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“Oh, and you’re looking at some serious jail time—you know, the place where you’ll be raped by massive dudes every day? Fun times ahead, I’m sure.” As I saunter toward the classroom door, leaving him dumbstruck with his hand cupped around his mouth, I make sure to leave him with a proper message. “Consider this little visit . . . payback for what you did to my sister.”
    ***
    I pull my Elios pizza out of the microwave and drop myself onto the couch for what’s going to be my nightly entertainment. But right as I’m about to shove a greasy slice of pepperoni into my mouth, my phone buzzes on the coffee table. Dammit. I snatch my phone up, staring at the caller ID for a second—a random number, as always. But no one else knows my number except Sasha. So I know it’s Dad.
    “Hi Dad. Don’t worry, I’m leaving soon,” I say, sounding as unfazed as I normally do.
    “I received some information today, Carolina.” Hello to you too . He sounds worn and tired, making me wonder where he is now. “Did you approach that professor at Krissy’s old university?”
    “Depends,” I say playfully.
    “What did you do?” Dad whispers, as if someone were tracing our call—not that whispering would keep the listener from hearing this.
    “Just had a little talk with him.” I can’t hide the pride in my voice.
    “Dammit, Carolina. I was told about the YouTube video. He’s dead now, and who knows if that will be traced back to you?” He forces a long heavy sigh into the phone, making his annoyance with me clear. “Leave. Tonight. You hear? There’s a flight heading to Boston at twenty- one-hundred hours. Flight number AA220. Your ticket will be waiting for you. I want a text in two hours confirming you have your ticket.” I flick the TV on, hoping one of the local stations is reporting on the death of Professor Lance.
    “Okay,” I say as the call ends. Love you too, Dad. Ass.
    I shove the slice of pizza into my mouth and turn up the volume. Sweet. I love when people take my advice.
    Breaking News: Dead at thirty-five. Psychology professor and a recently reported rapist, Zach Lance was found in his classroom dead. The cause is unclear at this time, but rumors of a drug overdose appear to be the cause, leading us to believe this is an alleged act of suicide.
    Job complete.
    I press Sasha’s number in my phone, and she answers after one ring. “Cali-girl, did you see?”
    “Good riddance, huh?” I say, listening to her breathe a sigh of relief.
    “Maybe it all finally caught up to him,” she says. “I still can’t believe Krissy didn’t tell anyone.” She was like that—she always kept her head down, but the weak link usually seems to be the target. And she was twice—unfortunately in the wrong places at the wrong times. “Cali, did you have something to do with this?”
    “It was suicide. Nothing more,” I reassure her. Or at least I try to reassure her. But if anyone in this world knows me and what I’m capable of, it’s her. “I gotta run, Sash. Talk to you soon.” I hear her kisses being blown into the receiver as I click end.
     
     
     

CHAPTER TWO
    CALI
    I READJUST the heavily weighted carry-on over my shoulder as I scan my gaze down the departure screen, confirming the flight number Dad gave me. Looks like it’s on time—there’s a plus.
    With sluggish strides, I pick up my ticket then make my way through security, needlessly earning myself numerous once-overs.
    “Ma’am could you please remove your sunglasses?” the woman with the wand asks me. I let out an exaggerated sigh and slide them off my nose. The light burns my eyes, and I squint in reaction to the pain. “You do know you are inside, and it’s dark out, right?”
    I narrow my eyes at her and cock my head to the side. “Have you considered it may not be to hide my eyes from the sun?”
    “We’ll need you to step aside. You need to be searched.”
    I do as they ask, spread my legs apart and lift my arms out to the