Every New Year's Eve for the past three years has always been spent at one of my boys' houses for a killer party. There was always unlimited booze, drugs, and women. As far as the drugs went, I never touched anything harder than some weed occasionally, but I was always on board with the other two.

Thinking about the number of women I've slept with-sometimes more than one during those parties-made me fell sick to my stomach. I never thought there was anything wrong with the way I was living before, but now things were different. I was different.

Which was why I was currently wearing a suit as I stood in my bathroom in front of the mirror. I made fancy plans for me and Karma tonight. I planned a dinner at a rooftop restaurant. Then I was going to take her for ice cream at Lloyd's before ending the night in the Honeymoon Suite at The Hilton.

The amount of money I spent to make tonight happen was outrageous. I mowed a lot of lawns and washed a lot of cars to make sure I could give her a night to remember. Karma deserved something special tonight. Hell, she deserved something special every night. But there was something about counting down to midnight and ringing in the new year with her that just seemed...major. Like it was a big deal.

And that was one reason I started investing in hair gel. Staring into the large mirror, I repeatedly touched at my hair that I slicked back, trying to make sure it was just right. Normally Lanie would be behind me while I prepared for a date with Karma, making jokes and taking jabs at me. All with sisterly love.

Thankfully there were no distractions like that right now. Lanie was off with Harper doing God knows what. My parents left already to meet their friends for a party of their own. So, it was just me.

That was until I heard a banging noise at the front door followed by the sound of it opening and closing.

"Yo, Nate! Where you at?"

Frowning I continued messing with my hair. "Nick? I'm upstairs," I called back.

What the hell was he doing here? He was supposed to be the party one of our hockey friends was throwing. And he knew I had plans tonight.

I heard the loud booming of his feet taking the stairs two at a time. Just as he came into my room, I turned around to tell him that he could say whatever he wanted, I wasn't cancelling on Karma.

But that wasn't what came out of my mouth. Because the expression on the guy's face told me he had some fucking bad news to drop on me. My mind instantly went to Karma. Had something happened to her?

"What the fuck happened, Nick?"

He stepped towards me slowly and held up his hands. "Before I tell you this, you need to promise me that you aren't going to freak out."

Reaching forward I grabbed him by the shirt and jerked him until we were face to face. "Tell me. Now. What happened to Karma."

"Karma is fine," he said in a gentle voice. Like he was trying to explain something to a fucking toddler. "Nothing happened to her. But..."

"But what?" I tried to take a deep breath. "Nick, man, I love you like a brother. But if you don't explain right now, I'm going to lay you out."

The sigh he let out told me he knew I wasn't going to be calm about shit. "Just think before you react, okay?"

I waited for what felt like hours before he...

"I know who drugged Karma's drink at the Halloween party," he said finally.

Letting go of my best friend, I took a step back. Suddenly I couldn't breathe. My ears were ringing. Palms started sweating. Even though nothing happened that night, I still had nightmares about what could have happened if I hadn't stopped it in time. If anything ever happened to her...

"You okay?"

Looking up at Nick, I took a couple more deep breaths. And it didn't help at all. "Who. Who was it?"

He and I had spent weeks trying to find out who it was. We both had our suspicions, but nothing could be proven.

Nick cleared his throat and looked away. "I don't think I should-"

"Tell. Me."

Meeting my expression again, he said roughly," If I tell you, you have to promise me that you won't react and you'll go to the cops or your parents. Do you hear me, Nate? Don't. React."

I stopped lying to people when I got involved with Karma, but if that's what my best friend needed to hear to tell me what happened, then I was going to lie my ass off.

"I promise I won't react."

The look on his face told me he didn't believe a word I said. But he also knew I wasn't going to let this go.

"It was Brian," he said flatly and then waited for me to process the news.

We suspected Brian because of the whole Trish thing, but never could find out for sure.

"How do you know that?" I rasped.

Nick tucked his hands in his pockets. "I was at LOST and I overheard him talking to one of the guys on the team. He didn't know I was there."

Something in his tone told me that the name wasn't the most crucial piece of this story. I narrowed my eyes at my friend. "What aren't you telling me, Nick? There's more isn't there."

"Nate..." He looked away again. "We know who it is now. Let's just go to the cops and-"

I got in his face again. "Tell me!"

Nick had trouble getting the words out. But I heard him loud and clear. Stepping away from my best friend, I tried to keep my cool. Really, I did. And it lasted for about five seconds.

"No," Nick said suddenly, knowing exactly what I was thinking. "Nate, no."

I pushed past him, shooting out of my bedroom and racing down the stairs. Thank God my keys were already in my pocket. The way my mind was spinning I probably wouldn't be able to tie my own damn shoes.

Speaking of shoes, I slipped on my Nikes.

Next thing I knew I was out in front of my house, fishing my keys from my pocket to unlock the car door.

Nick was right there in my ear. "Nate, stop! Don't do this! Be smart!"

Clearly, smart left my brain. Because I shoved him aside, got in my car, and started speeding down the street towards Brian's house. There were a few times he held some parties at his place, and I remembered exactly where it was.

Stop signs were ran.

Red lights were ignored.

It was a miracle I actually made it in one piece. But I was too fucking pissed. All I could think about was what Nick had said to me. Over and over again, I could hear those words coming out of Brian's mouth. Then I pictured him touching her at the party. Remembered the terrified look on Karma's face when she realized it wasn't me behind her.

My hand tightened on the steering wheel so hard I was surprised the damn thing didn't break. After two more left turns and a right, my car came to a screeching halt in the middle of Brian's yard. He must have heard the sound, because by the time I got to his door he was standing on the porch.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He sneered.

I didn't bother with an answer or even a hey-how-are-ya. Instead, I grabbed the son of a bitch by the shirt and threw him to the ground. Everything after that was a complete haze, and all I saw was red.

Over and over again I punched Brian in the face. For a split second I remembered Karma begging me to never fight again. She was worried about something happening to me if I did. I knew deep down this action on my part was going to hurt her.

But with the sickening images in my head playing on a constant loop, the memory of her words couldn't stop me. I couldn't stop myself.

"I don't understand why you don't just come with your father and me tonight, Karma."

My mom was standing in the doorway to my bedroom as I continued to gather anything I might need for mine and Nathan's special evening.

"I told you, mama, Nathan planned something special for us tonight. And I'm going."

Walking over to my bathroom I subtly grabbed my travel toothbrush and toothpaste without my mom seeing and slipped it in my purse. Just in case. Because knowing my boyfriend this was going to be an all night affair.

"Well do you know where he's taking you?"

God, I could see the disappointment on her face without even looking at her.

"No, I don't. I told you it was a surprise."

A surprise I was so excited about even though I normally hated them. But I knew tonight was going to be extremely special and I couldn't wait for him to be here to pick me up.

I glanced at the clock on my bedside table then to my mom who had her arms crossed as she watched me closely. "He's going to be here any minute, mom. I really need to go."

Throwing her hands up she said, "Fine. But make sure you check in with me once you know what the plan is." Her expression softened a little and she actually smiled. "I do hope you enjoy your night tonight, Karma."

There was a tightness in my chest at her words. Given her determination and drive to have me go to USF, it still surprised me when she said stuff like that. Because I knew she meant it.

I put my purse on my shoulder before I gave her a hug. "Thanks, mama. I'll call you when I know what my plans are."

Walking through my house, I grabbed a bottle of water before slipping on my shoes and saying goodbye to my dad who was sitting in the living room watching old cop show reruns.

Once I finally made it through the front door and onto my porch, anticipation and excitement filled me. Nathan should be pulling up any second to pick me up and take me out so we can have the night of our lives.

I tried to think of what he could possibly have planned, and I also tried to get it out of him, but of course both of those techniques failed. I was just going to have to wait and see. But I didn't mind that because whatever it was, I was just happy to be with him.

With that thought, I checked my phone again and frowned. It was already ten minutes past the time he was supposed to pick me up.

Nathan was never late.

I dialed his number. It just rang and rang.

So I tried it again.

And again.

Once more.

"Where are you, Nathan?"

The sound of a car approaching had me looking up and feeling a sliver of relief and hope. But it didn't last long.

Because it wasn't Nathan's car and it wasn't Nathan behind the wheel.

Harper got out of the car with a solemn expression. She started towards me and I looked through her windshield to see Lanie in the passenger seat, head hanging low.

"Karma, something's-"

I didn't let her finish that sentence. "If you want to save my life right now, you'll tell me he's alive."

Oh, God. What if he wrapped his car around a pole or something? If I lost him...it would break me.

"He's alive," she said softly. "But something's happened."

My eyes flicked briefly to Lanie again before I looked back at Harper. "Tell me, Harper. Where is he?"

Harper's expression was serious. "Karma, Nate's been arrested."

And just like that...my world came crashing down.

***

Hey everyone, thank you so much for your patience while I'm dealing with my health issues.

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter! As you know this prequel is going to be three parts. Each part will be 30 chapters. There is one more chapter following this and that will be end of part 2 of the story. There won't be a long wait before I post part 3!

Let me know what you guys think of this one! New chapter coming in just a couple days.

🖤