Chapter 106: Bathroom Spy

Daphne's POV

The music was a dull thumping in my ears, but the real chaos was happening right in the kitchen. I had watched the whole thing go down. I saw Theo pull his absolute bullshit toast, I saw Kieran completely lose his mind and try to tear Theo’s head off, and then I saw Barrett violently shove Theo toward the basement stairs.

Theo was acting like a total dickhead tonight. He was completely out of control, and his toxic friendship jealousy was ruining the biggest celebration of the year. I couldn't just sit by and watch him destroy everything.

I needed to understand why he was acting like this. When Theo pulled himself up from the stairs and slipped down the quiet back hallway toward the guest bathroom, with Barrett and Silas following closely behind him, I made my move. I kept my head down, stepped away from the crowded living room, and quietly followed them into the shadows.

As I walked down the dim corridor, the loud bass from the party faded. Just before I reached the bathroom door, a low, angry whisper cut through the quiet air.

"You're lucky Hampton didn't break your face right there, Theo," Barrett’s voice hissed.

I froze. My heart jumped into my throat. I looked around frantically, needing a place to look invisible. The storage closet next to the bathroom was slightly open. I slid inside, pulling the door shut until there was just a tiny crack for me to look through. I held my breath, praying my shoes wouldn't make a sound.

Through the crack, I saw Theo, Silas, and Barrett huddled tightly together under the single dim lightbulb. Theo didn't look scared at all after almost getting punched. He had an ugly, confident smirk on his face.

"Kieran won't touch me again," Theo whispered back, his voice full of venom. "He knows exactly what I have. He's terrified."

Silas crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. "You talked a big game out there, Theo. But if you're just making up stories to cure your broken heart over Asher, you're wasting our time. We want to destroy Hampton, but we need real blood."

"I'm not wasting your time," Theo hissed. I listened in absolute horror as the words left his mouth. He was officially joining forces with the two worst guys on the team. "You want to completely destroy Kieran’s hockey career? You want to ruin his public reputation so the professional scouts never look at him again? I have the ultimate weapon."

Theo reached deep into his pocket and pulled out his smartphone. He tapped the screen and turned it toward Silas and Barrett, showing them a clip on his phone.

I strained my eyes, leaning closer to the crack in the door. The screen lit up their faces. I couldn't tell what they were watching from where I was hiding, but I could hear the muffled audio playing from the speakers.

It was the sound of heavy, desperate breathing and a wet, intense kiss echoing.

Silas’s jaw dropped open as he watched the screen. A slow, evil grin spread across his face. "Holy shit. Is that... Hampton?"

"With another guy on the team," Theo whispered, nodding his head. "Look at the jersey. Kieran is pinning him against the wall in the tunnel right after the game.

The golden boy is a complete fraud. He's predatory, and he's using his captain status to mess around with guys on the roster."

Barrett leaned in, staring hard at the video. "Who is the other guy? His face isn't in the shot."

"It doesn't matter yet," Theo said, his voice dropping into a dark, chilling tone. "Exposing Kieran isn't enough. I found a unique silver chain on the floor right where they were kissing. Whoever is missing that chain is the mystery boy."

To prove his point, Theo reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out the physical evidence. He held up a unique silver chain necklace. The metal caught the light, twisting between his fingers.

Silas grabbed it out of Theo's hand, holding it up close to his eyes. "This isn't a cheap chain. Look at the links. This is custom-made "

Barrett leaned over Silas's shoulder, his brow furrowing as he stared at the silver links. His face suddenly went dead serious. "Wait. Hold on. I’ve seen this exact chain before. I know I have."

Theo’s eyes lit up with intense hunger. "Whose is it, Barrett? Think. Who wears it?"

"I can’t place it yet," Barrett muttered, shaking his head in frustration. "It was in the locker rooms. Someone was putting it into their duffel bag a couple of weeks ago. Give me some time. It will come to me."

"Find out," Theo ordered, taking the chain back and shoving it out of sight. "Whoever is missing that chain is the mystery boy. I'm going to find out who it belongs to, and then we drop the video. We will destroy the captain and his secret boyfriend at the exact same time. Crestwood will completely freak out."

Silas clapped Theo on the shoulder, laughing quietly. "You have officially proven your worth to the team, Theo. Let's make his life a living hell."

Silas wiped some spilled beer off his hands and turned around. "I need a fresh towel to wipe this mess down. There should be some in the storage closet."

My heart stopped beating. My entire body went completely numb with terror. Silas was walking directly toward the closet door where I was hiding.

I scrambled backward into the pitch-black space, shoving my body deep behind a row of heavy winter coats and dusty jackets. I pressed both of my hands firmly over my mouth, squeezing my eyes shut.

The doorknob rattled. I heard the metal lock click as Silas gripped the handle and started to pull the closet door open. A thin line of yellow light from the hallway cut into the dark room, casting his shadow right onto the coats hiding me. He was one second away from ripping the clothes aside and catching me spying.

"Hey, Silas, forget the towel," Theo called out from the hallway, his voice cutting through the panic. "We need to leave before Hampton’s friends track us back here. We will figure out the chain plan in the parking lot."

Silas paused. His hand stayed on the doorknob for a terrifying three seconds. "Yeah, alright. Let's move."

He let go of the handle. The door swung shut again, clicking into place. I heard the heavy thud of their sneakers as all three boys walked down the hallway and headed out the back exit of the house.

Inside the dark closet, my hands were shaking so badly I fell to my knees against the floor. I gasped for air, my chest heaving. My stomach completely turned over. Theo wasn't just throwing a tantrum. He was planning a public execution. And worse, Barrett had seen that silver chain before. It was only a matter of time before he figured out who it belonged to. I had to get out of there. I had to find Asher and tell him what the fuck Theo was up to before Theo’s twisted trap snapped shut on everyone.