I bite down on my bottom lip, irrationally aroused by her ferocity, and cage her against the door frame. “Promise?”
She gapes down at how I’ve pressed myself against her, momentarily flustered. But this is Kira, and it doesn’t last long. Her eyes narrow up at me from beneath those dark lashes.
“Do you not remember that I stabbed you?”
“You grazed me. And if I remember correctly, you then tried to bandage me up.”
“That was when I liked you.”
I laugh low in my chest and tilt my head, letting my breath brush her ear. “So what does loving me get me?”
Her fingers curl into my shirt as if she wants to yank me closer and shove me away at the same time.
I love it.
A rumble sounds in my chest as I wrap my hand around the side of her throat, drawing her closer—
“Yeah,” Nix says, deadpan, “I’m the crazy one, but you two are about to fuck with a dead body down the hall.”
The rumble turns into a growl as I spin around. “You’re going to want to take that edge down a notch.” I point a finger at her. “I may not have given a fuck about James, but Caleb didn’t share my sentiment, if you haven’t noticed.”
She makes a face. “Hebeathim.”
I grind my teeth. As if I wasn’t fucking aware of that, as ifCalebisn’t aware of that. But whatsheisn’t aware of is that I lefthim here. That son of a bitch was all he had, even if he turned him black and blue. “It’s not. that. simple.”
“How?” she cries.
“How?!” I squeeze my eyes shut and press my fingers into my temples. With a steadying breath, I open them. “You know what? You’ll figure it out. I have a house to burn down.”
Kira makes a noise behind me, some sort of whimpering whine. “Not again.”
“Yes, again.” I turn. “This needs to look clean and legitimate.”
“But I shot him!” Nix storms around me.
“Yeah,” I say pointedly. “And if they do an autopsy, that’s going to come up.” I let her stew in her mistake without calling out how messy she’s made this. I wouldn’t be able to do it without explaining why strangulation is best, anyway, and I don’t need Kira killing me before I can call the captain to keep her out of prison.
“Um, then we obviously need to hide the body.” Nix looks at me like I’m stupid.
“Do you have any idea how long it takes to declare someone dead after they go missing?” I ask. “We would be stuck in legal limbo for years. Your sister has forty-eight hours, at best.”
I let her sweat for a minute. She needs to realize that her impulse decision has repercussions. Just because I can make sure an autopsy doesn’t happen doesn’t mean she shouldn’t learn from this. If she thinks she’s untouchable, she’s in trouble.
“I’m not following,” Nix says. “So we’re going to throw me to the wolves?” She looks at Kira for help.
“Yes,” I say, shrugging. “If it’s you or your sister, I choose your sister.” I give Kira the briefest shake of my head, a silent message to play along, and a knowing twitch finds its way onto her lips.
Nix’s jaw practically unhinges as she gapes between the two of us. “Well,that’snot going to happen. Kira would never agree to it, would you?” She raises her chin and folds her arms.
Kira forms a very convincing frown as she steps in next to me. “You have to do the time if you’re going to do the crime,” she says.
“Um, WHAT?!” Nix’s eyes bulge.
“I love you,” Kira says sweetly, “but this is probably best for you. You’re clearly not in your right mind. Maybe they’ll find you guilty by insanity and you can get the help you need.”
“You’re not serious.”
“I tried to tell you that you should talk to someone. Now look at what’s happened.”
