part0035

I WOKE UP VERY EARLY. Maybe it was because I was anxious about what was going to happen today, or maybe because the damn bed wasn’t comfortable at all.

My parents were away on a trip again, and the principal believed I was with them too. Of course, now it didn’t matter what she thought because Cole could arrange everything with her, even if she got some crazy idea to mess with me.

But I didn’t think she’d been doing it on purpose. Others had been blackmailing or bribing her.

I didn’t hear much through the device that was supposed to allow me to hear everything Cole was saying, so I paced up and down the room until I heard a soft noise.

“Good morning, Ava,” Cole whispered. “I’m on my way to school. I snuck out and I’ll pretend I came to school so I could see what I can remember.”

I checked the time and realized that Matt was supposed to meet with Elizabeth in the hallway in about five minutes.

We’d thought that it was better if he overheard a fraction of their conversation so that Elizabeth would be forced to tell him something about it.

“Don’t get mad if you hear me kissing Elizabeth. I’ll only kiss her on the cheek. Promise,” he said.

Cole was going to get even more into his role of a clueless amnesiac, and hopefully, Elizabeth was going to fall for his act.

But did he really plan on kissing her or was he just teasing me?

“Lizzie! There you are,” Cole said. “Is that guy bothering you?”

“Cole,” she said, surprise evident in her voice. “No, he’s not bothering me. We’re just having a very insightful conversation. Isn’t that right, Matt?”

“Go away,” she said, and I assumed she was talking to Matt.

“Why are you here? Are you okay?” She had to be saying this to Cole.

Maybe she was worried he’d remembered something and that her plan was falling apart.

Maybe she’d make a rash decision that would reveal what she was really planning.

“I’m fine,” Cole said. “And I think I remember when you and I were kissing here.”

“What’s going on? Who’s that Matt guy? What did he want?”

“Oh, don’t get all jealous,” Elizabeth said in a sweet voice. “He’s actually a spy.”

“Yeah, that guy. Who would’ve thought? Do you remember that girl who burst into your hospital room?”

“Um. No, I don’t think so,” he said. “Wait, are you talking about that brunette?”

“Yeah. Matt caught her meeting with one of the members of the Black Wolves. She’s a real piece of work.”

“The Black Wolves? The name sounds familiar, but I don’t really know who they are.”

“It’s a rival gang. They’ve been eyeing your territory for quite a while.”

“Yes, you’re right,” he said. “Are you saying one of their members was here? In my territory?”

“Yeah. That little minx is up to something. She’s been spying on us and she’s always been envious of me. I think she wants to destroy us.”

Was there a reason why she was avoiding saying my name? Maybe because she was afraid that Cole would remember me.

“We need to strike. We have to show them that they can’t mess with us,” Cole said.

“You’re right. That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“We’ll kill them all,” Cole said. “That girl and all the Wolves. I need to talk to my men. We have an attack to plan.”

“Baby, where are you going?” Elizabeth asked.

“But what about school? I thought you were going to stay with me.”

“There’s no time for that. You can come with me if you want.”

“Are you sure about that?” Her voice was full of excitement.