Hardcore Volume 3 Read Online Free PDF Page A

shop with Sarah studying, and within, like, five minutes of sitting down, Jade walked in. She was acting so weird, Cory … wound-up, kind of twitchy. Is she on drugs?”
    My thoughts took a nose dive off the Chrysler building.
    “Cory?”
    I shook my head. “Yeah, I’m here. What did she say?”
    “Just said she wanted to check up on me, see how I was doing. Asked if I’d seen you. She told me to have you call her.”
    I ran a hand over my mouth. “Fuck, Jill. Where are you now?”
    “I came straight home after she left. I was so freaked out. I’ve been trying to call you but you didn’t answer, so then I freaked out because I couldn’t get a hold of you. Basically, I’ve just been sitting here spazzing. Do you think she’s watching me?”
    “I don’t know.” I was stunned silent for a second before deciding. “I’m coming over.”
    “Okay, I’ll meet you on the roof.”
    I hung a hand on my hip and paced. “No, I don’t want you out. Are Mom and Dad there?”
    She paused for a beat. “Yeah.”
    I closed my eyes. “Okay.”
    “You don’t have to come over here, Cor. Really. I’m sure everything’s fine.” The words were a plea.
    My mind jumped from thought to thought almost too quickly to keep up. “It’s not fine, and I’m coming over. Call me if you need me. I’ll be there in thirty.”
    “All right,” she said softly.  
    I shook my head and pressed my thumb into my temple. “I’m sorry, Jill.”
    “Don’t. You didn’t do this.”
    But I did. “I’ll see you in a few, okay?”
    “Okay. Be careful.”
    We hung up, and I texted the rest of the girls to meet me at my parents’ to the beat of my boots as I paced the roof. And then I ran like hell.
    Every jump, every step ratcheted my fury tighter, the pressure in my chest so high, it felt like a bomb had gone off in my ribcage. When I reached my parents’ roof, I found everyone there — Erin leaning over the edge, scanning the street, Morgan watching the roofs. Cher pulled me into a hug, but I was stone in her arms.
    “You okay?” she asked when she pulled away.
    “No. Hell no.” My voice broke, rough from the run and emotion.
    “Fucking Jade.” Cher sneered. “Goddamn her. She couldn’t just walk away.”
    “Have you seen her?”  
    “No, nothing,” Morgan answered and made her way over. “What do you think she wants?”
    “She wants us back, same as always, but she’s really fucked herself by seeking Jill out. She knew this would get to me. She knew this would draw me out, and she was right. But I’m going to make her wish she’d been wrong.”
    Morgan shook her head. “You’re not going over there right now.”
    “Don’t you fucking tell me what I can and can’t do, Morgan.”
    “I know you’re pissed—”
    “No, I’m fucking murderous.”
    She gestured to me. “That’s my point. I’ve got a better idea.”
    “Better than me beating the fuck out of her?” I clenched my fists at the thought, imagined the satisfaction. “Because that feels like exactly what I need to do right now.”
    “She’s going to keep doing this, Cory. We can’t trust her to keep her word or to leave us alone. Let’s set her up. It’s the only way to get her out of the way for good.”
    The idea was so appealing, but it was probably safer for both of us if I didn’t see her. I’d already avoided jail once. To end up there because of Jade after all seemed to be a horrible waste of the opportunity I’d been given. “So, what, we call her and set up a job?” I shook my head. “I don’t know if I can pretend. I don’t know if I can see her fucking bitch face and not hurt it.”
    Erin lifted her chin. “Then we’ll set her up ourselves. Either way, we’ve got a window. Let’s take it.”
    I was too pissed to make a decision either way. “I can’t talk about this right now. I need to see Jill. Watch the roofs and street, and text me if you see her.”
    Erin touched my arm. “Are you sure about going in