Sins of Sisterhood

26. You Run Like a Dude

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~ 26 ~

Rule #26: Emotion = Weapon

"So have you got the guts?"
Arctic Monkeys - 'Do I wanna know'

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For a solid thirty seconds, I just stare at the screen, my brain refusing to process what I'm seeing.

Then, my fingers hover over the keyboard, trembling with a mix of rage and something that feels suspiciously like fear. But mostly rage. Definitely mostly rage. Because this? This is next-level betrayal.

Me: What kind of sick game are you playing? I Should've guessed you're the "bad people" Why the hell are you having me steal my own files?

The typing bubble appears, disappears, appears again—like he's enjoying watching me squirm. My phone buzzes again, but it's Cade this time:

Cade: Why am I looking at your files? Something you want to tell me? 🤨 And why does your psych eval from freshman year mention "potentially destructive tendencies"?

Me: Rain check on the explanation. Got shit to handle.

Something like murder. Specifically, sister murder.

I switch back to Mr. Mysterious's chat, but he's ghosted me. Apparently, that's what criminal masterminds do—drop cryptic messages and then fuck off to their evil lairs or whatever. 

My fingers are shaking as I pull up Raven's number.

Me: What the actual fuck, Raven? Still working with him?
Me: ANSWER YOUR FUCKING PHONE

The messages sit there, undelivered, like little digital middle fingers.

I hit call, and her voicemail kicks in immediately: "Hey, you've reached Raven! If this is about money, call my mom. If this is about something illegal I did, call Eris. If you're Eris, stop stalking me, I'm busy. Everyone else, leave a message after—"

"Busy?" I snarl at my phone. "You were literally dying hours ago, you absolute—"

I hit Dante's number so hard my thumb actually hurts. It rings. And rings. And fucking rings.

And goes to voicemail.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," I mutter, dialing again. Same result. And suddenly, something ugly twists in my stomach.

Because what did I expect, leaving them together alone? They've got history. Sweaty, naked history that I try really hard not to think about except apparently right now when my brain decides to be extra helpful and provide vivid imagery.

Something in me snaps.

"What did you think would happen?"I mutter as my phone hits the ground with a crack that sounds expensive."Leaving two people who've actually dated and– "

Okay, fine, maybe my mind shouldn't jump straight to them having sex.

But come on. This is Dante we're talking about—Mr. "Sex-Is-An-Art-Form." The guy practically radiates bedroom energy even when he's just standing there.

Plus, let's not forget how Raven literally almost gutted me like a fish because of him. She'd jump at him the moment she gets a chance... and she has.

I stop thinking for a moment, staring at my now very cracked phone screen. The one I bought last week because the last one had an "unfortunate accident".