“A conversation, we can have a conversation with Ricky about all of this,”Boone cuts off Kaia’s devious thoughts without even being able to see her.“Kai,”he warns.“A conversation,”Boone repeats—like saying it twice will stop Kaia’s brain from spinning.
“Sure,” she says, but it’s clear she has other plans in mind.
“He’s the mayor, we can’t just beat the shit out of him,”Boone warns her.
“Youcan’t,” she scoffs. “Jail time will only help my reputation.”
“Not funny,” I say to her, and she smiles wickedly. Between the three of us, Kaia is the least likely to spend any time in jail. Christian would have her out so fast her head would spin, but it’s the thought that counts.
“A little funny,” she whispers and takes another bite of her lunch. “So like what? We just go down there andtalkto the guy?” She asks.
“Yeah, and we bring the shipment of eggs I just got delivered,”Boone laughs.
“Stop flirting with me, Boonie,” Kaia’s voice goes low and teasing.
“Never,”he responds quickly.
“Have you seen my brother?” Brighton drops a case of beer on the bartop and eyes me like he already knows the answer. “He’s been M.I.A. since lunch, and I can’t get him on his cell.”
“No clue.” I shrug my shoulders, adjusting the way the shirt falls over one side. “Maybe he’s just taking a much-needed break from the Hollow.”
“Okay. Now I know you know something,” Brighton growls and points a finger at me. “What did you do, Hellcat?” His voice gets all husky and deep like he’s trying to whisper, but it still comes out as a gruff shout.
“I didn’t do anything.” I avoid eye contact, but my phone rings in my back pocket, and I look down at it with a grimace.
“Who is it?” He asks, leaning over the counter to see the screen. “Does that say Harbor Police?” he snaps.
“Maybe…” I back away from the bar and out of his reach as I answer the phone. “Hello?” I answer it, keeping my eye on Brighton, when he’s mad, the Hollow shirt threatens to tear at the seams around his throat and biceps, and I should be scared. Instead, I’m an idiot—horny, desperate, and doomed.
“Reaper, I need a favor.”
“Kaia?” I practically yelp. “Where are you?”
“Lockup.”She tries to stifle the laugh, but it escapes anyway.“You should be honored. You’re my one phone call. I didn’t even call Christian.”She tries to sweet-talk me.
I watch as Brighton pulls his phone out next and scowls at me. His face contorts, and it’s pretty obvious he’s talking to Boone because I can hear him in the background of Kaia’s phone call, trying to explain himself.
“Will you come get me?”she asks over the commotion. Brighton hangs up faster than I do, and I know I’m in trouble.
“If Brighton doesn’t murder me for getting you both thrown in jail, sure. Be right there,” I whine and hang up the phone. “Listen…”
“Get in the truck,” Brighton snaps, already moving. I follow, and he opens the door for me, waiting until I’m inside to slam it with strange precision before getting into the driver's seat.
One quick Google search tells me exactly why they’re in jail. “Um,” I squeak.
“What?” He breaks his eye contact with the road to look at me.
I swallow the nerves and start to read. “Two unknown assailants egg the mayor’s house after a heated debate on the front lawn.”
“They did what?” Brighton slams on the brakes at the red light, and I slide forward on my seat. “Put your seatbelt on,” he clips, and I don’t hesitate to follow instructions. “I shouldn’t have gotten you involved,” he says quickly. “And you shouldn’t have gotten them involved. This was my problem. My Daisy.”
My face scrunches at the possessive nonsense of it.
“What now?” Brighton questions as he pulls into the police station.
“Daisy isn’t just yours,” I say quietly, and climb from the truck without listening to what he has to say. I understand that he’s her dad, so by blood, Daisy is his, but he’s wrong, which doesn’t happen often. Daisy belongs to a village, and offensively, he believes differently. Even if it’s a moment of lashing out because he’s pissed off with me.
The officer at the counter has us sign some paperwork, and Brighton pulls out his wallet to pay for the bail. She leaves us in silence for nearly twenty minutes as Brighton stares at the large no access door waiting for his brother.
