A Whole New Crowd(48)

“What happened?”

“My brother was faking. He got a ton of evidence on my dad. Some of it was turned over, but Galverson’s lawyer found a loophole. My dad was the only one that would’ve gone to prison.”

“Would’ve gone? He’s not?”

“No, he’s in South America with Galverson. He still helps him because of his contacts with the cops here. My dad kept the other evidence. If anything happens to me, it goes to DEA. I guess it’s the stuff about their current suppliers. Galverson’s not scared about prison. He doesn’t want his distribution and suppliers messed with so everyone’s at a standstill.” He grimaced. “My dad is with him as an act of good faith; it’s not just to hide from the government.”

I blinked, not believing what I just heard. “Does anyone else know about this?”

He shook his head. “No. I never said a word to my friends and all the stuff that went down was swept under the rug. A lot of the Rawley cops are dirty. My brother went back to the DEA. I haven't talked to him since it all happened.”

“When?”

“Last year.”

I sighed and moved to sit in front of him. Tray pulled me back against his chest and wrapped his arms around me. I laid my head on his chest. “I’m so sorry, Tray. I had no idea.”

“It’s not a normal thing people go through or tell anyone about.” He tipped my head up and peered down at me. His eyes were fierce. “I’m only telling you because I know Jace Lanser. He showed up at our house when they thought my dad was going to flip on them. I know what he’s capable of.”

So did I. A wave of sadness crashed down on me. “Jace has never said he was a good guy. I know he’s dangerous.”

“You’ll stay away from him?”

I nodded. I felt that he was asking more with that question. It wasn’t only about Jace and me; it was about Tray and me. He was claiming me again with this request. Jace had been family, but I couldn’t go back to there. He didn’t even want me back there anyway. I whispered, “I’ll stay away from him.”

He chuckled. “They’re expecting me to put you in your place.” One of his hands began caressing my leg.

I was confused, then remembered Amber and Mandy. “I can’t back down to Amber. I won’t. I hate girls like her.”

“I know, but it’s going to make things a lot more tense with the group.”

“Why? It’s not like I’m exactly friends with you guys.” I turned to face him, and his hands moved to my waist. “I just don’t like how Amber and Jennica treat people.”

He nodded, his thumb coming to my bottom lip. He rested it there, then pulled it down. My eyes held his. I was melting, just looking at him, feeling him against me. Tray grinned, running his hands up my arms and back down to my waist. He pulled me closer to him and leaned forward, nuzzling my neck.

I wrapped my arms around his neck. The conversation was officially over.

Tray kissed his way up my neck, along my chin, and found my lips.

I lifted my legs and turned to straddle him. He slid a hand down my back, slipping it inside my jeans, then up my back, moving to softly caress my breast, underneath my bra.

“—this place is usually—whoa.”

The door opened. Tray clipped out, “Out.” The door slammed shut and then I started laughing, hiding my face in his neck. We were always getting interrupted.

“Sorry, guys,” Samuel said through the door.

“Get lost.” Tray nuzzled my neck again.

“Yep. On it.” His voice sounded farther away and another door shut a moment later.

I didn’t want it to end so I found his lips again, and we started kissing as if nothing had happened. When the bell rang, I pulled away and stood. My knees were unsteady. Tray held onto my elbow for a little bit.

“I’m good.”

“This isn’t just for you.” He flashed me a grin, breathing heavy.

I chuckled, feeling relieved that he was affected just as much as I was. A moment later we left the equipment closet, and once we were in the hallway, I started in the opposite direction. Tray’s locker was in the senior hallway. My locker was in a separate hallway, but he stopped me.

I glanced back. “What?”

He flashed me a grin, his eyes were still a darkened amber color. “Come on,” he said, pulling me behind him as he walked us back through the hallways. “We’re going to my house for the rest of the day.” He pulled out his keys when we approached his SUV.

Nothing else sounded better.





CHAPTER FOURTEEN


We spent the afternoon and evening at his house. His phone was turned off because people didn’t stop calling him. My phone never went off so I never thought to check it. When I was thinking about heading home, I looked at it. I regretted it.