Once again, I accessed various folders, checking once, twice, three times, until I was absolutely sure. None of this had anything to do with charity. Nothing justified these expenses in any way.
I leaned forward, hands against my forehead, fingers buried in my hair, and stared down at my keyboard. A ball of dread formed in the pit of my stomach. This was no mistake, no simple mishap.
This wasintentional.
Ten
Sierra
My pulse pounded to the beat of the music, my feet hitting the pavement in a steady rhythm. Sweat beaded on my forehead and ran down the back of my neck.
I loved running — pushing myself to my limits, the burning in my lungs, and the runner’s high that would eventually set in.
Running cleared my head. It helped me think. The reason I was up at the crack of dawn was the lingering uneasiness I just couldn’t shake. I’d tossed and turned all night, like I had every night since making the big discovery. I needed to think.
And yet, I couldn’t. Every crevice of my mind was occupied, kept turning this thing over and over, numbing all other thoughts in a hazy storm. I pulled deep breaths in through my nose, trying to keep my breathing even and calm my whirling thoughts.
Despite the early hour of the day, the air was already thick, the humidity making my skin stickier than usual.
Not being able to think properly was turning into a much bigger issue. My focus needed to be spot-on. This was my lastcollege season, my last chance to be recognized on such a huge platform.
My final shot to prove I belonged at the professional level. Everything I’d worked for was riding on this.
Yes, the season was weeks and weeks away, but I needed to be at the very top of my game. The off-season had its advantages, but I was already looking forward to the pre-season.
Although we had regular practices led by our captain, I could hardly wait to compete against other teams in real game situations again.
As I approached the final stretch of my run, I slowly began to slow down, eventually transitioning to a walk. Small strands of hair had escaped from my Dutch braids at the back of my neck and were now sticking to my sweaty skin.
My phone had buzzed a few times, but I wanted to finish my workout before I dealt with it. After the run, I had a few more core-strengthening exercises to complete.
The old brick sorority house came into view, its white columns standing out sharply against the soft glow of the rising sun. A neatly trimmed hedge lined the walkway, catching the first warm rays of morning light.
Porch lights still cast faint pools of golden glow onto the steps, and the quiet of early morning settled over the neighborhood like a soft blanket.
By the time I made it back from my run, my legs were aching, and my shirt clung to me like a second skin. I tugged it away from my back as I stepped inside, already craving a cold shower.
Maybe I’d squeeze in a yoga session beforehand to calm my racing thoughts down a bit.
I was still catching my breath when I stepped into the house, the AC blasting cold air against my sweat-damp skin. The entryway smelled like fresh paint — again. Someone must’vedecided we needed another coat on the accent wall. It was a soft blush color now.
Definitely new.
I paused to swipe sweat from my temple, my gaze drifting to the box on the side table.Versace. Tissue paper was still sticking out, as if it had just been opened.
In the kitchen, a sleek espresso machine — one I was pretty sure hadn’t been there last week — caught the morning light like a goddamn centerpiece. Industrial-sized. Chrome everything. The thing looked untouched.
That hadn’t been there before, right?
My gaze dropped to the polished marble tray in the entryway, which was stacked with boutique mailers and a Nordstrom box. One corner of a receipt peeked through the packaging.
I didn’t touch it, but I didn’t need to. I recognized the store name. It wasn’t cheap.
I didn’t want to be the girl doing mental math on her way to the shower, but even half-dehydrated, I knew something wasn’t adding up.
I shook my head, more out of habit than certainty. Maybe I’d just been too wrapped up in planning to notice before. OrmaybeI was starting to pay attention in ways I hadn’t before.
On the way up to my room, I exchanged smiles with a couple of my sisters, who had made themselves comfortable in the living room. The now familiar uncomfortable feeling in my stomach immediately set in.
