What the hell did this woman do for a living that she was so calm in the face of her son committing murder?
“Our biggest problem is we can’t erase the fact that his phone and GPS will already show he was at the coffee shop at least once today. Whether he left and came back or just staked the place out for a few hours I won’t know until I hijack his navigation system.”
Hijack his navigation system? Was she a spy? A government agent? A criminal? Given Dimitri’s past, a criminal element in his family would make sense. More sense than a spy, anyway.
“Arlo.”
Arlo’s head snapped up as Dimitri’s mother said his name. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Christ, that’s cute. I can see why my son likes you. But don’t call me ma’am.”
“Sorry, ma—Calliope. Sorry,” he said again lamely, cheeks still burning from her calling him cute.
“Alright, my angels. Listen carefully. When the cops come—and they will—do not say you didn’t know him. If Holden told anybody about Arlo, or if any of his friends had ever seen the two of you interacting, it can come back to bite you in the ass. Just say you knew each other, but it was a busy night and if he was there, you never noticed and you definitely didn’t speak to each other. If they ask about a relationship, be vague. If they come back at you saying they know you two were a thing, just say you were afraid his family would find out he was gay. That’s it.Don’t. Embellish.”
Arlo sucked in a breath as Dimitri reached up and brushed his thumb over his lower lip. “What does Arlo say when they ask about his split lip?”
Calliope’s voice turned ice cold. “Split lip?”
Dimitri was looking at Arlo in a way that made goosebumps erupt along his skin, and he was suddenly grateful his mother wasn’t on video. “Yeah. It’s pretty obvious Holden punched him in the face.”
“He punched him in the face?” she echoed.
Arlo couldn’t speak. Humiliation flooded his system, rendering him mute. It wasn’t only the split lip. If the cops suspected him, they could get a warrant. They could ask to inspect his body for evidence of a struggle. They’d see bruises all over him. If they made him take his clothes off, they’d see it all. They’d know. They’d know everything. He blinked back tears.
He shook his head. “I can’t do this. I can’t do this.”
Dimitri’s gaze darted to his, his dark brows knitting together. “You can.”
He shook his head faster. “I can’t. I’m a terrible liar.”
Dimitri leaned over Holden’s body to grip Arlo’s chin, touching him for the second time in a minute, and—God help him—his dick took notice.
Dimitri’s voice was warm and smooth and wrapped around Arlo like a blanket. “Look at me. Look right in my eyes.” A shiver ran through Arlo as he realized they were inches apart. Even in the dark, Dimitri’s eyes were so light they practically glowed. The heat of his gaze warmed the ice currently occupying Arlo’s core.
He forced himself to focus on Dimitri’s lips as he spoke, “You’ve been forced to lie for people who hurt you your whole life. I just need you to tell a few more so I can save you. Please?”
Arlo’s heart literally skipped a beat. How did his brain think this was romantic? Maybe it was just the warmth of Dimitri’s skin. Maybe it was the crush Arlo had had on Dimitri since they were playing with matchbox cars in the sandbox together.
Dimitri leaned in and brushed their lips together. “Please?” he whispered again.
If he was manipulating Arlo, he was doing a great job. He swallowed audibly, clenching his eyes shut before nodding. “Yeah, okay. I can do that,” he said more confidently.
“Good boy,” Calliope said.
“But what about your head?” Arlo asked, earning another wide-eyed look of exasperation from Dimitri. “What? It’s a valid question. You can ask about my fat lip, but I can’t talk about your possible concussion? That hardly seems fair.”
“Concussion?” Calliope asked, her voice taking on an edge that made Arlo uncomfortable.
Dimitri gave an audible sigh as Arlo said, “Yeah. Holden hit Dimitri in the back of the head with a baseball bat.”
“With a bat?” Calliope cried.
“I’m fine, Mom. It’s not even bleeding,” Dimitri lied.
Lying came so easily to Dimitri. Too easily, it seemed, because his mother said, “Dimitri Adonis Castellanos, don’t you dare lie to me.”
Arlo couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. “Your middle name is Adonis?”
