Kingston steps in next to Archer, shoving Joel’s shoulder. “How about you? What part did you have in it? Did you hurt her? What went through your head when you knocked her out?”
I swear, it looks like Joel is about to piss himself.
Archer grimaces. “You know what? I wanna feel this.” He throws the paddle to the side, and it lands with a clatter, making Joel jump and his body stiffens. Archer tilts his head, assessing Joel, and then his bare hand whips out, cracking across Joel’s cheek.
Joel cowers, as if he’s trying to shrink himself down to nothing.
Archer huffs out a breath. “Well, if you aren’t talking, I guess we go to plan B.”
I glance at Kingston, who shrugs. Whatever Archer has dreamed up will be fitting, of that, I have zero doubt.
We wait while Archer digs in his bag, the tension mounting among the four brothers being punished. Finally pulling out a strand of these tiny little things that look a whole lot like firecrackers, Archer grins at us and holds up a lighter, then grabs a metal garbage can that’s conveniently been here the entire time. Ironically, the basement is full of trash, yet the can stands empty.
I cock my head to the side in question. Where the fuck does he get these ideas?
He beckons to us, and we quietly join him.“Home Alone,dude. Remember that scene with the firecrackers in the pot?” He snickers softly. “They’re going to die. Or they’ll think they’re going to. The can will make it even louder.” He opens his hand, gesturing that we should each take some ear plugs.
“Fucking brilliant.” Kingston’s green eyes gleam, and he nods, clearly impressed.
Ah, fuck. So funny.My lips twitch hard, as I try not to smile. Archer takes all his gear over to the far corner of the basement, well away from all of us, lights the end of the firecracker string, and dashes quietly back to us.
The effect is exactly as Archer planned—the loud pops that sound a whole lot like gunfire have these assholes dropping to the floor and pissing themselves.
SEVEN
ELLIOT
There’san excellent chance I’m going to have a heart attack before I can get to Will’s phone. Or I’ll pass out because I’m holding my breath. Or I’m simply going to get caught red-handed. These are the things that tumble through my mind one after another during the mad dash to Kingston’s bed.
Luckily, the black pouch containing Will’s cell phone is right where I left it between the box spring and mattress. With this major piece of evidence in my hands and someone getting closer and closer, I really have no choice. I whip it behind my back and shove it into my leggings, then tug on my T-shirt to hide the extra bulge at my booty.
Oh god. I hurry to the doorway and get there just as Dane glances to the side. It’s clear now that he was coming to see me, but he halts when he finds me in the wrong room. I cover my mouth, an awkward, squeaky sound stifled by my hand. All this running around has been too much. My head pounds and pounds as our eyes lock.
Dane tips his head to the side, in question. “What are you doing in Kingston’s room?”
“Oh. Um…” What is plausible? What should I say? My head thumps hard. “I was, um, in here earlier today. Um. With Kingston.” My cheeks flush with heat, no doubt infusing them with a bright-pink color. “I mean I was in here resting while he installed the lock on my door.”
Dane’s lips curve ever so slightly into an amused smile. “There are no secrets among the brotherhood, Elliot. You know that by now.”
I blink once, then again. Does he mean he knows about the lock… or about me and Kingston? Or Archer? Or Cannon?Shit.I heave out a breath, feeling decidedly twitchy with Will’s cell phone down the backside of my pants. Can Dane tell I was up to something? I’d better think fast, but that’s really hard to do with my brain about to explode. “Right. I, uh— God, this is embarrassing.” Maybe if I admit to what he’s likely thinking about me and Kingston, it’ll distract him.
His brow furrows. “Are you okay?”
I throw my hands out from my sides in a desperate bid to seem like I’m simply embarrassed as hell. “Yeah. I was looking for my underwear.” I groan aloud, gracing him with the most pitiful expression I can come up with.
If I wasn’t so damn nervous to be caught in a lie, the look on his face would be hilarious. His lips form a quick O, eyes scanning over me. “Oh. Did you find them?”
“No. But it’s okay.” I give a little shrug and point at my head. “For all I know with my head pounding the way it is, I took them with me earlier. They’re probably in my laundry basket. I’m sorry. I woke up out of a dead sleep, worried I’d left them on the floor.” I cringe. What a humiliating cover story.
As I’m silently praying that he buys my bullshit, out of nowhere, a wave of very real dizziness hits me, and I sway on my feet. Dane is at my side in two seconds flat, gripping my forearm with one hand and wrapping his other arm around my back.
Oh god, oh god, he’s so close to the phone.His arm rests only an inch or so above the waistband of my leggings.
“Let’s get you back to your room. You really should be resting.” His grip on me is strong and reassuring.
I look up at him and slowly exhale as I nod. “Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
He gives me a funny little grin. “You’re acting weird.”
