Page 26 of The Unravelings

I grin as I walk through the woods, letting the trees conceal my presence again. A rightness settles over me as I lean against a trunk, taking in the nature surrounding me. It’s peaceful out here beneath the oaks as they hide me away. No one else on campus has the balls to venture into these woods, but I do. They’re familiar. The same paths I took when I needed a glimpse of the girl I had fallen madly in love with. When I’d sneak through her barred window and catch a glimpse of her sleeping form. She never knew I was there. But I was.

Looking down at my phone, I make quick work of disabling the damn tracker Wilder has on me. Clever fucker, I’ll give him that. But I’m cleverer. Wait, is that even a word?

“Cleverer,” I mutter out loud to the surrounding trees, getting nothing in return, and shrug.

Wilder: Goddamn it, Malic…

I grin, exposing my teeth.

Malic: What’s the matter, Keeper? Having a hard time tracking your prey?

Wilder: I swear to God when I get my hands on you…

Malic: You keep getting kinkier and kinkier with every text. Tell me…what will you do with those hands?

I raise a brow when the texting bubble pops up and then disappears.

Wilder: Strangle the fuck out of you. I swear…if you’re out there getting us into war…

Malic: Me? Getting us into war? I never… The audacity…

My words trail off as I check the time. Huh. It’s been several hours of sitting in the woods and minding my own business after following JJ through campus and spying on him. I’m shocked Wilder isn’t right behind me. Wait… I check behind the tree and all around, but there’s no Wilder in sight. Good. Perhaps I should go home and ease Keeper’s mind. He’s such a worrywart, and I don’t have a clue why. I’m an angel.

Blowing out a breath, I say goodbye to the deep woods and make my way toward my exit with home in mind. For once, I’ll be nice and do what my keeper says. Only this once, though. I’d much rather stay out here and enjoy the trees, birds, and other creatures than face reality. As I’m approaching an exit from the trees, a certain voice catches my attention.

“Tell them I died,” a male-sounding voice whines.

“I’m not going to tell them you died,” a feminine voice huffs with annoyance.

I grin. As if my thoughts have summoned her, she’s here. But with whom? Slowly, I make my way through the trees, careful not to rustle the leaves or snap any sticks until I can see them clearly, walking down what they think is a deserted path.

“Please, for the love of God, Liv. Tell them I got eaten by a lion or something,” the male voice rises, whining more.

“You’re an idiot,” she grumbles, looking at him through her thick glasses. “I’m not going to tell them you got eaten. You’re going to have to suck it up and finish the case.”

He called her Liv. As in Olivia. Not Oliver. So, this guy… I look him up and down, slowly following them as they walk down the sidewalk adjacent to the tree line. Yes. I recognize him. He’s her so-called cousin. Jordy? The one who accompanied Simon and her to the fights. But I don’t buy that they’re related. No. Olivia and her father didn’t have family nearby. Yes, there are other Viottos in California, but none are nearby.

Interesting…

“Fuck this case,” he whines, tossing his head back dramatically. “That thief can disappear for all I care.”

“You’re only saying that because you boinked her and then she stole from you,” Olivia quips, earning a shove from her friend. My fingers curl into fists when she yelps and nearly falls over. “You’re being rude,” she huffs, pushing him back.

“Look, there they are,” he says softly, his entire body stiffening. “Last chance, Livy. Tell them I expired or got killed by the gangs here.”

She snorts. “First off, don’t call me Livy.” She sends him a look and his hands go up in defense. “And second off, like Uncle would accept that reasoning. You know he’d hunt you down and drag you back to headquarters.”

“Kicking and screaming,” he grumbles. “I wouldn’t go back quietly, either.”

“You wouldn’t. But you’d also be AWOL, and you know the consequences of leaving a case early.” A stern look crosses her features as they approach a blacked-out SUV with two men standing with their arms crossed, staring at them.

I cock my head, taking in their odd conversation. Case? AWOL? What in the fuck did my little ghost get into? Special forces? Is that why she’s returned as a he? Undercover? Oh, the plot thickens, much to my dismay. I lick my lips when they approach the identical twins, glaring holes at Olivia’s friend.

“Agent Seven, I’ll be damned,” one says with a goofy smirk. “You had me convinced you own a cock.”

She frowns. “Shut up,” she grumbles, shaking her head. “We need to be discreet.”

Yes. Discreet. They don’t want just anyone listening in.