Heart of Thorns (Shadow Valley U Book 2)
Heart of Thorns: Chapter 37

In the end, Briar negotiates to be included in whatever schemes Rhys and I have. She’s an excellent negotiator when she has her hand on my dick, but I digress…

She comes with Rhys and me to a party, but we’re not there to have fun. She views it as a mission, the same as us. I keep her tucked under my arm, her all-black attire fitting for the occasion. I’m in the same, my black hoodie and black pants giving burglar vibes instead of cool vibes.

Rhys is in a black sweatshirt and dark-wash jeans, a black cap pulled over his head.

“Remember,” he says over his shoulder, “Briar and I are going to distract Ben, and Thorne will get Stephen aside.”

We both nod.

That plan was mainly Briar’s. We sat her down and explained our theory, Rhys produced our shitty list from his glove box, and she laughed at us. Then sobered relatively quick, because the thought of her then-boyfriend doing that to her was not humorous.

Not in the slightest.

“I’m gonna kill him,” she muttered.

But unfortunately, this isn’t one of those dark romances people rave about. There’s not going to be a murder in the third act. If anything, the asshole is getting arrested.

Hopefully.

When Rhys and I balked at her words, she sighed and shook her head. Then came up with the current plan: distract and separate.

Or rather, wait until they’re separated and then distract Ben.

Once we’re inside the lacrosse house, the music thumping in my chest, we split up. Rhys trails Briar, a self-appointed bodyguard, and I drift in the opposite direction. I don’t want to be parted from her, but there’s no way in hell Ben would get into an argument with her in front of me.

My threat of telling Coach about his cheating is still very much active.

“Hey—Thorne, right?”

I tear my attention away from where Briar disappeared and focus on the guy in front of me. Cross Lopez has a split lip and a black eye, and I can’t quite say he smiles at me.

“My girl and I are looking forward to your next fight,” I tell him.

“Patronage pays the bills,” he replies. “Saw your game this weekend. You took a killer hit.”

I raise one shoulder. “Part of the game.”

“You ever consider fighting?” His dark-brown eyes bore into mine. “Taking hits is half the job. And half the fun.”

“Nah.” My gaze lifts up and over him. I spot some hockey players, some of my teammates, a lot of girls in tight dresses… no Stephen, though. “Sorry, man, I’m trying to find my friend. I’ll see you around.”

Cross nods slowly and slips past me. He doesn’t seem like the party type, but I put that aside. I spot Stephen heading into the kitchen, where the bar is most likely set up, and follow him.

I wait a minute.

He means Ben—which also means that her ex is a sucker. I try not to scowl and instead pursue Stephen. I step up behind him at the keg.

“Hey, McDowell,” I say above the music.

He glances back and grins. “Thorne. Want a cup?”

I nod.

He hands me his full one, then pours another for himself. I tip my head toward the sliding doors that lead out onto the back porch, and his eyebrow ticks up for a second. It smooths, though, and he follows me.

The music still reverberates out here, but I can hear myself think. The cold wind blasts through my sweatshirt, though, and Stephen is only in a long-sleeved shirt.

We’re not going to last long out here.

I take a sip of the beer.

“What’s up, Captain?” Stephen eyes me.

“I wanted to talk to you about something, but it’s kind of sensitive.”

“Consider me curious.”

This could go badly, but… whatever. “I’m worried about Ben.”

I wait for his reaction, but he doesn’t do anything. He just watches me.

“He’s been acting weird around Briar, you know? And I think it’s more than him being her ex.” And cheating on her. “I think it has to do with the fire.”

Stephen chuckles. “Like, that he doesn’t want to bang a burned chick?”

“Like, maybe he set the fire in the first place.”

Silence.

But then, Stephen’s expression shifts. He seems to be thinking—or remembering—something.

“I imagine you guys were probably together? Do you remember what he was doing?”

His gaze sharpens. “Yeah. Well, it was horrible. We were close. I remember him telling me that Briar was painting over there. I thought it was kind of a dick move of him to be at the party, and he agreed that he should be with her. Then I heard the sirens a little while after and…” He shivers. “I don’t know, man. I didn’t think much of it—I guess I just assumed he got to her after the fire started. But do you think someone started it?”

“Yeah, it’s looking like it. There’s still an open police investigation, but they haven’t done much. No leads or something.” My stomach twists, and nausea rolls through me. “Thanks.”

“Good luck with your search.”

He heads back inside, and I text Rhys.

It’s Ben Patterson.

Briar’s ex-boyfriend tried to kill her.