Hearing the news broke her heart, shattered her. Tom had been watching over her and Lake for a while now, and now he was just … gone.

She had heard the whispered accusations toward Angel, but she didn’t think he did it. It wouldn’t make any sense. At least, she chose not to believe it until she could look him in the eyes again. Then she would know.

If I ever get to see him again.

She doubted they would let him step foot outside the casino hotel anymore.

When the car pulled up to take her to school, her jaw practically dropped to the floor when she saw Angel sitting in the passenger seat. She almost couldn’t believe it. It was definitely a good sign he was there, because it meant Lucca didn’t think Angel had done it. Lucca didn’t take chances with the girls. The ones who watched them were the Carusos’ most loyal. That was why she liked Angel although he was a dick to her, because she didn’t think Lucca would have picked him to watch her if he didn’t have a redeeming quality about him.

Sliding into the car, she took note of the driver. She had met him a couple of times before and remembered his name was Joey.

Seeing Joey as Tom’s replacement, it really hit her that he was gone.

“Morning.” She tried to keep her voice strong.

Not responding, Joey began to drive with a stone-cold look on his face.

Angel might not have looked at her, but he at least finally said, “Morning, Adalyn.”

Looking at him today, he seemed … different. Not murder-y different; just different. Like there was something behind his voice. That maybe he knew she needed to hear a ‘good morning’ after hearing about Tom.

He probably just wants the ring back.

The rest of the drive was quiet, all of them probably thinking the same thoughts. One thing was for sure, though; she didn’t want to know what Joey thought. He seemed different, too, but in his case, it was murder-y different.

Joey parked beside the Escalade that had the rest of the girls waiting for them to arrive. When they got out of the car to meet up with them, they all turned silent when they saw Angel.

“I’m surprised you haven’t been killed yet,” Maria spoke, not holding back.

Adalyn looked at the faces of the Caruso men, knowing what she meant and why Joey wore such a hateful expression. They all think he did it.

“I’m standing here because I didn’t do it,” Angel told not only her but Joey, the other Carusos, and a somber Lake and Elle.

“That’s what my brother says.” The tall, leggy blonde looked him up and down. “For now, anyway.”

The distaste on the Carusos’ faces only grew. You could practically feel the heat of their fury radiating from their bodies, while Angel somehow looked cool and calm.

Maria’s heels clicked along the pavement as she walked up to him. “God help you if you had anything to do with it. I’m sure Joey’s hands are itching to kill his cousin’s murderer.”

A low growl came from Joey. “I can’t wait.”

On Maria’s lips was a smile that was almost evil as she and Elle walked away, heading to their classes with their guards. That left the rest of them to walk to their first class.

She’s batshit crazy, isn’t she?

Starting to walk, she was slightly shocked when she was lightly pulled back by the arm to walk a bit behind Lake and Joey. Angel then pulled her in closer, whispering for only her ears to hear.

“I need to talk to you … alone. Say you want chicken nuggets from the food court and make sure your friends don’t follow.”

“Okay,” she whispered back with a chill from his harshness as he dropped his arm from her and put distance between them once again.

She didn’t know what he wanted to speak about, only able to assume it had to do with Joey. Nevertheless, a part of her had to know. Was she dumb to agree to it? Probably. But nuggets were involved, and that was all she needed.

As they reached the classroom, from Joey’s fierce expression, she could only wonder if Angel would still be living and breathing when she came back out. Before heading in, she silently gave him a good freakin’ luck face.

The second the girls touched their seats, they began talking, with Adalyn leaning over first.

“I need another favor.”

“Oh God, not again,” Lake groaned, unable to keep any more secrets from Vincent.

“I just need you to not want to get chicken nuggets so I can speak to Angel alone, because I don’t think Joey is going to give us many chances,” she spoke quickly, as if the favor wasn’t a big deal.

“Adalyn, do you think that’s safe?”

“He’s not going to try anything in a public place. If he does, I’ll scream.”

Lake nodded, knowing full well she was capable of that. “Do you think he did it?”

Adalyn didn’t answer right away, carefully thinking hard about whether he did or not. “I don’t think he did.”

“Well, that doesn’t sound very convincing!” Lake whispered harshly.

“I can’t say for certain because I wasn’t there, but my gut says no. It really doesn’t make sense for him to kill Tom. That’s too obvious, if you think about it.”

Lake was silent, thinking about her words, clearly knowing what Adalyn said made sense. “I hope for your sake he didn’t.”

She was confused. “My sake?”

“Yes, because you like him; I can tell.” Her best friend stopped her before she could object. “And someone as hot as him shouldn’t be wasted. Did you ever find out if he can ride a skateboard?”

She began to laugh, figuring it might be more for Lake’s sake than hers. “No, but something tells me I shouldn’t tell you if I find out he can.”

“I think I’d hate you forever if you kept that vision from me.”

I actually wouldn’t blame you.

“But do me a favor?” Lake asked.

“What?”

“Don’t tell me if he can’t.” Anyone could practically see Angel riding the skateboard in her eyes. “You’ll ruin it.”

The girls continued to talk about Tom’s death during class and throughout the day, trying to figure out who could have done it. One thing was for sure; it didn’t look good for Angel or his family.

With their morning classes over, they headed to the cafeteria to meet up with Elle and Maria, finding them both eating salads today.

“Is Maria rubbing off on you, Elle?”

“It’s good to have a salad every now and then,” Elle told her, but the way she was staring at it, Adalyn wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince her or herself.

“Yes, a big, hearty salad with chicken, not a side salad,” Adalyn corrected her.

“Yeah, I’m gonna get a cheeseburger.” Lake gawked at a student who had just sat down with one.

Elle looked over to see what she was staring at. Unable to resist, she said, “Can you grab an extra one for me?”

With them all laughing but one, Maria looked over at her in disappointment. “Weak.”

“Don’t worry, Elle.” Adalyn smiled at her. “I’m weak, too, because I’m going to get chicken nuggets. You all have fun.” She quickly turned to leave with Angel, hoping it would be left at that.

“Where do you think you’re going, Luciano?” Joey’s hard voice was the one who stopped them.

“Taking her to get her nuggets,” Angel answered.

He put a hand on Angel’s chest, stopping him. “I don’t fucking think so.”

“Lucca assigned me to her.” Looking him dead in the eyes, he kept his voice even. “She’s my responsibility.”

The girls all sat there, stunned at what was unfolding before them. I like this Angel.

“I’m not leaving you alone with her.”

“Then follow behind us.” Angel pushed forward, forcing Joey’s hand from his chest.

“I wouldn’t even give you the credit card to pay for her food,” Joey practically spat at him.

“Don’t. I’ll pay for it.” He shrugged, still walking away.

Practically laughing, Joey couldn’t help getting one last dig in. “Your money is dirty.”

Angel stopped. Turning around, he came up to Joey, chest to chest, his voice holding a deadly tone now that his family had been brought into it. “Exactly what makes you think your money is clean?”

Adalyn knew what he meant by that. The Carusos didn’t earn their money one hundred percent legally either.

“It’s cleaner than your family’s fuckin’ gun money.”

“Dirty money is dirty money. And unfortunately for you, you’re just as dirty as me.”

Joey put his face closer to Angel’s. “How do you sleep at night when you hear a kid was killed by a gun your family sold?”

Adalyn’s eyes grew wide. She knew the look that was coming upon Angel’s eyes. She needed to get him away now.

Putting a hand on his arm, she pulled to snap him out of it, thankful when he finally started to walk away.

“Get your fucking hands off him,” Joey snapped. “No one’s going anywhere. You can either eat a hamburger or a salad like the rest of them, or don’t eat at all. I don’t really give a shit.”

“Like I said, she is my responsibility, so do not speak to her that way,” Angel threatened as he pushed Adalyn behind him.

“I can speak to her however the fu—”

“Actually, you can’t,” a soft voice interjected. It wasn’t until they all turned their heads to Maria that she continued, “You need to leave now.”

Oh shit.

Everyone’s face, including Angel’s, had the same oh shit expression that had just filtered through their minds.

There were several awkward moments of silence before Joey managed to nod, then left the cafeteria. You could practically see the steam coming off him from the sheer embarrassment of having the Maria Caruso call him out and there was nothing he could do about it.

“Adalyn?”

Swallowing, she looked over at the mafia princess, who unmistakably ruled all. “Yes?”

“Sit down and eat a burger,” she said with a snap of her fingers.

One thing Adalyn wasn’t … was stupid. “Okay.”