Trusting Nicole (The Last Hangman MC #4)(38)

“Did you go inside and leave your books outside at any point yesterday?” Ant asks.

“Yeah, nature called a couple of times.” I shrug, making a couple of the guys snicker. A quick glare from Ant shuts them all up.

“So someone came by to drop this note off. First, how do you know it’s Disciples and second, what the f*ck, Nic?” Ant scolds me as if I were a five year old and that’s exactly how I feel.

I sigh. “The guy’s brother came by this morning to threaten me. He told me I’d pay for my choices and that I’ll pay for them soon. When he walked back to his bike, I saw the Disciples cut.”

“Motherf*cker.” Gabe and Aleck bellow at the same time.

“The resemblance is uncanny.” I snicker and a couple of the guys chuckle.

“What have you done?” Gabe asks, trying to regain his composure.

“Do you remember that guy that got killed at college?”

“When I wanted you to come home but you were so f*cking stubborn and wanted to stay there?” He glares at me.

“Yes.”

“Yeah. What abo…f*cking hell, Nicole Louise Lyle what have you f*cking done?” I’m in deep shit, he just full named me.

“It wasn’t my fault. Well, not entirely. I was dating this guy, Rob, and I found out he was into some sketchy stuff. I wanted to break it off, but he wouldn’t have any of it. One of his friends warned me that he was hanging out with bad people and gave me a gun to protect myself. I told him it wouldn’t be needed, that I’d get the campus security involved and have him arrested or something, I can’t remember. He insisted on me keeping it and I’m glad he did.

“Everyone from my dorm was at a party, but you know I wasn’t into that kind of thing so I stayed behind and spent the night watching horror movies. You know me, I got a little paranoid when all the lights suddenly turned off. I didn’t think much of it at first and thought it was just a normal power cut, but when I heard some noises coming from downstairs and seeing how early it was, I knew it couldn’t be any of the people living in the building. I grabbed a flashlight and the gun and I went downstairs. That was my first mistake.

“I had the gun hidden behind my back just in case it was security, I didn’t want to be expelled because I got the chills. I was scared shitless, but I kept going, long story short, Rob tried to attack me. I should have locked myself in a room, but I ran outside. I tried to reason with him, but he wouldn’t have any of it. He was holding up a knife and threatening me with it. When he started to come too close for comfort, I grabbed the gun and shot him.” I sigh.

“Fucking hell, Nic. Why haven’t you told any of us?” Gabe sighs.

“Because I didn’t want to worry you. I don’t know. I maybe should have told you, but it wouldn’t have changed anything.”

“Did you shoot him just once?” One of the guys asks.

“Umm.” I nibble my lip looking down at my hands.

“Nicole…” I can feel Gabe’s stare on me.

“I emptied the clip into him.” I sigh.

“Atta girl.” I don’t know who says it, but it makes most of them laugh.

“At least you were taught well.” He sighs. “How come you didn’t get into trouble?” They all look at me in confusion.

“Because I was the one assigned to her case.” Jase says, surprising everyone.

“I knew you two already f*cking knew each other.” Gabe growls. “You and I need to have a few words after this.”

“As you wish.” Jase and Gabe stare at each other.

“How did you manage to get her out of trouble? She emptied a f*cking clip into him!” Ant asks, wanting to know the truth, just like everybody else.

Jase sighs and starts talking. “I was called in after a few gunshots were heard on campus, but didn’t expect to see what I saw. He was lying on the ground with a f*cking clip emptied into him and there she was, sitting not far away, in shock and shaking. I knew she couldn’t have done it on purpose, anyone killing someone and in their right mind never would stay next to the person they just killed. I could either bring her in for questioning which would mean she’d have a record, or I could come up with a way so that she wouldn’t get into any trouble. I chose the latter.”

“Why?” Gabe asks.

“She told me what happened and I believed her as we had already received a complaint from her about the guy. I decided to help her out and hoped she wasn’t playing me for a fool. I took the gun and created the case. I created the story that she had heard people shouting outside and came down to see if someone needed help. When she got there, she saw a guy who was dealing drugs on campus. The two guys fought when the drug deal went wrong and he shot the guy,” he says matter-of-factly.

“I can’t believe it,” Aleck says looking between Jase and I.

“There were no witnesses so it made it easier to make that story up.” Jase shrugs.

“But there was someone. His brother saw me but I didn’t know until today.” I sigh feeling defeated.

“It’s going to be okay, Nic. We’ll protect you,” Ant says rubbing my back.

“Yeah. I just hate that I’m the one they are coming here for and you guys are the ones who are going to get the brunt of it.”