Going back

34|| Friend

A/N: Here's Chapter 34. Enjoy, people.

"Absolutely not."

"Oh come on, Cole!" Iris exclaimed, running a hand down her exhausted face. "Please, just this once?"

The brunette scowled and crossed his arms, glaring at her. "No. And don't even think about dragging James into this!"

"I think James can make his own choices."

"James would like to stay out of this." James continued eating hi crisps with a bemused expression. "Besides, I agree with Cole. It's far too dangerous."

"Oh, come on!" Iris groaned. "Ever since you both got engaged, it's like you're joined at the hip. And after all I've done to get here too."

Once Mia had given Iris some precious information, she knew she had to act fast. David and Lisa were busy conversing— or, rather, arguing in furious whispers— and the West-Brown boys were preoccupied with the television. It was a brief moment she needed to take advantage of.

First, she ran upstairs and flung open her room's window to check the drop, but it was far too high and it would take too long to fashion a rope out of bedsheets. So she snuck out the back door and, mustering every last drop of arrogance and calm she possessed, walked straight out of the front gates which were heavily guarded. None of them stopped her— they were designed to keep people out rather than in. Iris sprinted down the road, armed with nothing but her phone, and managed to catch a bus to a trusted ally.

"Why do you want to go here, anyways?" Cole narrowed his brown eyes. "And why can't you ask DeLano for help? Or Tracy and Jax?"

"Harry doesn't need to know about this." Iris picked at the dead skin around her nails. "And Jax and I... it's complicated."

"Woah." Cole blinked and exchanged a wary glance with James. "Known you for, what, seven years and it's never been... well, this bad between you two."

Iris shrugged, unsure what she should say.

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James pushed himself off the counter and grabbed an apple from a crate of fruits on the platform. "Well, that still doesn't explain why you are so invested in this suicide mission."

"It's to find my mother's murderer."

"Why didn't you say so before? Let's go." He tossed the apple at Iris who barely managed to catch it. "Eat up. You look absolutely terrible."

"I'll tell Lexi that we're catching up with an old friend." Cole sighed, his brows furrowed. "Please note that I do not approve of this."

"Noted." Iris grinned and took a bite of the apple. Adrenaline hummed in her veins and spread throughout her body— a sensation she hadn't felt since the last time she'd stepped into the ring. "Don't worry, this will be a simple mission. In and out of the building just to see if there are any clues. I promise."

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Short chapter but I had to split it from the next one.

I hope you guys liked it!

Stay safe and thanks for reading :)