A snore rattles the couch, but I keep my scowl contained. Cass needs some sleep after listening to me talk and talk and talk some more about my feelings. I could tell she soaked it all in, which I appreciated, but I think I gave her second-hand trauma.
Tugging the blanket over her shoulder, I quietly extract myself from the glorious cocoon we made. As much as I want to stay, there are still two people I need to see before heading back to Detroit.
I know for a fact that even if my grandparents were asleep, they would welcome me with open arms no matter the time. It's only ten at night, so I'm sure they're awake.
With my slippers on and Roman's extra-large winter coat, I grab my keys then shuffle out the front door. Normally, I'd walk to their house, but my ankle won't be able to handle it.
Keys in hand, I hobble out to my car. Once settled in the driver’s seat, I text the big family chat and let them know where I'm going because someone will have heard my car start.
With that done, I reverse the freezing car, then head to Derrick and Clara's house. Grandma and grandpa. Not by blood but by love. They're Jared's parents, and they are the most amazing people on earth.
When Mom went missing, I stayed with them. Through all the chaos and trauma, we bonded. Blood didn't matter; they became my grandparents. My dad's parents were never in the picture, so I've loved Derrick and Clara with my whole heart. They've always thought of Blue as their daughter, ever since she was in high school.
As usual, guilt swirls around in my chest when I think about how little I've spoken to them lately. I really should call them more. Or visit when it's not the holidays or I'm in the middle of life-altering breakdowns.
Sighing, I flip my blinker and pull into their driveway. Two shadowed cars are parked off to the side. Confused and even more guilty that I might be crashing an old person's party, I hesitate to leave my car.
Their living room is dark, making me question my next move. The warm light in the kitchen illuminates the curtains, beckoning me into the warmth and coziness of their cabin. Ineedto see them before I go back to Detroit.
With that settled, I unbuckle my seatbelt. Using the car to hold me up for as long as possible, I shuffle and huff out an aggravated breath when I finally make it to the front door.
Like I've done many times, I grab the handle without knocking. That's what we all do. It's one of the main reasons Mom and the guys moved so close to Jared's parents. Derrick, Jared's dad, was in a car accident like eight years ago, and since then, they've all really become family-oriented.
I bet one of the cars is Jared's sister's. That would make sense. Maybe she's here. Excitement fills me as I twist the handle. I love Nichole. We also became really close while Mom was missing.
She's older than Mama, but she's cool as shit. She even owns her own cycling studio in downtown Chicago.
The first thing that strikes me as wrong is the scent. Immediately, my mind goes tothey were murdereduntil the sounds filter through and force my eyes to widen.
Two shadowed men are hunched over the coffee table. One jolts and shifts—I can't see shit. A scream, one I didn't know I had in me,explodesfrom my throat, and I go tumbling to the side. I screech, just as a guttural moan pierces my ears. Their bodies writhe and slump forward, but another shadow comes rushing from the back hallway, scaring me even more.
Immediately, my hand snatches the umbrella Clara stores near the boot rack. "GET OUT!!" I scream, voice high with fear.
My fight-or-flight response kicks in, and I don't know whether to run back out the front door or fight these intruders off to make sure Derrick and Clara are okay.
Hands raised, the tall man from the hallway rushes to me. Blood rushes to my head as adrenaline floods my veins. With a battle cry meant for a warrior, I swing the pink umbrella at the assailant.
"Violet, stop!" the man shouts and rips my weapon out of my hands just before it can crack him in the skull.
In a flurry of limbs, I launch myself at him, only to be caught from behind. "Enough, Bubbles."
A light flips on in the room, blinding me for a moment before my eyesight clears. I tense even further when I realize Jamie is standing in front of me, holding Clara's umbrella in one hand while the other is raised to look innocent. My focus snaps to Nate pulling his pants over his spent erection by the coffee table, which means...
"Get off me," I hiss, and wiggle out of Ellis' naked hold. I can feel his heat even through Roman's jacket, and it makes me sick.Yeah, right. My panties are dampening the more I realize what I just walked in on.
I breathe a sigh of relief when Ellis releases me and moves away. He catches the boxers Nate tosses his way and slides them on. My tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth as my gaze continues to bounce between the three men that shouldn't freaking be here.
"What are you doing here, Sweets?" Jamie breaks the tense silence.
My shock fizzles as familiar anger comes barreling to the surface. "Me? Why the fuck are youfuckingin my grandma's living room?!"
Nineteen
ELLIS
“Idon't think?—"
Nate's hot mouth cuts my protest short as he swallows my raging boner whole. So much for having a conscience.
