She didn’t look back.
Dameon fixed his steady eyes on Winter, searching for an answer. But Winter kept his hands in his pockets, tense as Claire called for their security team to prepare for them to leave.
Then Dameon stepped toward him.
“Winter,” he murmured in his ear. “Remember when you used to come to me?”
Winter stilled at the reminder of their past.
There will always be a part of me in love with you,Dameon had told him back then, right before the end of their affair.
But not all of you,Winter had added.
Not all of me, Dameon had admitted.
Now Winter met Dameon’s eyes as the boy leaned close. “I know you’ve always kept your secrets close,” he whispered. “And I’m not going to start asking about them now. But just take care of yourself, okay? Come home safe.”
“Okay,” Winter murmured back, swallowing.
Dameon held his gaze a breath longer before looking away.
Then Leo turned to Winter. There was naked fear in his friend’s eyes now, and a slight sheen of sweat glimmered on the boy’s skin. Winter felt a surge of guilt for putting them all in this position. So much for a thankless good deed. All he’d done was endanger the people he cared about.
“Look, Winter…” Leo said, then trailed off, his brows furrowed.
“It’s going to be okay,” Winter replied, trying to offer him a smile. He glanced at Dameon. “We’re all going to be okay.”
“Okay,” Dameon said in his quiet voice. As Claire motioned for them to prepare to rush out the door, he nodded at Winter. “Watch yourself out here, yeah? We’ll see you back in the States.”
“See you there,” Winter replied. They all exchanged a wordless nod.
His eyes settled on Claire. She still looked distant, her gaze wary, her lips tight. They exchanged a terse nod, too.
“Stay safe,” he told her.
“Stay safe,” she murmured. Her eyes flickered to Sydney, who stood back by the drinks on the coffee table. “Keep him safe,” she called out.
Sydney nodded once.
Then Claire was opening the door, and the thunderous noise from the crowd outside hit them in a wave. Security guards shouted at Claire, and Claire shouted in turn at the boys.
As they hurried out, Leo suddenly wrapped Winter in an embrace. In his ear, Leo whispered fiercely, “Don’t touch those drinks.”
Winter blinked, confused. Leo released him, his eyes locked on him for a fraction of a second. Then he turned away and disappeared into the throng of police with Claire and Dameon, and the door shut.
Winter stood there for a second, dazed. What? Had he just heard those words? Had he made it up?
Don’t touch those drinks.
As if on cue, he heard a slight clink behind him. He looked back. The drinks that Leo had poured out for them were still sitting on the low table. Sydney was there now, her eyes on her phone’s footage, her drink already touching her lips. Their eyes met.
Panic surged through him. “Don’t—” he started to say.
But it was too late.
A strange, stricken look passed over her face. Immediately, she dropped the glass in her hand—it shattered against the floor. Right as the realization washed over Winter.
Poison.
