“And what did he say to you?” Did she really want to know? That night, she’d tried to call Grant herself, and he’d sent her calls to voice mail because he had Braithe on the other line, pouring out her feelings. Why hadn’t he told her? Why hadn’t Viola said something? They’d all just let her be a fool. Anger at all of them burned in her chest, so much it almost made her cry out.

There was a long pause. Rainy wasn’t sure if Braithe was crying. She did not care, she did not. The last year of her life had been a complete lie.

“That he didn’t feel the same way.”

She ground her teeth, wondering if she should believe her. Braithe needed Rainy on her side if they were both going to get out of here. “How do I know you’re telling me the truth?”

“Okay, why would I lie about that, Rainy? I may have been harboring feelings for Grant since the beginning of time, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t sincere about liking you.”

“You didn’t give a shit about me, Braithe. You were using me to stay close to Grant.”

Braithe’s lack of response pinned the tail on the donkey. Rainy turned her face away. She didn’t want to look at any part of her, not even her lying, shitface profile.

“Why did you come?”

“What?”

“You heard me.” There was an edge to her voice now.

Oh, are we seeing the real Braithe Mattson? Rainy thought.

“Why. Did. You. Come? You made a choice to come here when Paul texted you from my phone. If you hate me so much, explain why you did it.”

“He said he was going to kill you.”

“So, why not let him?”

“Oh, for God’s sake, listen to yourself. I should let someone kill you because you fucked my boyfriend once upon a time in high school and you still have a thing for him?”

“Fuck, Rainy. Okay. What are we going to do?”

She licked her lips. “I think I know this guy. I’ve been thinking and I have a few plans. None of them are actually very good but—”

“Oh my God,” Braithe said.

“I think he was watching me...maybe before now. But he saw us together and he—”

“Used me,” Braithe finished.

“I’m sorry.”

Braithe whimpered.

“We have to focus.” Her backside was numb, and she shifted her position, painfully aware of the cuffs. “I set some things in motion before I got here. But first, I need to tell you about my past.”