“I’ve just brought Seraphina home and saw the ladders out front. I wanted to check you were all right and not having any more crazy cat antics on the roof.”
“Well, I’m fine. Drake’s not taking advantage of me. You can go now.”
He shoots a look between us, his brow raised. “You’re an item?”
Fuck. I run a hand down my face, unable to tell him it was just gonna be a fuck. A one-night stand, but not because that’s what I wanted, but it’s all Ember was offering. “Yeah, we’re dating.”
Ember looks up at me with wide eyes. She’s gonna think I’m mental, but she doesn’t correct me.
“You’re an adult, Em,” he says finally, voice low. “Youmake your own choices.” His eyes snap to mine, hard as steel. “But you—Coleman—you’d better be damn sure what you’re doing. Because if you hurt her, you won’t just answer to me as her brother. You’ll answer to me as your Chief.”
The weight of his words lands heavy in my gut. My mouth opens, closes. I’d never intentionally hurt anyone. Ember squirms beside me, cheeks blazing.
Flint shakes his head once, mutters, “Sort the damn ladder out,” and disappears out the door.
Silence slams into the room. Ember’s breathing fast, her eyes wide.
I drag a hand down my face, heart hammering. “Well,” I rasp, trying for humour and failing. “That could’ve gone worse. He didn’t kill me.”
Her lips twitch, but she groans, burying her face into her palms. “I think I would have preferred if he’d killed me.”
I scratch the bristles on my jaw, still hearing Flint’s warning echo in my head. “Are you okay?”
“Just slowly dying of embarrassment.”
I pry her hands from her face, now covered in orange and green smeared paint, a speckle of gold glitter on her nose. “You look adorable when you’re flustered.”
She glares at me. “He thinks we’re dating.”
“Well, what did you want me to say? Don’t worry, Chief. I’m just fucking your sister tonight and then I’ll be out of her hair?”
“Is that what you were doing?” Her eyes swell with unshed tears.
“No, pumpkin. Because once I devour you, you’ll be begging for more.”
“Ugh.” She pushes at my chest. “This is a mess. The last thing I want is my brother in my business. He brokeRichard’s nose and knocked a tooth out last time, and Richard threatened to sue.”
“Who’s Richard?”
“My ex-husband.” She walks around the room, picking up her costume and tights.
Best thing I can do right now is get out of Ember’s living room before I make things worse.
“Ladder,” I mutter, heading for the front door.
The night air slaps cool across my cheeks, a welcome relief after the furnace inside. I fold the ladder, giving myself a second to breathe.
A flash of movement zips past my boots.
“Oh, no you don’t.”
One of Ember’s cats—a tiny white fluff ball, eyes wide with mischief—shoots through the cracked door like a streak of lightning.
“Bloody hell.” I lunge, but the thing’s quicker than fire. It bolts straight across the lawn, tail curling behind it like smoke.
From next door’s front yard comes Flint’s low laugh, rumbling like distant thunder. “What’s the matter, dragon boy? Can’t handle a kitten?”
I scowl, jogging after the little menace. “It’s like chasing smoke with legs.”
