This is the explosive sequel to "To Capture a Heart."
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Some truths ruin lives. Others set them free.
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Veronica had it all-until, in the span of a few brutal days, she lost everything.
The fallout is fierce. Tensions are at a breaking point. Lo...
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No one could agree on anything.
We'd taken over Neil's bedroom like a makeshift war room— fueled by cold pizza and righteous fury.
Tyler paced by the window like it owed him an explanation. Ash and Avi were curled up on opposite ends of the couch, whispering theories and throwing names around like this was a murder mystery dinner party. Only no one was having fun.
"Well, we need to start doing something," Ash snapped, throwing her hands up. "Because the hallways were a nightmare today. People whispering, staring, asking if Julian's some undercover drug lord and if Veronica is the school's femme fatale."
"Some stupid guy asked if I was in a secret mafia/drug ring with Julian," I muttered. "I'm flattered. Offended, but flattered."
"Guys," Tyler said, voice low, "we're missing something. That assembly wasn't a one-man operation. Max may be an asshole, but he's not 'technically' gifted enough to hijack the AV system during a school assembly."
Avi paused. "No one left or entered the main door. To hijack AV during an assembly without anyone noticing, you need access. Or help."
"So how'd they do it?" Ash asked.
"There's a backdoor exit near the auditorium sound booth," I said slowly. "It's usually locked and only the staff has access..."
"...but if someone had keys," Tyler finished.
We exchanged looks.
"There's an accomplice," I murmured. "Someone on the inside."
The room dipped into silence—then the door creaked open.
We all turned sharply.
Julian walked in, hoodie up, fingers stained with something suspiciously like printer ink. A USB drive dangled from his hand. His hair was a mess. His expression? Oddly... satisfied.
"Miss me?" he asked, already moving toward Neil's laptop on the coffee table.
Everyone stared.
"Where the hell have you been?" Tyler snapped, crossing the room in two strides.
Julian held up the USB like a peace offering. "Digging up ghosts."
"What's that?" I asked, even though I already had a bad feeling curling in my gut.
"Something Max thought he destroyed," Julian said, plugging it in. "Back at Edgewood, I found this old USB stashed behind his locker—don't ask why I was digging around back there—and something told me to keep it. It was probably damaged, possibly from being stomped on. I thought it was dead."
"And now?" Ash asked quietly.
"I got in touch with a friend from boarding school," Julian said. "Kid's a genius with computers. He managed to recover part of it. Not all. He's still working on the rest."
