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Her stare didn’t have any of the animosity Colt usually threw at me. Instead, her eyes widened, filling with surprise which morphed into confusion. “Is that—” Colt cut her off with a quick shake of his head. “She’s hurt. Maybe bad. She won’t go to the hospital. I was about to wake you.”
Tears glistened in her eyes. “You fought.” My own eyes welled up. “Until the end. But I wasn’t strong enough. If Colt hadn’t found me…” Willa nodded and smoothed back my hair. “You should get a rape kit done.”
“I followed you home that night after the bonfire at the beach,” he said, softer this time. I snapped my head in his direction so fast I was sure I’d have whiplash. “What? Why?” His solid black gaze bored into mine. “I needed to make sure you made it home safe.”
“That was me.” I stared. “You messaged him? How?” Colt fished out his phone and brought up his Instagram messages. Then he passed it to me. The screen showed a message to @owen.waller1 that simply said, l know what you did.
It was like opening the doorway to Heaven. With the crown prince of Hell standing in the way.
“I don’t know yet, princess. So let’s call it an IOU.” He spun on his heel and opened the door,
“He’s been there every morning since he came back to school, just in case you showed up. He’s been waiting for you.” “Why would he do that?” “Because he didn’t want you walking in alone. Today isn’t going to be easy, Lace. You know that. So does he. He had to deal with it all last week, by himself.”
I stared at him for a long moment, then held my hand out. “Give me your keys.” He raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? You want to go sit in the car?” “No, I want them because you’re a cocky son of a bitch. And if that guy kills you, I still want to be able to get home tonight.”
It hadn’t been since Lacey had come back into my life. And I think both Gillian and I had known it.
Because your uncle isn’t who you think he is. Because you’re not. Because I’m not. Because everything you think you know is a lie.
“I’m good with whatever you want. If that means we bring Colt in on this, then…actually, that’s kinda hot.” I kissed him back then laughed against his lips. “You kinky fuck.” He grinned and kissed me harder. “I know. I’ve got issues.” “I like your issues.”
“Where’s Banjo? We need to get this thing on the road so we can take our girl home.”
His kisses were everything. The sun and the moon and the stars, all rolled into one fiery ball of heaven. Or maybe of hell.
I had no idea. But it felt wicked. Kissing him in this way would send me straight to the Devil’s court.
“I’m his best friend. I know exactly how much he loves to go down on girls. Especially in public. Heard all about it in great detail. And I’m betting that’s what happened just now, judging by that glow on your face.”
I was so not straight. Someone needed to pass me a bisexual label and I’d wear the fucking thing with pride. Banjo was hot. Really fucking hot.
“I’m glad you did it,” she choked out. “I’m glad you killed him.”
“Colt,” Mom whispered. “What have you done?”
“Tell Rafe to come out, too. Little point hiding in there after the racket the three of you made last night.”
“You expecting a third member of your harem?”
I knew. I knew his eyes. His nose. His lips. I’d kissed those lips just last night. Colt. I forced myself to speak calmly. “No, I don’t know him.” Beside me, Banjo cleared his throat. “Me neither.” Rafe turned and shrugged at Chief Waller. “Sorry, never seen him before.”
“No. Tell me. The truth this time. I’m so fucking sick of your lies. Was it you? Did you pull me from the fire at Providence?” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Yes.”
But I had. I’d known exactly who she was the minute she’d walked into Saint View High. There was no forgetting your first love. And Lacey had been mine. At five years old, I’d loved her so fiercely I would have moved mountains for her if that sort of thing were possible for a five-year-old.
That was always the way with the two of us. I gave her shit. She gave me hell.
If this was all we had, if I went back home and cops had my house surrounded, then this would be enough. This one night with the girl who had owned my heart for as long as I could remember.
Colt glanced between them. “Mind if I dance with your girl?” “Our girl,” Banjo said quietly, glancing to me for confirmation. “All three of us.”
But then Colt’s lips were brushing the shell of my ear. “Dance with me, Lacey. I want to show every person in this room you’re mine. You get that?”
