Still Jaded (Jaded #2)(36)

"She's come into the group with her arms open wide. She's happy with us, Sheldon." Cadence purred in victory. Of what she was victorious—I wasn't sure, but I made the decision to find out. I'd underestimated the bitch, and I rarely underestimated anyone.

I turned back to face her and rolled my shoulders back. "If you're the one who's done this to me, you best be scared."

"I'm trying to help you."

"You're helping yourself."

She moved back a step. "And how is that? Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't have any friends except those two in there. They're loyal to you because they grew up with you, but you're holding them back. You know it. You know that they'd be better off if you'd just let them go. I'm trying to help you with that. I'm trying to help Grace too. You can lean on us. We're here for you."

I watched as she spoke each word and realized that a part of her believed what she was spouting. But I also knew how cunning she could be. I'd had a few conversations with that side of Cadence. And I also knew what crazy looked like so I asked, "How crazy are you?"

Her smile slipped a little, but she returned, "More than you can handle."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The rest of the day was monotonous. Everyone cleaned. Some flirted. Most laughed, but everyone kept cleaning. When Cadence said the girls came to work, she was right. So did Corrigan's boys. The media arrived after a couple hours, but I took great delight in shutting the gates. I knew a lot of the brothers and sisters were disappointed, but it was my house. I'd do what I wanted, and they could cry about it to someone else.

Bryce's agent left in the evening, but only after he ordered pizza for everyone. Twenty large pizzas were delivered an hour later, and everyone took their first big break together. I found juice that had been spared by the stalker and set it out. It was gone quickly.

"Everyone's worked up a thirst." Grace smiled as she approached with a broom and dustpan in her hands. She glanced around and noted, "This is quite the event. I like it. It reminds me of high school. I used to do things like this with my brother."

I studied her intently. "This isn't the same. You did charity stuff because you cared about helping out. They aren't doing this to help me. You know that, right? Cadence is doing this because her house wants to be closer to Corrigan, and she wants to be closer to Bryce. Corrigan's house is here because they knew there would be hot girls, and they feel some loyalty to me but just a little."

Her tentative smile vanished. "I was just saying…this is fun…"

"Because you feel like you're a part of the 'in' crowd. You never felt that in high school."

She bristled and then swallowed hard. "Why are you saying this?"

I moved closer and pulled her away from the group. "I don't want to delude you, but I see that you're changing. I get it. I really really do. You're being accepted. You're wanted. People like you. People are paying attention to you. I DO get that." I took a deep breath. "I'm also telling you that there's another side. You're blind to it. People are going to eat you up, swallow what they want, and then spit you out…eventually. It might not be today, tomorrow, or next month. It'll be someday."

Grace fidgeted. Her hands trembled, but she shook her head. "You're wrong, Sheldon. I like these girls. They like me. I didn't know this would be so difficult for you to accept. Is it really that big of a stretch for people to like me?"

I smiled tightly but said, "I like you because you used to see through bullshit like this. You're getting pulled into their web."

"No, I'm not. There's no web—"

I gripped her arm and pulled her into another room. When I shut the door, I made sure to lock it too. Then I dragged her across the room and into the small bathroom. After I closed that door, I demanded, "What did you see at the party?"

"What—nothing." A look of panic blazed over her face, but she calmed immediately. "I didn't see anything. Why? You think I did and I wouldn't tell you?"

I narrowed my eyes but let go of her arm. She was good. She'd gotten good. That meant that she'd been schooled at an alarming speed. What that meant…I wasn't sure. It might've meant that I was more paranoid than I thought. I nodded slowly. "Okay. I'm sorry."

Grace touched my arm. "Are you okay? Maybe it's the pain? You've had a traumatic experience, Sheldon. More than most."

She was right, but something was off. I felt it, but I also needed to face the reality that it could be me this time. "You're right. I probably need another pain pill."

"Are you staying with Bryce somewhere? Maybe you should go there and lay down. We can finish cleaning. You can come back, and everything will be normal tomorrow. If they don't stay to finish it, I will. I promise."

She looked so innocent and well-meaning. Strands of her thin golden hair had fallen from the braided bun. They framed her face and accentuated the softness of her pale features. I used to think Grace looked like an angel, but this time something else reeled in me.

I blurted out, "I saw Denton Steele."

Something flashed in her eyes. The blue depths darkened for a split second.

"He told me that you've seen Mena. You never told me."