The Damaged (The Insiders Trilogy #2) - Tijan by Tijan

“Maybe. Or she targeted me because she already had an agenda. Either way, her bestie is downstairs pleading to talk to you.”

I didn’t want to go, but I was going to go.

And I knew I was going to hate going.

But I was still going.

Squashing a groan, I stood.

Scott and Connor had gone with Kash. Of the main guys I knew, they had left back Fitz and Erik. I took them in, noting, “Isn’t this your normal time off?”

They shared a look, bookending me on the way to the elevator.

Erik cleared his throat. “We’re getting double time, but we’ll be relieved in the morning.”

Time. I’d forgotten the time. It was a little after nine. It felt like it should’ve been after midnight, but I guess that’s how it went when you started the festivities at a football game in the middle of the day and then kept going.

“You want us to come with you?” That was Matt, but Torie didn’t ask. She bypassed him, stepping firmly into the elevator as it opened.

She wasn’t alone.

Melissa came behind her, Tamara bookending her.

Liam, Carl, Dax, Shyam, and a few other guys from class followed, too.

They were about to get on the elevator, but Erik held up a hand. “No more. Next elevator.”

The doors were closing when Liam shot a hand up. “Don’t kill her.”

No one said a word inside.

The door closed.

We descended into the abyss of hell.

I might’ve been overreacting again. I didn’t care. I grinned.

“This is the same bitch from Naveah?”

I didn’t have to answer Torie.

Melissa did for me. “Yes, but if she’s here, then there’s a good reason she’s here.”

That got my attention. That got everyone’s attention.

Melissa kept on, “She wouldn’t come, especially to your brother’s place and to your dad’s hotel. Hoda feels bad. Kash handed her ass to her”—Look at Melissa, she was picking up our speak!—“and she feels bad, but she’s been trying to figure a way to make it up to you. If she’s here, this is her making it up to you. Trust me.” She ended with a harrumph and a nod. Her hair had a little bounce to it.

No one said a word. We were mostly in shock, or I was guessing.

But then there really wasn’t anything to say. Whatever Hoda was here to say, I’d listen. With that in mind, as the elevator opened again and we walked out to a still seriously packed lobby, I found her in two seconds. She was at the front desk, an arm resting on the counter. Her body was half-turned to watch the lobby, but her head swiveled toward where we were. Our eyes met, and her body jolted. Her arm even scraped against the counter, getting the front desk attendant’s attention.

He looked at her, saw where she was looking, and clambered to get out from behind the desk. “Mr. Colello said—”

Erik stepped in. “We got it. Is there a private room nearby?”

The attendant stopped talking, taking me in, and Hoda, who was migrating around the desk toward us. Hotel security was standing by her, but seeing that it was okay for her to approach, he went back to the front door.

The elevator pinged behind us. Matt, Liam, Carl—the whole group—spread out around us.

Hoda took them in, gulping.

The attendant snapped to attention again. “Mr. Francis, sir!”

Matt moved forward. “They need a conference room, and I want all lingering students out of the lobby. They either need to be a guest or know a guest, and it’s okay for us to make them produce a keycard. If anyone gripes, send them my way.” My brother touched my arm. “My sister has to have a meeting. What room’s available?”

Well, hell. We just saw Manager Matt.

I liked it.

We were shown to a conference room. All of us traipsed inside—and I mean all of us. Seemed Hoda wasn’t getting a one-on-one but a one-on-twenty-ish.

She took it in stride. I had to hand that to her.

“Okay.” She smoothed her hands down her sides, her eyes darting to take in everyone. “Wow. Okay. I didn’t realize I’d get an actual audience.”

Matt growled, moving to stand in front of me. “My sis can hear your words, but you talk to me. Got it?”

I couldn’t see her anymore, but she whispered, “Got it.”

Liam was still drunk but looked like he was attempting to pretend to be sober. He and Melissa, and Carl, since he was an extension of Liam at this point, all stood between Hoda and the rest of us.

“What’s up, the Hodes?” From Liam.

His pretending wasn’t working.

Melissa shot him a frown and mirrored Matt, standing in front of Liam. She reached out to touch Hoda’s arm. That I could see.

“I told Bailey you wouldn’t be here unless it was important, and you don’t want to hurt her anymore.”

Matt’s back straightened, stiffening.

“Yes. Right.” Still a whisper from Hoda, until she cleared her throat. Her next words came out more clear, stronger. “I messed up. I was jealous and insecure, and I was educated on the error of my ways and realize how stupid I was. So”—a deep breath—“I wanted you guys to know that I didn’t reach out to Camille. She found me.”

What?

I stepped around Matt. “She found you?”