My heart jumps into my throat.
“How did you know?” I ask.
“The trees whisper as much as everyone else does,” Rosa says. “Don’t worry, I’m not guilty of anything.”
She winks, pulls her hood up and vanishes.
I go back into the cafe where Maz and Birdie are staring at me.
“Don’t ask,” I say. “We have to go.”
“What is this?” Birdie asks me.
I crouch down so I’m eye level with her. “This is mine, Birdie. All mine. TheHeirstold me so. I get to decide what happens. You’re my best friend. You too, Maz.” I look at Maz for a second. Then back to Birdie. “I’m not allowing it. This will not get forgotten.”
“So what does that mean?” Birdie asks.
I swallow hard.“Whoever hurt you that night… I want them killed.”
Chapter 58
I’m not used to giving speeches.
Ever.
Even back in high school, I never did that stuff.
When it was my time to give a speech or handle some kind of public speaking thing, I could cue up the fake cries and groans of my period and that always worked.
I’d stand there and gently touch my stomach.
I don’t have my period.
I can’t walk away from this.
All eyes are on me.
I’m Jaci Ruby. I’m the new person here.
But I’m anHeir.
And that matters to everyone staring at me.
There are a handful ofHeirs,Savages, andThorns.
Even Ava and Brianna are standing there.
Both with their arms folded.
Staring daggers at me, but there’s a little bit of fear in their eyes.
Which works for me.
We’re out near the woods.
It’s a perfect fall afternoon.
Which is kind of ironic and scary in a way.