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“What happened?” he finally asks.

I tremble, recalling every word. “I said it in front of Nigel when I was upset. It was right after you left, and the words just fell out of my mouth.”

His lips graze my head, and he softens. “It’s not your fault… none of this is your fault. But what the fuck does Nigel have to do with it? Why is he so involved?”

I look at him, tears stinging the back of my eyes and worry hitting the pit of my throat. “I think Nigel was Olivia’s brother.”

He bristles. “Why would you think that?”

I peer up at him, the hardness piercing out of his dark eyes. I hate how Olivia is here right now—it feels like she’s in the bed with us. Her ghostly presence involving herself in every aspect of my relationships with these boys.

She’s worse than Naomi.

“It was something Jade told me. Nigel mentioned a half sister to her once, and honestly, she forgot about it, because he never mentioned her again. She was from Douglas Cove, and it would make sense. His investigation into you was borderline obsessive—he prompted me on day one of school to look into you. He knows about Ezra’s parents’ debts, the amount of GHB in her system, and that’s how she died. He just didn’t know it wasn’t you who actually killed her. I said it out loud… and then I left Maison there with him.” The tears shake out of me now as Micah just listens. “I think he’s deranged, Micah. He lied about Thomas.”

I don’t know if Micah regrets doing what we just did now that he knows what I did, and I’m scared to ask. But I notice his fingers are no longer fondling my breasts.

Emotion takes over and pressure wells up in my chest. I can’t control it, and I let out a soft sob and tears flow from my eyes. He wipes them away with his thumb, and I lift my gaze to meet his. “I’m sorry, Micah.”

His jaw flexes and eyebrows draw in, and he squeezes his hand around my waist, even though he seems absent as he peers outside, flexing one of his hands into a fist. He says nothing for a few minutes. “We’ll get him back,” he finally whispers. “I promise you we’ll get him back, and I’ll cut that smug smirk right off Nigel’s fucking face.”

It’s then I notice the knife glistening in the corner of the shelter, the one he stole.

And I shutter, because I don’t think he’s joking.

“Thomas was set up,” Jade tells me when I finally emerge into daylight. After our chat, I fell asleep and when I woke, Micah was gone. I rooted thorough the shelter and saw he had a pile of clothes in the corner—girls’ clothes. He stockpiled a ton of them for me. I find a new pair of comfy sweats that fit me perfectly.

As soon as I saw Jade, I ran to her and wrapped my arms around her tightly, not wanting to let go for at least ten minutes. My squirrel is hanging clipped to some wire, completely skinned and ready for roasting. A large pile of kindling is right beside it.

I scrunch my face. “I know he was, Jade. I don’t think Thomas took anything. He wouldn’t betray Micah like that. It had to have been Nigel, trying to weaken Micah, and it’s working.”

Poor Thomas still hasn’t come out since I’ve arrived. He’s slept the entire time, with Jade fussing and checking on him every ten minutes. The tightness and circles under eyes signal her tears and grief, and I know Jade’s worried about him.

She shakes her head and closes her eyes. “What happened to Nigel? When did he turn like this?”

“How well did you really know him, Jade? I mean, you didn’t know much if you didn’t know his sister died. How do you hide something like that? Nigel is obviously not a good person—I doubt he ever was.” The island is revealing our primal instincts and stripping us of everything else.

She swallows, contemplating. I’m sure it’s hard hearing someone tell you that you know nothing about your best friend or what they are capable of.

“What about Ezra?” she asks, grabbing the squirrel and severing it, like eating critters for dinner is the most normal thing in the world. “Is he just doing this because of the debts, or Naomi?”

I reach down and grab a piece of kindling and crouch, blowing on the embers. The moisture is heavy today, precipitation is coming and I want the fire prepped for it. “Ezra has a high school complex. I don’t think he realizes that high school doesn’t matter anymore. Plus, he’s stupid and easily manipulated. Nigel is playing him like a fiddle. I don’t know what Naomi’s deal is, but nothing adds up right about her.”

She swallows and wraps her hand around herself. “I guess, but the others turned on him, too.”

“James didn’t,” I cut in. “I have to assume Nathan and Ollie sided with who they think would win.”

“What about Maison?” she asks softly.

My heart shutters at the sound of his name, and I visibly tense. She pauses, too, staring right into my soul. I’m sure she heard Micah and me earlier while I was sucking him off. I’m sure she heard me last week while I was fucking both of them. It’s not like we were attempting to be quiet.

I shut my eyes and shake my head. If I talk about Maison right now, I will break down. She’s quiet, focusing on cooking our dinner, and I stare out at the stream trickling nearby.

I forgot how much I like this spot. It’s hidden away near a stream, a little escarpment with various earthy tones and the meadow. It reminds me of a place I used to camp with my parents before things went south between them. Despite only going once or twice, it became a fond memory I held on to.

The one night I spent here was also the best night on the island. In one night, this place felt more like home. It feels like home now—it’s just missing one really important person.

After an hour, Micah returns with upholstery in his arms. Upon seeing him, I instantly relax, not that I was pining for him or anything. He journeyed to the airplane and appeared to have ripped the seats. It’s for insulation, he informs us. He plans to rebuild the roofs and siding of the shelters to help keep them warmer as the colder weather approaches.