“No, I get it.”Tye takes a drink from his whiskey, the orange peel floating in the amber liquid. “He’s family. I’d protect my brother at all costs.” Tye’s light brown eyes catch the light of the fire all of us are seated around.
Me, between Faust and Sylvan on a blanket. My head is against Faust’s shoulder, Sylvan’s fingers on my bare thighs beneath the quilt overtop the three of us, although mostly just me since the other two are freakishly huge. Athletes seem to be a different breed of human entirely.
Tye himself has his long legs stretched out in front of the fire across from us, and Cynthia is in his lap, her eyes heavily lidded, gaze on the dancing flames. Tye has one arm slung around her body, keeping her close, his grip possessive, and my best friend doesn’t seem to mind at all.
Or maybe she’s just processing everything I told her. About Will, finally, and Nolan, the textbook, the fact Nolan is nowhere to be found. She took it better than I expected, understanding why I lied to her about Will. But she’s said little, so maybe she’s just lost for words.
Karter and Edmond are curiously quiet, seated on the velvet red couch curved around the fireplace, both drawn to the flames, too.
Edmond breaks his silence with a question and it takes me a moment to realize it’s directed toward me. “Do you think he’s capable of killing?”
Sylvan’s fingers tighten on my thigh as he slides his hand up higher, beneath my sleep shorts. The gesture causes my breath to catch, and I widen my legs as my heart thunders in my chest.
When I glance at Edmond, he’s not looking at me. He’s staring into the flames.
“No,” I answer, grateful my voice doesn’t break on the word. “I don’t.”
“You know how it is, though,” Edmond pushes, but gently. He still doesn’t look at me, and Sylvan’s grip grows tighter as Faust presses a kiss to my temple, his presence as soothing as the warmth surrounding us. “So many families are just as shocked as the general public when a serial killer is named.” Finally, Edmond’s gaze drifts to mine. He holds my stare, and I want to be angry, but there’s nothing condemning in his expression. “I know you’re not protecting him, or keeping him from the police, but if he reaches out to you, it’s something to consider.”
My throat feels tight. Would I turn him in? As it is, he hasn’t replied to any of my texts or calls, although they’re all going through. I have no idea if Lincoln and his team are trying to trace his phone, or if Nolan even has it on him.
Mom hasn’t called or texted me, and the news isn’t reporting he’s a suspect or on the run. I think they’re trying to keep it quiet so as not to spook him.
Although it seems a little too late for that.
“Neve will do the right thing.” Cynthia says, her voice firm despite her drowsiness. Despite my lies to her. “She’s got this.”
“What if he turns on you next?” Karter’s words from the couch, her voice small as she rakes her fingers through her green hair, avoiding all of our eyes.
Sylvan’s fingertips are going to bruise my thigh, the way he’s gripping me so possessively.
“No one can get to her, through us.” Faust is the one to speak, his tone low. He kisses my temple again and warmth flares through me, hotter than the fire in front of me.
“That’s for damn sure,” Tye murmurs, lifting his glass in an imaginary cheers before he downs the rest of it. His deep brown skin is illuminated in gold from the flames and he squeezes Cynthia tighter.
“Maybe we shouldn’t all be here tonight though,” Edmond says, a note of panic in his voice. “An easy, mass target.”
Sylvan snorts, but he says nothing. I know what he’s thinking.He’snever the target.
“I have security cameras at the gate.” Faust speaks quietly, his voice a rumble in his chest I can feel.
“Really?” Cynthia asks, perking up.
“There’s a camera room here,” Faust continues. “Never use it, really needs someone to man it, but it exists. If he comes on this property, we’ll know.”
“It’s not my brother,” I protest as the little hairs on the back of my neck prick up, thinking of Faust’s cameras. “We don’t even know it’s ahe.”
Edmond laughs but in a kind way. “Come on, Neve. You know better than that. It may not be your brother, but odds are high it’s a man.”
I can’t argue with him. I turn my head and my gaze collides with Sylvan, his grip no less bruising than it was moments ago.
I think of what they said to me about taking both of them, and warmth pools in my low belly despite my exhaustion. But as if he’s sensing what I want, what Ineed,he shakes his head once.
“Not tonight, baby girl.” His voice is low, and even if everyone can hear him, they don’t know what we’re talking about.
I open my mouth to protest, but Faust’s lips graze across my ear, causing a shiver to run down my body. “He’s right,” he says softly. “Tonight, you let us protect you while you sleep.”
I turn to him, my brows drown together. I’m not a virgin who needs to be handled delicately. But before I can argue, he speaks again, his forehead pressed to mine, our lips close together.
