Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Just when Eli figured Clara had finally let it go, she spun around and gave her order, voice cold as ice.

"Beat him within an inch of his life, then toss him back in the slums."

With that, she headed straight for Megan's room.

The two rooms were only about fifteen meters apart-close enough that anything happening on Eli's side was sure to be heard in Megan's. But Megan didn't move, didn't flinch. She just sat there on the couch, waiting.

Clara walked in, and Megan finally got to her feet.

"Clara, who's that guy who's always with you lately? Are you in some kind of trouble?"

Clara shook her head slowly. She crossed to the coffee table, reached for the water glass, but hesitated, fingers stopping midair.

"Megan, have I ever told you anything about where I come from?"

"No, never. Why? Is there something you want to say?"

Clara smiled a little and pushed the glass away.

"It's nothing. I've just been having issues with Ryan lately. He's suddenly gotten way too good at lying, so I had to set him straight. You know, sometimes you wear a mask for so long that when you finally rip it off, it takes some skin with it. Hurts like hell."

Megan's face almost slipped. She had no idea what Clara really meant-was Clara hinting at something? Had Megan let something slip? But ever since meeting Beck, she'd been careful. Beck had played it cool, too, keeping his head down, never making eye contact.

Except maybe that very first look...

But there was no way Clara could figure things out just from that. If she were

really that sharp, Simon wouldn't have been able to mess with her for so long.

Megan felt herself relax, letting out a quiet breath.

"Ryan's your brother. Whatever's going on, just talk to him."

Clara stood up, waving dismissively.

"I'm heading out. Don't mention tonight to anyone."

Megan nodded, watching her leave.

Out in the hall, Clara let out a quiet sigh before heading back to her car.

She didn't have to wait long. Soon, Eli came out, Beck slung over his shoulder like

a sack of potatoes.

He dumped Beck in the backseat without a second thought, then slid into the passenger seat.

"The kid says it was all Eden's idea."

Clara drove, her face unreadable.

They reached the edge of the slums. Eli took a quick look around for cameras, then shoved Beck into muddy ditch next to a stinking stream.

He expected Clara to drive off right away, but she just kept the car running,noveldrama

parked a short distance away, not moving.

He glanced over. "Clara, what are you waiting for?"

They sat through the night, from

dusk till sunrise. Nobody came

Beck, In the end, it was a groueret

of

street kids who found him.

SWI

Clara's lips twitched. "I just wanted to see if anyone would show."

Eli yawned. "There's always someone around here. He was bound to be found. You don't ope

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actually want him dead—you just want to know who was calling the shots. But this Eden... I get the feeling he was just trying to set her up." śwnovel

Before Eli had even finished, Clara pressed down on the gas.

"If he's trying to frame her, we'll find out soon enough."

*

Eden never expected to run into Clara on her way home. Her eyes went wide, and

the first thing she blurted out was-