The bouncer says something into his sleeve and raps his knuckles twice on the door before he backs out of the way to make room for us. I swallow noisily and wait with bated breath to see what’s on the other side. When there’s the distinct sound of metal unlatching and the door opens, I’m not disappointed. I’m not anything other than transfixed to the sight before me.
It’s been nine years since I’ve laid eyes on this asshole, and by looking at Marcus Whitehorn, as his eyes trek up and down each of us, I can tell not much has changed. He’s still an entitled, overly sexual prick.
“Well, well, well, is this who Trent chose for tonight?” he directs to no one in particular. “I can’t say I’m disappointed. Not in the least.” His roving gaze lingers on me, and I try to suppress the shudder that wants to work its way down my body. My skin is crawling with disgust.
There’s no way he can notice me, can he? No. No, it’s impossible.
Yet, why does it seem like his gaze lingers on me?
I grit my teeth together to keep from showing any outward emotion and force myself to look over his shoulder, so I can get a glimpse of who else may be in there.
I don’t really have a plan of action. I just know I need to get close to one of them. Just one. Possibly earn his trust. Then and only then will I find the answers I’m looking for.
One of these bastards killed my sister, that I’m sure of. I just need to prove it.
“Come in, ladies. I promise we don’t bite.” Marcus’ tone is wolfish, and the grin on his face says otherwise.
He widens the door and steps aside for us. Vera, of course, is the first to walk through. As she passes Marcus, she makes a show of looking him up and down and says, “Some of us don’t mind being bitten.” Then she shoots him a wink.
Marcus chuckles and shakes his head as he watches her waltz right in. “Trent always knows how to pick ’em.”
The room, if you can even call it that, is a lot bigger than I expected. It looks like a hotel suite or condo. Not exactly what I was expecting when we were brought up here. After my brief discussion with Kat, I was kind of expecting chains and whips and one of those cross things people like to be strapped to while they have sex. To say I’m relieved that this is all that’s in here would be putting it mildly.
The sound of lilting laughter has me circling toward the source, where I easily spot two gorgeous, giggling idiots. I guess we weren’t the only women invited here tonight. Surreptitiously, my eyes devour every fine detail of the room. My gaze drifts from the décor, to the scantily clad women, then to the corner, and that’s when I see them.
All of them.
My heart bangs against my chest violently, and my breathing accelerates as I stare at them in all their murderous glory. Anger and disgust percolate through my veins.
My eyes home in on Vincent and the two gorgeous women who are hanging off his shoulders. I look him up and down, and the familiarity makes me feel like we’re back in high school. Back in Ferndale again. I rake my gaze over each of them as they regard us appraisingly. Like we’re pieces of meat. Like we’re just a quick fuck for the night. Little do they know, I’m their worst fucking nightmare.
When my eyes fall on Trent, bile rises in my throat, and I startle once I realize he’s already been watching me. My stomach churns, and I work to school my features and not give way to the alarm written all over my face. When he pushes up from his position that overlooks the dance floor and slowly stalks toward me, I stop breathing, and my mind drifts. I’m suddenly back in Ferndale, only it’s nine years ago when my life fell apart.
“All right, Mackenzie. Can you tell me, word for word, what you told me this morning about Madison, those boys, and the kissing rock?”
I nod my head slowly and swallow loudly. For the third time, my eyes shift toward the red blinking light on the video recorder that’s aimed straight at me. My palms are sweating, and I can’t seem to stop shaking. My body feels foreign—as if I’m having an out-of-body experience.
God, I hope I’m doing the right thing.
“Mackenzie?” Sheriff Keller prompts.
“Right.” I take a breath and nod resolutely. Closing my eyes, I force myself to repeat those words from earlier. “Last night, at the bonfire, Trent approached me. His friends were there, standing right there with him. He, uh … well, he was the first guy to really show interest in me, so when he suggested we move away from the fire, closer to the trees, I followed him.”
“Go on,” he urges, folding his hands on the cool table between us.
I wipe my hand over my forehead, ridding my skin of the excess moisture there. “We kissed. Then, um, Madison saw, and she was angry. She demanded I go home with her. We argued a little, but I had a feeling I’d already pushed my luck with her as it was, so I didn’t want to make her angrier. Before I left with her, Trent told me to sneak out and meet him at the kissing rock that night. And I said yes.”
Sheriff Keller’s lips thin, just as they did when I told the story the first time.
“Did you ever meet Trent at the kissing rock?”
I shake my head.
“Words, please, Mackenzie.”
“Oh, sorry,” I mumble meekly and clear my throat, “No. I never made it to the kissing rock.”
“And why is that?”
“While I was arguing with Madison, I let it slip that Trent and his friends would be there at the kissing rock, waiting for me. She wasn’t happy about it. For years, she’s been trying to get on their radar, and I think … I think when she saw me with Trent, she felt as though I’d betrayed her somehow. So she went instead. She told me to stop pretending to be something I wasn’t. Instead of going to the rock to meet Trent, I let Madison go in my place. I didn’t really have any choice.”
“And you stayed home the rest of the night? Didn’t sneak out to meet anyone else?” he quizzes, brow raised in question.
“No, sir, I didn’t. I showered, went to bed, and was woken up the next morning when …” I trail off, my throat growing tight with emotion and cutting me off. Moisture burns my eyes, and I wipe at my lids angrily, not wanting the camera to catch my tears. “After you came … a-after the news … I-I … well, I ran out of the house to the courts.”
“What made you go to the courts?”
“I knew they would be there. They always are. And I wanted answers.”
“What happened when you got there?”
My chin quivers, and I trap my bottom lip between my teeth as I try to keep it together. I close my eyes and replay every horrible detail again and again.
“I begged Trent to tell me what happened with Madison last night. They acted like I was … a nobody. They yelled and told me to leave.”
“And did you? Leave?”
“Yeah, I ran back home, but halfway there, I just … collapsed. And that’s where you found me.”
“Thank you, Mackenzie. I think that’s all we need for now. We’ll give your parents a call if we need another statement or any other information from you. Sound good?”
“Yeah,” I mumble, pushing to my feet.
I walk home from the station in a daze. Since I’m a minor, Sheriff Keller had to get permission from my parents before my interview, and with everything going on, I was the last thing on my parents’ minds.