“I’m pretty sure my uncle was just talking dirty to Evander in the kitchen,” I say, the laugh finally bubbling over.
“I knew it,” Gage hisses, pumping his fist in the air. “I’m going to investigate.” He slips from the room before we can grab him.
He’s gone for five minutes before we walk out to see what’s going on. Gage comes sliding out of the kitchen laughing, Micah hot on his heels. “Abort mission! Abort mission!” Gage yells, running toward the front door; it shuts with a bang behind them.
Evander walks out and looks at me with a look I can’t decipher. “So, what’s up?” I say as casually as I can, making Dex cover a laugh with a cough.
Micah stomps back into the hallway from outside. “Go get your boyfriend,” he growls, pointing to the front door. I notice the grass stains on Micah’s jeans and lose it laughing, knowing he and Gage were wrestling in the front yard. It wouldn’t be the first time, either. “Cut it out, shithead.”
That just makes it worse, causing Dex to double over too. Micahmakes a grab for me, and I run with a screeching laugh. Ryder pops through the garage door with Holden right when I’m in front of it. I jump into his arms and slide behind him, clinging to his neck.
“What the hell?” Ryder asks with a laugh, tucking his arms under my ass.
Micah comes to a dead stop in front of us. “What did you see?”
I lock my lips and shake my head. I didn’t see much, but the way he’s acting, more happened in that kitchen than dirty talk. Evander walks in and casually leans against the wall in front of us, not at all bothered by current events.Interesting.
“Alessa,” Micah warns like I’m a child.
“I thought you said not in the kitchen,” I say and start laughing again.
“Someone care to explain,” Ryder says, looking between us all. I lean down and whisper in his ear what I saw but tell him to make it seem like it’s more. “Holy fucking shit,” he exclaims, playing into it easily.
Micah bares his teeth, then stomps toward the backdoor to the pool house. I look at Evander. “You and my uncle, huh?” I ask, still perched on Ryder’s back.
Evander looks down the hall and back at me, shaking his head. “No.”
There’s a lot of weight with that one word, making me wonder what Ireallystumbled into.
“What’s going on?” I ask, dropping all teasing.
Evander smiles, and it’s kind of sad. “Nothing.”
Ryder lets me slide down his back onto my feet. I step closer to Evander. “If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.” Something about his eyes breaks my heart. He doesn’t usually show his emotions, but they’re written all over his face. Whatever happened or didn’t happen with Micah is hurting him.
“I appreciate that,” Evander says, reaching out and squeezing my hand. He tucks his hands in his pockets and makes his way down the hallway.
“Why do I feel like we stepped into some deep shit?” Dex asks, watching Evander disappear from view.
“Because we did.” I don’t know how I know, but I do. Something major is brewing in that poolhouse.
I need to let Leo know he needs to check on his brother. Maybe he can talk to him.
“It’s crawling with guards,”Holden says, pointing at the monitors running Viktor’s feed. We are t-minus one hour before leaving; this is not what I need to hear.
I lean back in my chair beside Holden. “The more, the merrier, I guess.”
He grabs my hand and tugs my chair closer to his before kissing my knuckles. He folds my hand in his, laying it on his lap. “I don’t like this, Bright eyes,” he says quietly.
Truth be told, I don’t either, but I can’t tell Holden that; the worry is already written all over his face. “It’ll be fine. We’ve done this before.”
“I know you’re more than capable,” he says with a little more steam. “That’s not the point. The people I love are going into that house.” He realizes what he said the same time I do, and his eyes flash to my face. I can see him withdrawing from insecurity, and then something amazing happens. I watch the resolve settle over him; he stands up, jerking me to my feet with him. He drops my hand to grab both sides of my face so I have to look into those beautiful chocolate eyes. “I love you, Alessa.” He shakes his head. “I’m in love with you. You’re my everything. My brightness in the darkness. My savior. My soul. My heart. Mylife.And I’m done fucking hiding. I love you.”
I can feel the tears flash down my cheeks, and I don’t even try to stop them. I wrap my arms around his neck and hold him as tightly as possible. “You aremybrightness, Holden. I knew who you were the moment you came home with us. I’ve always been so fucking proud of everything you did to get out of that hellhole. I loveyou. I’min love with you.” I pull back to look back into his eyes. “It’s okay to love Ryder too.”
His cheeks darken, and it’s always my favorite thing. “That is why I love you so much, Bright eyes. You don’t see it, but you’re perfect. Perfect for me. Perfect for us. You gave me my life back.”
I haven’t, not yet. Not until his shit uncle is dead, but that’s for another time. “Please never lose who you are, Holden, not in this mess.”
