CHAPTER 203: HOW MUCH LONGER CAN WE HOLD THIS SECRET BEFORE IT DESTROYS US?

He leaned forward again. "You’re not telling me the truth. You’re either protecting someone... or something. And I’m going to find out which."

Of course I’m protecting the people I love. What else was I supposed to do? I can’t just sit here and tell them everything.

If I did, the Coil wouldn’t just stop at me....they’d come for everyone.

The room felt too hot. My shirt stuck to my back. I tried to keep my face calm, but my leg wouldn’t stop bouncing under the table.

"I...." My throat was dry. "I’m not... protecting anyone." My voice cracked.

Harris tilted his head. "I smell a lie, Ash."

I gripped the edge of the chair so hard my hands ached.

If they figure this out before the Circle moves, it’s over.

My chest felt tight.

"I don’t..." I swallowed hard. "I don’t know what you want me to say."

"I want the truth," Harris said quietly, leaning in. "Before someone else gives it to me."

"I told you everything I know," I whispered. Even I didn’t believe the way it sounded.

Harris sat back, studying me. "We’ll see."

I dropped my eyes to my lap.

They’re closing in. Faster than I thought.

Then, three sharp knocks on the door startled us.

Both our heads snapped toward it. A younger officer poked his head in, looking stiff. "Sir? Principal Han says we can’t hold the students here any longer. District board is on the phone, and the parents are starting to call. They want everyone released."

Harris’s jaw tightened. For a second, I thought he’d ignore it and keep drilling me until I broke.

But he leaned back, slowly. "Fine."

The younger officer shifted. "Sir... he said specifically. No more questioning students during school hours."

Harris waved him off, still staring at me. His voice dropped low, just for me to hear. "This isn’t over, Ash. I’ll be back. And when I am... you’d better decide if you’re protecting Dominic, or yourself."

He stood, straightened his jacket, gave me one last look like he already knew too much, and then he walked out.

The second the door closed, the air in the room felt heavier. I buried my face in my hands, shaking. That was close. Too close. He knows about Dom. He knows about us. If they piece it together before the Circle does... we’re done. All of us.

I pushed myself up on weak legs and opened the door.

And when I stepped out into the hall and saw Dominic waiting at the far end, most students already went back to their classrooms.

How much longer can we keep this secret before it destroys us?

The second I stepped out, Dom’s hand was already on my arm. He didn’t even say anything, he just pulled me down the hall, until we slipped into an empty classroom.

The door shut behind us.

"Jesus, Ash," he whispered. "What happened in there?"

I leaned back against a desk, rubbing my palms on my jeans. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. "He knows too much, Dom. Way too much."

Dom stepped closer, his eyes searching mine like he was trying to see straight through me. "Did you say anything?"

My throat tightened. "No. I..." My voice cracked. I forced it steady. "I didn’t tell him anything. I swear. But he’s smart. He kept pressing. About Liam. About the hospital. About us."

Dom’s jaw clenched. His hand came up to my cheek. "You didn’t spill anything?"

I shook my head, quick. "Ofc, I wouldn’t do that."

"Hey." Dom’s forehead rested against mine. "It’s fine. I trust you. They can’t know about the secret yet, till we figure it out."

I closed my eyes, breathing him in, trying to believe it. His presence was the only thing holding me together.

And then...

The door creaked open behind us.

We jerked apart, turning.

June stood in the doorway.

Her eyes were wide, her face was pale. She clutched the strap of her bag.

Her voice wavered. "Ash... what secret?"

I froze.

Her gaze flicked from me to Dom, then back, searching our faces. "Were you... were you involved in Liam’s death?"

"No," I said too fast. "No, June, it’s not..."

She shook her head, stepping inside, closing the door behind her like she couldn’t stand for anyone else to hear. "I heard you. I’m not stupid...." Her voice cracked. "Ash, please don’t tell me you had anything to do with what happened to Liam."

Her eyes shimmered with tears she refused to let fall. She looked like she wanted me to deny it

But the way she held herself, stiff, trembling, told me she wasn’t sure she’d believe me even if I did.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out

"June," I started, forcing a shaky smile, "it’s nothing. You...you misheard."

Her brows pulled together. "Ash, don’t do that. Don’t lie to me.". She took a step closer. "Dominic said ’secret.’ What did you mean? Were you..." Her voice cracked. "Were you involved in Liam’s death?"

"No," I blurted, too fast. My chest tightened. "June, I swear, it’s not what you think."

Her stare didn’t waver.

Before I could dig myself deeper....

"He’s not involved," Dom spoke up. "Neither of us are. We’re just trying to figure things out. You think the cops care? They’ve already failed once. So we’ve been investigating ourselves and....." He exhaled hard, shaking his head. "It’s all fucked up."

June’s eyes widened. "Investigating? Ash..." She looked at me like I’d betrayed her. "Leave it to the cops. Please. Do you even remember what you told me and Marcus that night? After you got arrested at the party?" Her voice dropped. "You said someone stabbed Liam. You said he had a secret. Is that... is that what got him killed?"

Her own words seemed to choke her. She clamped her mouth shut, eyes wide like she’d said too much.

I swallowed hard, then lied again. "We don’t know yet." I forced myself to hold her gaze, even though my palms were sweating. "Please, June... don’t tell anyone I said that."

Her chest rose and fell fast. She glanced at Dom, then back at me. "...I won’t. If you guys stop. If you quit playing detective before you end up in trouble too."

She looked worried.

I took a slow step toward her, lowering my voice. "Hey. Don’t carry this, okay? Don’t make it heavier than it already is. Just... trust me." I tried a crooked smile, waving lightly at Dom as I passed him. "I’ll text you," I mouthed at him before turning back to June.

I forced the tension out of my voice. "So... uh, what about you and Ian?"

Her eyes flickered. "Ash! Don’t do that."

"Do what?" I shrugged. "Come on. I see the way he looks at you."

She wanted to argue but couldn’t, her cheeks flushed as she managed a weak smile.

"I know what you’re doing," June said before I could fumble another excuse. "That thing you do when you’re trying to change the subject so I’ll forget what I heard. Promise me you won’t involve yourself in this anymore. If you do, I’m telling the cops myself."

My chest tightened. I lifted two fingers, the stupid little oath everyone makes when you don’t know how else to promise something real. "I promise, okay? Swear on... whatever." I forced out a shaky laugh, because humor makes everything less tense, even if it only masks the jagged edges for a second.. "Yikes....chill, you sound like a mom."

June exhaled. "Good. Seriously. If you’re messing with this, don’t pull me in. And don’t..." She stopped, swallowed, then added, "....and don’t let this break you, Ash."

She gave me a long look, like she was trying to figure out if I was going to listen to her, then sighed and started walking. I fell into step beside her.

After a moment, I nudged her shoulder. "Sooo... what happened between you and Ian? You spent the night at his place, and I still can’t believe it. Did anything... you know....romantic? Sexy?"

Her cheeks instantly turned pink. She tried to look away, but the smile gave her away, softening her whole face.

My jaw dropped. "Oh my God. Something did happen!" I grinned softly. "I need details. Everything."

She covered her face with her hand, shaking her head. "Fine. But after class. Okay?"

We were already at the door to the classroom, and I couldn’t stop smiling. "Deal," I smiled.

But the second we stepped in, the mood shifted.

My eyes landed on Marcus’s empty seat. The back row felt wrong without his crooked grin, the dumb doodles he used to scratch on his desk when class got boring.

The silence where his jokes should’ve made us both laugh, or he and June’s bickering. I miss him.

I sank into my chair. "How about we check up on Marcus after school? Dominic can pick up Alia from school."

June nodded gently, softening her eyes. "Yeah... let’s do that."

And just then, the teacher walked in, calling the class to order.