Page 5 of Savage Elites

“Tell us everything you remember from Monday night,” said Sebastian.

“That’s the problem.” I blew out a long breath. “Everything from the time you drove me back from the hideout is a blank. Can you help me piece together what happened the rest of the day?”

Sebastian’s gaze dropped to my hands. I turned to Prakash, who tilted his head to the side, examining me with the oddest expression. It was the one he used when Miss Weir made him estimate an answer to a question without using his calculator.

“You and Kash got drunk together, then later in the evening, I heard you arguing with Seb,” Leopold blurted.

I turned to Sebastian. “About what?”

“Miss Claymore was also there,” Leopold added in an accusing tone.

Sebastian turned to Leopold and snarled, “She caught us together.”

My insides cringed. Miss Claymore despised Sebastian and seemed to relish the opportunity to punish him for supposed bullying. If she caught Sebastian kissing me goodnight, then she would probably try to punish him for assault. “I hope she wasn’t too hard on you.”

“Don’t worry about me.” Sebastian squeezed my hand. “Let’s work out how you ended up in a car halfway down a mountain.”

A nurse flung the curtains open. “This patient isn’t allowed visitors. Leave, before I call security.”

Chapter 2

Days later, I couldn’t even look Uncle Trevor in the eye when he came to collect me. He’d already said it all the last time we’d met, and I hadn’t listened to a word he had said. Not only had I refused his help and walked into an ambush of groping bastards, but now, the bullies had escalated and staged an accident with me in Mom’s car. The worst part was that no one believed me.

“Willow…” His voice trailed off.

The burning, agonizing shame of once again being a victim curled my spine. I dipped my head and squeezed my eyes shut. What could he possibly think after being told that I had gotten into an accident after drink-driving? What would he think when I told him that it was the bullies?

“I brought you something of Hortense’s to put on,” he said. “The police took your school uniform as evidence.”

My fists closed over the sheets. “Are they going to press charges?”

He sighed. “I called the station every day, and each time they tell me that they’re still considering your case.”

Silence stretched out between us, and the tension in the air thickened. I parted my lips to explain myself, but no words came out. All my speculations were so outlandish. They almost sounded like I was making excuses for having gotten drunk and reckless.

“What did you think you were doing?” he blurted. “That’s the same stretch of road that killed your mother and fa—”

“I didn’t do it.” My head snapped up, and I met his angry, hazel eyes.

Uncle Trevor flared his nostrils. “Then tell me what happened. Tell me how you went from a grieving girl determined to keep the family home to someone desperate to join your poor mother and father in heaven!”

“You think I’m suicidal?”

“Answer my question!”

I flinched at his sharp tone. Uncle Trevor was the cool relative. The easy-going one who never showed anger or impatience… At least not to Ashely and me.

“Sorry.” His lips pressed together in a firm line. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout.” Then his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “But I have to know why you decided to drink-drive on the exact stretch of road where they died. What was going through your mind? You know better than this.”

I shook my head. “That wasn’t me.”

“What, then?” His brows drew together.

I swallowed hard. “Everything after Monday morning’s a complete blank. Maybe someone put me in that car and shoved it down the side of the mountain. I can’t remember anything after yesterday morning.”

He closed his eyes and let out a breath. “You’re coming to stay with me.”

“But I have to go to—”