It didn’t matter though. Whatever fear she harbored was not enough to keep her from following her gut, like she’d done from the very beginning.
So, she added the number in her contacts.
And then promptly sent a message to the traitor.
Maddy: Is there something you wanna tell me?
An answer pinged almost immediately.
Stacie: FINALLY
Stacie: I’VE BEEN DYING HERE
Stacie: Is everything okay?
Maddy: Yes, everything’s fine.
Stacie: Then you’re welcome.
Maddy chuckled at her friend, who could be so scary even while having such a soft underbelly. Like a damn porcupine.
She almost put her phone down but the urge was too strong.
Opening a new conversation, she typed:
Maddy: So, how handy are you with tools?
thirty-three
GROUP CHAT
Cooper: * Waiting patiently for an update *
Nate: ???
Cooper: YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF UPDATE, ASSHOLE.
Liam: You’d better spill it, bud
Liam: Or Coop is gonna lose his shit.
Cooper: I’M NOT GONNA LOSE MY SHIT.
Cooper: And whose side areyouon?
Cooper: Like you don’t wanna know as well.
Liam: Fine. I do.
Cooper: AHA
Cooper: It’s two against one.
Cooper: You have no choice now, lover boy.
Nate: Are you done?
Cooper: No, I’ll be done when you tell me if my hard-earned skills have served their purpose.
