“I was looking for a solution, but I didn’t want to get your hopes up. This was the best I could do.” He lapsed into silence.
Releasing him, I took in the space again and shivered. “Is there heat?”
“It’s on solar, but it can get chilly.” A few more seconds passed, and he nodded stiffly. “Right. I’ll leave you then.”
My small smile went unnoticed by him as he retreated into the icy February air. As soon as the door shut, Lucas locked it. His attention wandered to the windows, and he looked as if he wanted to board them up. I drifted his way, distracting him.
His gaze hooked on mine, and his entire body stilled. He lifted his hand, knuckles brushing my throat. “What now, Juliet? These violent delights have violent ends.”
“It’s not the end yet,” I whispered. “We found a small path.”
“A treacherous path.” He dropped his forehead to mine. We were both right at the edge of losing everything we had, and I wasn’t certain how to move forward. Each step had too much gravity, too many ways to fall, and the Defiance had backed usinto a narrow corner. There was no way left but forward—into the snake pit.
“At least I got you out of jail.”
He set a soft kiss on my lips. “I won’t sleep unless we cover the windows.”
Without complaint, I assisted in scooting a bookshelf to cover one and a large painting to hide the other, then settled onto the couch while he slipped into the shower—his first in days. Not long after we finally relaxed into the space, a knock pounded at the door.
Like a wolf, Lucas lunged to protect me, knees straddling my hips on the couch, one arm holding a knife toward the door.
“Where the hell did you get a knife?”
“No one ever checked my boots,” he said, predatory gaze fixed on the door.
“Theyknocked, Lucas. They aren’t here to attack us.”
He looked down at me, and a drip of water from his hair landed on my cheek. “Will you ever stop being naive?”
“Get off me! If you won’t answer it, I will.”
He unfolded himself from his crouched position, but didn’t lower his weapon as he swung the door wide.
Devon stood there smiling, but his hands flew up once he spotted the knife. Isaac jerked Dev behind his body, and beside them, Adam grinned.
“Can we come in, Soph?” Devon asked, peeking out from behind Isaac.
“So much for our whereabouts remaining hidden,” Lucas muttered, making a show of disarming himself, tossing the knife to a nearby table.
“We’re your guards, asshole,” Isaac said, pushing into the house. The others followed.
I locked the door behind them, and the five of us stood in strained silence.
Devon stared at Lucas without blinking. “You’re Lucas Scott.”
Lucas scraped a palm down his face while Adam broke into awkward laughter.
“Who are you people?” Lucas asked. Demanded, really.
“Think of us as the Sophia fan club,” Adam said, and I rolled my eyes at him.
“They’re my friends,” I said. “That’s Devon. And you know Isaac and Adam.”
“We’re just here to remind you that you have people in your corner,” Adam said.
“He’sin your corner.” Isaac pointed at Dev. “I happen to love him.”
Lucas chuckled, all bitterness and spite. “We have more in common than you think, Johnson.”
