“We’re still meeting at six?”
As if I’d ever say no to her. “Please.”
“I’ll see you then.”
And I have to bite my tongue not to pressure her to know her every step in between.
CHAPTER 54
SABLE
Soren might have askedme not to spill his secret, and I have every intention of keeping my mouth shut, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let them all treat him like an unwanted dog.
Me: I need your help.
Lex: Anything.
His quick reply brings butterflies to my stomach, and I find myself looking at the phone with a silly smile. Of them all, Lex is the only one who isn’t constantly pushing Soren around. He doesn’t look resentful at all. Plus, Lex is levelheaded and pragmatic. He knows as well as I do that the twins can’t keep going the way they are. They weren’t meant to be apart. The phone rings when I don’t reply to his message quickly enough, and I end up explaining my plan to Lex while I get ready.
I’m going to push their limits today so I make sure to look so good, they can’t focus on hate while I’m around. I choose another beautiful nightgown designed by Orion. This one is a rich red velvet with a delicate lace hem.
“Are you sure you want this?” Lex asks as I apply red lipstick, the same tone as the nightgown.
I put him on speaker and start pinning up my hair. “We can’t keep going the way things are.”
“I know,” he breathes out. He knows how painful this situation is. “But do you really forgive Soren?”
My knee-jerk reaction is to tell him there’s nothing to forgive, but I can’t say that without explaining why, so I close my eyes and breathe as I lie, “Yes.”
If I think I’m a good actor, the silence that follows proves me wrong. I can practically hear the wheels in his head turning, but before he gets too ahead of himself, I stop him. “You told me you would help me.”
“And I will. But you know something you’re not telling me.”
It’s not a question, so I don’t waste time denying. “Don’t you love a mysterious woman?”
By the way he grunts his answer, it doesn’t seem like he does, but I push that grumpiness aside. All I need is his commitment to do as I say. The rest will happen naturally, I know it. Once I’m ready, I find a small bag to hide my key. I bet that was why they changed it for the new palm reading system: no one wanted to walk around with a dumb key all the time. Especially when you have boyfriends watching you all the time. I secure the key and my phone in the bag and make my way to Orion’s bedroom. I know he’s waiting for me, eager enough that I barely have to knock, and the door opens.
He sweeps me off my feet and into his arms, lips descending on mine with a groan as if it’s been ages since we’ve seen each other rather than a few hours. He kisses me until I run out of air and grow dizzy.
“Come on, let’s go,” I say once he gives me space to talk.
“Where are we going?” he asks.
“Lex’s bedroom. I told him to prepare a few things for us.”
He doesn’t argue as I take his hand and lead him there. As we walk, I keep my eyes down so I don’t pay too much attention to my own door and give the secret away. My heart is in my throat, but Orion is none the wiser, and eventually, we reach Lex’s door.
My mouth is dry, and anticipation is making me feel lightheaded. I know Orion won’t be angry with me for doing this. He’ll do literally anything for me, but I’m scared of what he might say in the heat of the moment and how he might regret that later. I wish Soren could open up to his brother and tell him what really happened, but he deserves to do that in his own time. Shoulders back, I knock on the door, keeping a smile on my face.
Lex takes a moment longer to open his than Orion did, but neither keeps me waiting. His eyes scan me from head to toe. “You’re lookingsmart, Miss Briarwick.”
He kisses me gently with a smile on his lips. He knows I dressed to distract them all, and it might not be enough, but I’m ready to do anything I can. I follow Lex in, my hand clasped in Orion’s, and he tenses the moment he realizes his brother is here too. I tug him forward, but his feet are rooted to the spot.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he spits.
Soren stands, confusion on his face. I told Lex to lure him in without knowing I was coming too. I was scared that Soren wouldn’t want to interact with me in front of the others, and by the way he’s looking at me, I guessed right.
“I asked Lex to bring him here,” I say calmly.
