CHAPTER 82

Rosa

Rochester could be a dangerous place as Gabriel getting his ass kicked proved. I was smart and traveled in the shadows when I came out at night. Maybe it was this time of the morning and the utter quiet that gave me the creeps. The academy had once been a church and there were stories of ghosts and other things that went bump in the night. I’d seen none of it and didn’t have time for an overactive imagination.

The phone was in the grass on its side. I scooped it up and turned to hustle back to the library.

Brando blocked my way.

I didn’t know him. He was huge and he always had Gabriel’s back. The unpleasant expression on his face told me this wouldn’t be fun.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

My brain went into scramble mode. I tucked the phone under my shirt and tried to make the movement appear natural.

“Sneaking back from a good time,” I said cheerily. “What are you doing?”

He took a step closer and placed his hand out.

“Turn over Gabriel’s fucking phone. Where is he?”

“Uh—”

He