Tarnished Crown (Gravestone Elite #2) by Caitlyn Dare (books like beach read TXT) 📕

comes to spiking our shit, and I'd rather keep a clear head right now—at least until I figure out what the nagging at the edges of my mind is about.

It's like when you wake up and you know there was a dream, but you can't quite grasp it.

What am I missing?

The sound of light footsteps gets louder, and everyone turns to look at the doorway. I know I should probably keep my head down and not show any interest in front of Cade, but the prospect of seeing her again after last night is too much.

I suck in a shaky breath as Sasha appears in the doorway. She looks good. Better than I feel, that's for fucking sure. She walks farther into the room before the person attached to her hand emerges.

All the air in my lungs rushes out in one go.

Mia's face is pale. Too pale. She has swollen, dark circles around her eyes, as if she's been up all night, and her hair hangs limply around her shoulders. Fury surges through me as thoughts of what that motherfucker might have done to her last night hit me.

"Mia, what's wrong? What happened?" I'm up and out of my seat, the words of concern spilling from my lips before I even registered that I've moved.

Her lips part in shock as her eyes harden in anger. "Wha—What happened? Are you fucking kidding me?" Tears fill her eyes as her lips twist. "I can't do this."

She rips her hand from Sasha's and takes off.

"Ah, she still pissed about the little show Bexley put on last night?" Cade barks through a laugh.

"Shut the fuck up, prick," Sasha spits before running after Mia.

My brows furrow as I glance around the table at everyone, zeroing in on Cade. He smirks, only fueling the anger swelling inside me.

"Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on?"

2

Mia

I run and don’t look back, taking two stairs at a time as tears drip down my face.

How could he?

How could he act as if nothing happened? As if he didn’t bang Brook at the party last night?

God, I’m such a fool. Cade was right—Bexley is just like the rest of them. Conceited and selfish. Callous and cruel.

A thought flickers in the back of my mind, but I’m too distraught to latch onto it as I storm into Sasha’s room and slam the door. She follows me inside a second later, her expression etched with concern.

“Ready to tell me what happened last night?” Her brow arches.

“He… he fucked her.” The words sour on my tongue.

“What?”

“Bexley… he was… fucking her.”

“You’re going to have to be a bit more spec—Brook.” Realization dawns on her. “You mean Brook, don’t you?”

“I saw it.” I drop down on the edge of the bed. “I saw everything.”

“Motherfucker,” she hisses. “He knows, doesn’t he?”

I nod, my heart breaking in my chest. I didn’t think it was possible to cry any more tears after last night when I finally fled to Sasha’s room, but they wrack my body, great big ugly sobs I feel all the way down to my soul.

“He must have done something… there’s no way Bexley would—”

“Oh my God.” I shoot upright. “You’re right.” Hurrying to the door, I heave it open and spill into the hall. I just reach the staircase when Bexley appears.

“Thank God, we need to—”

“Hey, lover boy.” Brook comes sauntering down the hall. “Miss me?”

“W-what?” He stares at her blankly.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten. I can barely walk after you—”

“You bitch.” I lunge for her, clawing and pulling her hair.

“Get the fuck off me,” she shrieks, digging her fingernails into my arms. But I’m so angry, drowning in hatred and the need to hurt her the way she hurt me. I scratch and pinch and slap. I’ve got a fistful of her blonde locks when someone bands their arms around my waist and yanks me away.

“Fucking psycho,” she snarls, smoothing a hand through her hair. There’s a cut on her face, and I have a clump of strands in my grasp.

It isn’t nearly half of what she deserves, but a sense of satisfaction washes over me.

“Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on?” Bexley says, finally releasing me. I wrap my arms around my waist and step away from him.

“Mia?” His brows knit, hurt flashing over his face.

“Well, if this isn’t awkward…” Cade and Ashton join us on the stairs. The air turns thick, heavy with secrets.

“What did you do?” I grit out.

“Me?” Cade smirks. “Are you suggesting that I had a hand in what happened? Like I told you last night, Brook is very convincing when she wants to be.”

A wicked smile curves her lips. God, I hate her. I hate her so much I feel it bubble over into a low snarl.

“Down, kitty,” Ashton teases. “We’re just getting to the good part.”

The truth circles us like a storm closing in. I can’t get the image of Bexley with Brook out of my head, their bodies writhing, moving as one.

Tears prick the corners of my eyes, but I swallow them down.

“Go on, Sis, tell him. Tell Bexy boy how he fucked you like a champ last night.”

The blood drains from Bexley’s face as he staggers back. “N-no, I didn’t… I would never…” His alarmed expression finds me as the tears burst free, rolling down my cheeks.

“It’s true… I saw you.” The words gut me, but it’s nothing compared to the expression on his face.

“No. No way.” He laughs, but it comes out strangled. “This is a joke. You’re joking with me. I was with you last night. We…” I see it the moment he realizes. Pure anger explodes across his face as he barrels toward Cade.

My scream fills the hall as the two of them stumble down the stairs in a flurry of fists and limbs. Bexley is like a man possessed, throwing everything he can at Cade. But eventually, Ashton steps in and the two of them manage to subdue him, Cade pinning him against the wall by his