Page 149 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

“You’ve always been more of an equal with Sidney.” Eli smirks. “You allowed her to take the lead. You could have easily taken her spot any time you wanted to. So why didn’t you?”

Ashley narrows her eyes. “Why didn’t you? Everyone acknowledges that Luke leads you, but it just as easily could have been you, Eli.”

He nods.

“Sidney wanted it more.” Ashley glances at Luke. “It’s not the same as with you guys. Everyone knows Luke leads, but you’re all equals. Sidney needs to stand out. To be more. She wants to lord it over everyone. It was easier to let her have it. To not fight.”

Ashley shrugs.

“Until she went cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?” Jack asks.

Caden chuckles.

Ashley turns to look at them. “She’s always been obsessed with Luke. About being a Foster. About ruling not just the high school but the town. Maybe her mom fed those dreams to her from birth, but I don’t think Sidney will ever let it go easily. She doesn’t care that you don’t love her.”

“Do you know why Zach is involved?” I ask.

Ashley sighs and her fingers tighten on the arms of the chair. “I don’t know what’s going on in his head, but Sidney picked him for a reason. It seemed like she just wanted him as a boyfriend. Someone to raise up like we told you, but she...” Ashley runs a hand over her hair and slides it down her long ponytail. “Fuck. I’m not sure when she got it in her head that you were in her way. Maybe she’s always thought it, ever since they claimed you. She believed you’d be like the others and just go away after they were done.”

I swallow. Eli’s hand rubs my back as chills race through me. “How does she want to get rid of me?”

Ashley looks at me like I’m stupid because she knows I know. There are too many links for me not to make the connection.

“Zach wants to rape me.” I straighten and meet her dark eyes. “He wants to do what he did to Emma to me.”

“Most likely, but I wouldn’t put it past them to take you off the board entirely.” Ashley leans back in the chair.

Fuck, he could kill me. Or worse, sell me into a life worse than death. I flash back to Mom telling me about the trafficking that used to happen. It’s possible it still happens. And if Zach is part of the drug trade here, he might have access to the trafficking as well. A shiver crawls down my spine.

“Sidney unleashed something evil, and I don’t think even she has a way to put him back in the box. She just wants you ruined to the point they won’t want you anymore. Zach wants this over with. Whatever beef he has against you guys, he’s done waiting. And you make a decent victim.”

“Obviously.” Eli tightens his fists. “What more do you have for us? Besides Zach is after us.”

Ashley narrows her eyes at Eli again and crosses her arms. “You still haven’t explained how we’re taking Sidney down.”

“What more do we need to do?” Luke smirks when I look at him. “She’s no longer on the court.”

“She’ll just say that she won, and it’s bullshit.” Ashley arches her eyebrow.

“She’ll get suspended from school and probably be taken off the cheer team.”

Ashley laughs. “It’s like you don’t go to this school. Sidney’s mom has been in your dad’s pocket for a long time. She’s invincible. She’s making calls right about now to make sure no charges stick to her daughter and that Sidney faces no consequences. I half expect Sidney to show up to the dance tomorrow.”

Eli pulls out his phone and texts someone.

“You’ll need something more to get her ass off the squad too.” Ashley leans forward. “Coach Strauss loves Sidney. Like seriously, it’s a thing. Sidney can do no wrong.”

“Sidney’s been doing drugs.” Nico smiles. “Not even her mother can get her out of drugs. Neither can her coach.”

Ashley rolls her eyes. “From what I understand, she’s taking date rape drugs for Zach so he can fuck her when she’s unconscious.” Ashley’s eyes meet mine. “Pretty sure he’s searching for a good cocktail for you.”

Nothing we didn’t already know, but a cold chill goes through me. It’s one thing to consider the guy would do something like that and another to know he’s experimenting for me. What is he looking for? Does he want me aware the whole time or eager for it? Does he want me to remember or forget?

Mom’s talked to me about those drugs and what they can do to you. We’ve had discussions about rape and date rape and consent. But knowing it and living through it are two different things.

“Most of those drugs don’t stay in your system very long, and I’m sure she’d just say she didn’t know this was happening to her. Suddenly, she’ll be a martyr and an anti-date rape activist. She’ll even get her nails done in that nail polish that tells you when someone’s fucked with your drink. It won’t take her down. It might even make her more powerful.”

I blow out a breath and look at Eli, but he’s still occupied with his phone.