I approach the arched window, my eyes widening in horror at the nightmare that crawls across the ground and the soft rolling hills below.
Wherever I am, I’m high up. And for miles, the only colors are deep forest green and dreary gray.
My pulse thunders.
As far as I can see, there are only impeccable rows of apple trees until they blur in the distance—the morning fog devouring the rest I can’t see.
SEVEN | CAMERON
5 HOURS EARLIER
Crocks has always been a favored hideaway spot of mine. And occasionally, a striking tourist struts through that door, completely unaware they’ve walked into a den of vipers ready to bite because there’s not much else to eat in this damn town.
Or maybe they are reckless and figure that the local hangout spot is an excellent place to find dick and get laid. And finding one isn’t usually a problem for them.
Like I said, beautiful women step foot in here all the time, but after settling my eyes onher, I may have found my new addiction. And it’s about fucking time I had someone new who can hold my interest for more than a few seconds. Someone to help me forget who my heart craves.
I turn my head, staring at my reflection. The only dissimilarity between us is his shorter-cropped hair under his hood. He sits down and places a cigarette in his mouth, letting it hang between his lips. Reaching into the pocket of his jeans, he removes a lighter. My ears perk at the click as he holds the flame steady to the end, the cherry from the cigarette casting an orange glow on his features.
He inhales a deep breath, holding it in before exhaling a curtain of smoke that floats over his face, dispersing into the air above him. “That girl can hold her weight.”
I smirk at my twin. “One more drink, and we’ll be the ones holding her weight.”
Brennan’s wicked smile mirrors mine before my eyes lock back on Xavier behind the bar. He’s making the “special” drink we bought her while she finishes in the bathroom.
“You gave Xavier the apple and the Rohypnol?” I ask.
“Yep,” he says, popping the P. He takes another drag. “Questioned me in the back about why he couldn’t just use one of the other apples they have.”
Because they aren’t as immaculate as the one I picked on my run this morning. Its skin was as flawless as an apple could possibly be—just like the one Brennan left under the tree and the one I left on the hood of her truck earlier.
He drums his fingers against the table impatiently and leans back, stuffing his hands into his sweatshirt pocket. “She accidentally ran into me on the way to the bathroom but was too nervous to look at my face. Embarrassment is a cute color on her.”
I saw. She was too focused on looking at the floor, planting one foot in front of the other so she wouldn’t trip. I’m not going to lie, a spike of jealousy jolted down my spine since he got to touch her first. I could’ve run my fingertips over hers when I handed her that pizza box the first night she was in town, but I zoned in on my control and forced myself not to.
It was fucking difficult not to touch her.
Especially since we had been watching her walk about her house for an hour before she looked out the window and saw me in the driver’s seat and Brennan leaning against the willow tree in her yard. We were covered head to toe in black pants, hoods, and leather gloves.
Her curiosity was so fixated on Brennan against the tree that I pulled the car away without her noticing. I quickly took off my sweatshirt, grabbed the pizza she ordered from the back seat, and snuck up to her front porch to ring the doorbell.
When she opened the door, I stood before her in a gray Crocks shirt I borrowed from Xavier. Her eyes penetrated mine, those beautiful brown irises flashing with terror from Bren and me scaring her. I swear I could feel the vibration of her heart beating through the porch, each shudder shooting straight to my cock.
“But…he wants something in return since this could get him fired if anyone finds out,” Brennan tacks on.
Xavier gets away with too much shit to get fired. Harrison would never throw him out on his ass. He’s his best bartender and has been for the last three years since he moved here.
“What did he want?”
A corner of his mouth lifts. “Me.” He relaxes an arm over the back of the booth, releasing a sigh mixed with a breathy chuckle. “He said I should bring her along.”
I narrow my eyes at Xavier on the other side of the counter, observing as he pours the red mixture into the glass. My eyes roll. “You would’ve let him fuck you anyway.”
“True. But bringing her along? Damn, that would be hot.”
Bren and I shared with him once, and now Xavier expects to join in on the fun every time?
Fuck that. Not happening. Not with her.
