Forever Golden: Dark High School Bully Romance (Kings of Cypress Prep Book 3) by Rachel Jonas (beach books TXT) 📕

whatsoever, other than blood rushing in my ears as my heart pumps double-time.

She’s not here.

She’s not fucking here.

It isn’t lost on me that had this been some weeks ago, my first thought when seeing Southside exit one of my father’s SUVs would’ve been that I was right about her. That she was, in fact, his latest piece of side-ass. But aside from the fact that I’ve since realized she’s not even capable of shit like that, the evidence that’s been mounting against Vin speaks for itself.

“Maybe she took off,” Sterling suggests, just as I’m starting to reach a whole new level of panic.

“Her car’s parked outside,” I point out.

Joss glances around while she thinks. “Maybe… she walked?”

It’s freezing outside, and snowing like crazy, but if she’s pissed, she probably wouldn’t have cared about that.

“I’ll check her room,” Ricky asserts.

“No, I’ve got it.”

After making the correction, my palm slams his chest when he attempts to pass.

There’s hatred rolling off him in waves, and it’s impossible to miss when his gaze slowly rises from where my hand just landed on his chest. He meets my stare and I’ll be damned if I bend on this shit. Whether he likes it or not, if either of us is going down that hallway to Southside’s bedroom, it’s me.

Alone.

I don’t wait for him to get over being put in his place before turning to head toward her bedroom. I start not to bother with the hallway light, but realize I made the right call when glass crunches beneath the sole of my shoe. It doesn’t take long to find where it came from—a broken mirror hanging crookedly on the wall. The same wall with a huge hole I know wasn’t there the night before.

There’s not enough evidence to know exactly what’s gone down here, but it’s enough that I’m moving faster now, unashamed that I feel desperate as hell, because that’s exactly what I am.

Desperate.

I make it to her bedroom door and flip on the light, feeling my heart race when I find it empty. But… not entirely.

Sitting next to her bed are three suitcases. Two of which are nearly bursting at the seams, and the other half-open with clothing spilling out of one side.

It’s like she grabbed anything she could in a hurry, preparing to make a run for it.

What the hell did that asshole say to her?

“She’s gone. We have to find her,” I say in a rush, trying not to freak out when I rejoin the others in the living room. I don’t tell them about anything I saw—the packed bags, the broken mirror.

Everyone’s clearly concerned, but only one’s level of panic even comes close to matching my own—Ricky’s.

“I’ll call Jules,” he says quickly, already dialing.

“And we’ll hit a lap around the block and see if we spot her,” Dane offers.

My head spins and I can’t think about anything but finding her, making sure she’s okay. I keep picturing those bags, wondering what could’ve been going through her head. What was so fucking bad that she was ready to bail?

Without answering a single one of my texts or phone calls, no less.

My mood shifts from worried to pissed in zero seconds flat. Not at her, but knowing this is all my father’s handiwork.

Sterling grabs the door handle, but pauses when the security door screeches on the other side. My eyes are fixed there as he steps back, giving someone room to enter. A headful of blonde hair peeks inside, glancing around at the five of us standing in her living room.

“Shit. You’re okay.”

That’s all I’m able to say while rushing to where Southside is now standing, trying to hide one poorly-bandaged hand. I’m starting to think I know where the busted wall and mirror I found in the hallway came from.

“Where the fuck were you?” I get the question out and squeeze her tighter than I probably should.

“I’m fine,” she answers. “Just went for a walk to clear my head, but… how’d you guys get in here?”

Ricky’s response is to dangle his keys and Southside tenses against my chest, knowing what that means.

“Why the hell do you still have that?” she snaps, pulling out of my arms a little when she glares at him. However, instead of answering the question, Ricky shrugs deeper into his jacket and tilts his head in defiance, clearly decided on not giving an actual response.

But we’ve got bigger shit to deal with than Ruiz.

“We all saw Pandora’s update,” I let her know, to which she lets out a frustrated sigh.

“Yeah, apparently everyone’s seen it.”

My eyes slip toward the bloody bandage on her hand again, but when she realizes my attention’s shifted, she tucks it inside her coat pocket. Like she hopes I don’t call her out on it in front of everyone.

The room’s completely silent, but it feels crowded, making it more obvious that I need to be alone with her. It’s the only way we can speak freely, air shit out without an audience.

All it takes is a glance toward my brothers and they read my thoughts.

“We’ll take off since everything’s okay,” Sterling speaks up.

He nods toward the door and Dane follows. Joss is right behind them, placing a sympathetic touch on Southside’s shoulder on her way out.

While the other three were easily signaled to leave, Ricky—as expected—lingers like a fucking rash. His eyes are locked on Southside and he moves in closer. Closer than what I deem necessary, but why am I even fucking surprised?

“The fuck happened to your hand?” he asks, not bothering to hold his tongue.

Waiting for Southside’s answer, I see that damn look in Ricky’s eyes again. The one that makes me want to rip him to shreds every single time.

“I was upset,” she answers with a sigh. “At the time, I suppose the wall seemed like a great place to plant my fist. And then… maybe the mirror.”

A short, humorless laugh is meant to hide her embarrassment, but I see through it. Mostly because I know what’s hidden in her room,