Reaper and Ruin (Saint View Murder Squad #3)

by Elle Thorpe

“It’s not that easy.” I pushed the urge to make jokes away and instead focused on the words I knew he needed to hear. The ones I knew I needed to say, not just for him but for me too. “I know it’s not that easy right now. But it could be? You belong here. With us. In this madness. In a found-family soap opera of trauma bonding and inappropriate lust…” Well, I’d tried. It wasn’t my fault it was really hard to have a serious moment when you were just naturally hard-wired to be hilarious. He huffed something that might have been a laugh. “I’m serious, Whip.” I tried again. “You matter to us. To me.” His mouth moved, like he had a thousand replies and didn’t know which one was safe to say. So I saved him. “Plus, I already added you as my emergency contact. So now you’re trapped.” That got a real laugh, small and hoarse, but real. Whip shook his head, the hint of a smile still curling his lips. “You’re a lunatic.” I grinned, reached out, and gently shoved him sideways. “Get under the covers before you collapse and die. I don’t want to have to explain to Levi how I had to bury you in Mrs. Sinterro’s turnip patch while they were sleeping. He gets all growly and weird about your well-being. It’s honestly adorable.” “Goodnight, X.” I tugged the blanket over him. “Goodnight, future husband.” His eyes flew open. “I swear to God—” I sniggered, enjoying the pure panic on his face. I didn’t have any sexual attraction to Whip or Levi. I was a one-Violet man and always would be. But it wa...