Chapter 280 Ava: Debrief

I can't help but laugh at Lisa's horrified expression. Her eyes are wide, her mouth hanging open in a perfect 'O' of shock. It's such a quintessentially Lisa reaction that, for a moment, I can almost forget everything we've been through.

We lapse into a comfortable silence, the kind only possible between best friends. It feels like old times, before vampires and shifters and mates complicated everything. I close my eyes, savoring the moment.

"I miss my parents."

Lisa's voice, small and fragile, shatters the peace. My eyes snap open to find her staring at her hands, twisting them in her lap.

"I'm sorry, Lisa. The cell phones aren't working right now. We can't—"

"I know," she sighs, her shoulders slumping. "Just wishing I could tell them I'm okay. They're worried sick, I'm sure."

I reach out, squeezing her hand. There's nothing I can say to make this better, so I don't try.

Suddenly, Lisa jerks upright. Her eyes, when they meet mine, are bright and intense. "Ava, Chloe and Mia... they're not very good people."

The abrupt change in topic throws me. "What? Who?"

Her gaze darts around the room, landing on the walls, the ceiling, the floor. "Are they listening?" she whispers, leaning in close. "The guards, I mean."

My face goes blank as I nod, careful to keep my expression neutral. "There's a place we can go to talk, if we need to."

Lisa's on her feet in an instant. "Can my friends come too?"

I blink, startled by her urgency. "Um... I guess so? We'd have to check—"

"Great," she interrupts, already heading for the door. "Let's go."

door, Kellan's there, his posture tense. I can see

the conference room. Can you escort us? And bring Lisa's

be better to wait a few hours. Ryder's debriefing

pipes up from behind

eyes snap back to her, filled with a yearning so intense it makes my chest ache. I shut the door, guilt twisting in my gut as his face

find her

"Looking for paper."

Ah.

that, flipping to an empty page and handing Lisa the

out of my hands, she rushes to the table, scribbling across the paper and then turning to face the notebook

The words are simple.

are traitors. Brought vampires to attack. Party = them

I lean in close to Lisa, my voice barely above a whisper. "Are

pen flies across the page, her hand shaking slightly. When she turns the notebook back to me, I

Damn.

to click in my head. Lisa knew everyone's names more than I did, but I remember now the two girls at the party, with their intrusive questions and their clear disdain for me. I'd figured they had crushes on Lucas; I never would have guessed them to

And why?

among their peers. Why would

It doesn't make sense.

me to have

direction has me snapping my mouth closed, teeth clicking with the force of it. I purse my lips in thought. "Or not. Okay. Why don't I see

* * *

Kellan brings us to the conference room,

is closed, Lisa launches into everything that's happened to her since the party, shuddering as she talks about the vampire's visit to

must be one of his

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