fast as traffic will allow. Her knuckles are white on the steering wheel and she glances at us in the rearview mirror, but she keeps her focus on the road.
Whoever did this... I can’t even finish that statement in my head. This fury swirling inside me begs to find a target. But right now, I need to concentrate on getting my girl the help she needs. I’ll deal with whoever did this after I’m sure she’s taken care of.
Cam
“Oh good. Another of EvanAnn’s fuckboys is here.”
I glare at Chase. He stands with his phone in his hands just outside the doors to the black box theater. Part of me wishes the fucker would have taken the out and joined the other play. I don’t like him having any access to Evan.
But I also know Evan thinks he’s the best for the character.
I walk past him through the doors and resist the urge to fuck him up, even if he didn’t do this. Anger boils under my skin. Someone fucked with my girl, and this asshole is just begging to eat my fist.
Decking Chase is out of the question though. Mr. Watson has been at practices lately and there’s probably a security camera pointed this direction in the hallway. While I really want to wipe that smirk off Chase’s face, I don’t want to get suspended and a lecture from my dad.
So instead, I ignore him as he scoffs and follows me into the theater room. I passed the other play rehearsal on the way in. It’s happening at the same time in the smaller room. Meaning there are twice as many suspects.
Chase walks over to the seats where other students wait for their parts in the play.
I don’t bother trying to sneak in. Hawk and Annie left about ten minutes ago for urgent care with Mia. The cast is back torehearsing, but down two major players and the director. The show must go on.
Keira stands near the table she and Annie sit at, overseeing the rehearsal. I walk to where the rose still sits, along with its bloody thorns and the papers it’s on. Keira turns to me.
“I haven’t touched anything. The papers look like EvanAnn’s script and notes, but the top paper doesn’t look like something she’d use.” Keira talks softly as Mark Green gives a speech on stage. “I didn’t see who put the rose there. I didn’t even notice the rose until after EvanAnn touched it.”
The top paper has some blood on it, but it’s folded over and has a jagged edge like someone tore it. Knowing the blood is Evan’s makes my insides boil hotter.
I take a few pictures with my phone before sliding it into my pocket.
