First Chapter & Prologue Reveal - Killer by Clarissa Wild & Giveaway!

Killer
Prequel to Stalker

UNEDITED EXCERPT - Subject to change
COPYRIGHT © CLARISSA WILD. All Rights reserved.

PROLOGUE

Vanessa

Never in my life did I think I would be the prime suspect in my husband’s murder. But looking back at the choices I made, it’s not so strange that people think I’m a killer.

I’m not as innocent as I portray myself. Looks can be deceiving.

However, I won’t go down for this. Not when I don’t deserve it.

I should’ve known it would end up this way. That man … Phoenix Sullivan … The moment I saw that deadly gaze in his eyes, the dark way he looked at me, I knew I was in trouble.

Big trouble.

And something tells me there’s more where that came from.

This game of catch won’t be ending any time soon.

Phoenix

Look at her, in her fancy white dress, with her fake blonde curls, and that sweet, deliciously fake smile. Don’t you just want to fuck that pretentious smile off her face? I do. And I will.

She has no idea what’s coming for her. Or her husband.

You see, I’m not a nice person. When I have my eyes set on something, I do it. In this case, it’s killing the man she’s married to. She probably won’t like it, but that’s not my problem. She’s not my target … and she’d better not turn herself into one.

I’m here with a purpose, and nothing stands between me and my goal. Not even a pretty girl with an ass worth fucking. Nobody stands in my way, and if they do, they die.

Too bad for her I’m like a fucking canon, and when I shoot, shrapnel flies everywhere. If she gets caught in the fire, that’s on her.

When I want something, I’m going to get it, no matter the price. Whether it’s killing someone, or fucking her.

She wants justice, I’ll give her justice … my justice.

I bet she isn’t willing to pay the price.

Too bad for her I always win.

CHAPTER 1

Phoenix

Tonight’s the perfect night to kill.

I can feel it in my veins; that undeniable urge flowing through me on nights like these. Exciting like drugs; the murderous kind.

Clouds prevent the moonlight from bursting through and cover the land in perpetual darkness. There are plenty of lanterns lighting the road ahead, but not the alley I’m headed for. In front of me is a small puddle of water, so I walk past the side to avoid my new leather shoes from getting wet. You see, I just bought these, and I prefer to keep them clean for as long as possible. They will probably lose their shine after tonight’s killings.

Oh well, it’s not like I’ll need these shoes for anything other than entering the party ahead and pretending like I belong. Gotta be fancy enough for the big crowd, because of course, someone in jeans couldn’t be nearly important enough as someone in a suit.

Bunch of fake fuckers. If I could, I’d burn the whole fucking place to the ground with them in it, but I’d rather not end up in jail if I can avoid it. Killing has to be done as inconspicuous as possible, so nobody will know it was me until I’ve already disappeared from sight.

It’s my thing, it’s what I do, or rather what I’ve become. After all these years, I don’t even remember what it was like to not be a murderer. Not that I want to remember; hell, I prefer this life over any other, especially the lives of those people in that party who are about to witness death.

I’ve got to admit, it is a rush. I just love killing, especially when it’s for the right reasons. Those reasons are obviously always to benefit me. Why the fuck else would I murder people if not for my own pleasure? Well, and for the money that sustains me, of course.

What can I say? I’m the scum of the earth, the disgusting vile that creeps in the corners to jump you at night … and I don’t regret being like this for even a second.

I turn into the alley and come face to face with a bulking, barely-fitting-in-his-suit, bodyguard. I cock my head as he frowns at me, probably wondering what I’m doing here.

“Excuse me, you can’t come here,” he says as I walk closer.

I smile. “Why not? This is where the party is.”

He folds his arms, making himself seem larger, but all it does to me is make it more laughable. “This is the rear entrance. If you want access, you have to take the front door. If you have a ticket, that is …”

He doesn’t believe me? Even in my fucking fancy suit? Well, fuck him. I wanted to spare his life, but questioning my slickness isn’t something one can get away with on my watch.

“Oh, I have a ticket, all right,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “How dare you talk to a guest like that.”

“I’m sorry, Sir,” he says, “But I’m not allowed to let anyone pass through this door. You will have to go to the front entrance where they can check your ticket. Sorry.”

Of course they all think I’m not a guest, because let’s face it … I look like a guy you wouldn’t want your daughter to talk to, even if it was in broad daylight in your own fucking home. With my piercings, black hair, and merciless attitude, I usually scare people to death. I have the kind of face you’d see in your nightmares … except, when you see me in real life, you’re really dead.

Like this guy.

“Yeah, yeah … so let me get this straight …” I shuffle around, looking at the floor, distracting him. “You’re basically telling me I can’t walk here, even though this is a public alley, just because this isn’t the ‘correct’ entrance to the party I’m supposed to be attending?”

“I’m only doing my job.”

I look up at him. “So am I.”

In a fraction of a second I’ve grabbed his coat and flip it over his head. I twist around, to his back, and wrap it around his neck. His screams are quickly muffled by the fabric stuffed in his mouth, choking him as I drag him back into the corners of the alley. He claws at the coat, desperate to free himself before time runs out. Stumbling backwards, we fall to the ground, and I wrap my legs around his chest to prevent him from moving. His body fights for survival, his legs thrashing, his hands punching in the air. It’s no use. I will win this fight, as I always do. He’s losing his energy fast, and his muscles are losing their strength. It won’t be long now. With his fingers growing whiter every second, all the blood is rushing to his face, in a last attempt to breath. But it’s already too late; there is no oxygen left and his lungs are shutting down.

His legs stop moving and his hands drop to the floor, the last groan slipping off his tongue like a ghost leaving his body.

Death has made his entry.

It’s done.

I unwrap the coat from his face and crawl out from underneath him. Then I drag his body to the dumpster in the back and put him on the side facing the brick wall. I take his coat off his dead body and swing it around until it’s long and thin, like a rope. Then I tie it around a handle of the dumpster and tightly wrap the other end around his neck. I make sure his body is positioned right and the tension on the coat is just right, so that when the paramedics or police find him they’ll think exactly what I want them to think; that this was a mindless suicide with no further need to investigate.

Hopefully, they won’t find him before morning, when I’m long gone.

Before I leave I fish in his pockets and take out a rather convenient card that will grant me access to the backdoor of the building. Smiling at him, I say, “Sorry, dude. Business is business. No hard feelings.”

***

Vanessa

One look, a simple glance, can change everything.

A nod, narrowing eyes, or a twitch of the lips is all it takes to convey a message that destroys everything.

I should’ve trusted my instincts, should’ve listened to the warning signs. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, the dread rippling through my veins, telling me this wasn’t right.

Instead, I give my husband the glass, my smile, and a soft pet on the shoulder.

“Here you go, darling,” I say, giving him a peck on the cheeks.

When I turn to look back at the man I exchanged looks with, he’s gone.

My husband laughs and takes the glass from my hand, pulling me from my thoughts. “Vanessa, let me introduce you to Cordelia.”

The woman next to him holds out her hand, her smile full of fakery as she says, “Cordelia, I’m a fan of your husband’s work.”

“Vanessa, lovely to meet you. My husband seems to have many fans at this party.” I laugh and smile like the good wife, pretending not to have noticed the wink she gave him. Her tightly squeezed dress reminds me of my husband’s hand, which was on her ass just seconds ago. I wonder if the squeeze was good enough, or if he’ll find more asses to pat later.

In one go, I chug back my drink.

Everybody looks at me like I’ve gone insane, but I ignore them. I place my glass down on a tray held by a waiter passing by and return with a smile. “So, Cordelia, I’ve heard a lot about you. You’re one of the actresses in my husband’s movies if I’m not mistaken.”

“Yes, our latest movie will be airing in January this year, so I’m quite excited about that.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. Did you work closely with her?” I ask my husband. “Since you two seem to know each other so well.”

“Ah, yes, well …” My husband chokes on his wine.

“Phillip showed me all around the set. He’s quite a charm,” she says, giggling. “He knows so much about this business, I swear, I feel like a rookie again when I’m around him.”

“Hmm … I can imagine,” I say, smiling again. First name basis already. That went quickly.

Phillip coughs a couple more times, his wine glass shaking so much that it spills and droplets fall to the ground.

“Oh dear, are you all right, Phillip?” Cordelia asks, placing her hand on her chest.

He coughs some more, this time bending over, punching his own chest. I grab the glass from his hand and put it down. “Phillip? Talk to me,” I say.

“I’m … fine,” he mutters, but I can clearly tell he’s not. He’s coughing too much, more than I’ve ever seen him do, and that’s noteworthy, as he’s a fervent smoker.

“Do you need me to help you?” I ask.

“No … no, no, I just need some air.”

I place my hand on his back. “Let’s go outside then.”

“I think it’s better if you took him home,” Cordelia says, swallowing away the lump in her throat. “He seems … ill.”

“Thank you for your concern,” I say. Always so involved. “We’ll be fine.”

“No, she’s right.” Phillip places a hand on mine. “Let’s go home. Seems this wine was a little too much for my body to handle. I’ve had enough drinks for one night.” He laughs, but it’s more pathetic than anything. “Besides, I’ve shown my face and talked to some people. The party will probably go on fine without us.”

“All right, if you’re sure. See you later, Cordelia,” I say, waving back at her while I take my husband outside.

The doors are opened for us as I escort him outside. My husband dismisses all the help the waiters want to give him, much to my dismay. I help him down the stone staircase, which is quite a feat. The more we walk, the more he leans on me, and it’s becoming harder and harder to help him walk. Soon, I’m the one carrying most of his weight.

“What’s happening to you? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he says, the coughs still increasing in volume. “Just had a little too much, that’s all.” He stumbles across the pavement, almost pulling me down with him. I can barely keep us both on two feet.

“Phillip, this isn’t right, you can’t even walk,” I say, walking him all the way to our car.

“Nothing’s wrong, I’m just a little … tipsy, that’s all.” He fumbles in his pockets, leaning against the car as he takes it out and I open the door to step in.

“No, no, I’m driving,” he says.

“What? No way, you can’t. You’re too intoxicated.”

He frowns. “No, I’m not. Now, step aside and let me drive.”

I make a face. “Must you always be so damn stubborn? Just let me drive. I can bring us home safely.”

“There’s nothing wrong, now move aside, woman.” He shoves me so hard that I have to hold onto the door to stay steady.

Before I have time to protest, he sits down behind the wheel and slams the door shut.

My hands turn into fists as I storm to the other side of the car and mouth some foul words. This man … ugh, the amount of crap I have to put up with is driving me insane.

I open the door and sit my ass down, slamming the door shut behind me. The car starts and he drives off with a hiccup, hitting a stone ridge to the side of the road.

“Watch it!” I say.

“Oh, c’mon,” he says, driving out of the parking lot. “Can you just give me a break?”

“No, this is dangerous, and you know it.”

“I said I’m fine, what more do you want from me, huh?” He starts driving faster.

“Oh, not this again,” I sigh.

“Keep quiet then and let me do my job.”

“Your job is driving?” I jest, as we ride through the city.

He throws me a glance. “Can you just not make it worse? Like, for one fucking second in my life, can you just not annoy the ever-loving shit out of me?”

The car is going faster and faster, even when a traffic light is eminent.

“Philip, stop.”

“No, you stop.”

“No, I mean, the lights!” I yell.

Too late, he’s already rushing straight through while it was red. I put my hands in front of my eyes so I won’t see the impending disaster. My heart is racing, my breathing is ragged, and when I open my eyes again nothing has happened. Phillip is still sitting next to me, his breathing loud and his veins bulging through his skin, his face red with rage.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I scream.

“Nothing, you’re what’s wrong with me!” he yells back.

“You just drove straight through a red light. Are you insane?”

“If I am, it’s your fucking fault for always getting on my back,” he hisses.

“And this is payback? Scaring me? How dare you,” I say. “Stop this car.”

“No.”

We’re nearing the highway, and I don’t want this to get worse. I need to get out. “Phillip, stop this car. Right. Now.”

“No,” he repeats, fuming.

“Let me out!” I scream.

“We’re not doing this. Not now,” he says, grinding his teeth.

I look around, but all I see are roads and other cars, no grass in sight to even remotely think of jumping out, even though that’s a ridiculous idea. But when you’re afraid, stupid things go through your head. I hate danger.

Shit, we’re already driving on the highway. It’s too late.

“What are you doing?” I ask. “Get off the highway!”

“I’m getting us home. Now will you shut up already?” he yells. “You’re driving me crazy with your constant whining.”

The yelling causes him to cough so hard, the car is swaying.

“Be careful,” I say, sweating like crazy.

“Shut up! Just shut up, all right? If you can shut your mouth for like ten minutes, we’ll get home safely, and I’ll be rid of this nasty cough,” he growls, still coughing.

“Fine,” I say, and I turn my head to look out the window.

The lights pass by quicker with every mile we drive, cars shooting by as if they were never even there. I try to focus on my breathing, trying to calm myself down so I can think of a rational solution to this problem. The problem being his cough and incredibly bad temper. I try to ignore the fact that the car is still speeding up and that his cough still has not subsided, even though he said it would when we’d stop talking. After a few minutes, the swaying becomes so bad, I turn my head to see if I can help.

What I see makes my heart stop.

Phillip’s eyes open and close.

His body is limp.

His hands aren’t on the steering wheel.

And the car has already veered from one lane into the other.

“No!” I squeal, grasping the wheel with all I have, trying to straighten it in time.

But the car is already too skewed, and when I turn, it starts to spin.

The backside slips to the left, crashing into the guardrail. Another car hits ours so hard it catapults us into the air.

At this moment in time, my body is bumping into my seat and into the window, my head exploding in pain. My vision becomes blurry as the car cartwheels across the road. I swing from left to right, up and down, as the belt proves to be of little use to protect me. My hands clamp around my face in an attempt to protect myself as the car flips again and again.

When the car comes to a stop, I’m hanging from the top, gravity pulling on my body. My lungs are about to burst from the air locked inside. For a moment, my mind leaves my body, and I fade in and out of consciousness. Blood trickles down my nose, keeping me awake. My hands feel numb and my feet are swollen, but somewhere inside me, I find the courage to move.

I lift the belt and unbuckle myself. My body drops to the hard roof, which is now the floor, crushing my ribs. I howl in pain, but stop when I can’t breathe. I blink to clear my view and look around. Phillip hangs next to me, his body lifeless and limp. And then I notice the smoke.

“Phillip,” I whisper. “Phillip, wake up.” My throat burns and my muscles ache as I attempt to free him. However, a flicker of fire is enough to make me stop in my tracks. Flames are eating up the car, and by the time I slide out of the car, they have swallowed the metal.

I crawl further away, hoping to get on my feet and run to Phillip’s side so I can drag him out myself, but when I try to stand my legs won’t budge. Cars around us stop as I fight to get away from the car. The fuel entering my nostrils is the adrenaline that pushes me to keep going.

When I turn my head to look at the car, flames have engulfed it.

My ears are ringing, my eyes tearing up from the pain.

My husband is in there, and despite my efforts, I can’t make it back in time.

He’s burning alive.

“No!” I yell, but then cough because I can’t bear the pain. It’s so hot, and everything hurts.

As I look around, someone comes toward me. One of the people from the cars that stopped. My vision is getting blurry again, and my strength is fading fast. Even though I try to lift my arms, they don’t listen to me, and I lie lifelessly on the cold asphalt, waiting for the ordeal to end.

Feet come closer until they stop in front of me. I pour my last ounce of strength into gazing up into the eyes of the one who will pull me out of here.

He’s none other than the man I saw at the party.

But his eyes show no mercy.

Killer -- Coming May 26th, 2015 (in the Summer Fire Boxed Set)
Separate publication: June, 2015.

Preorder now:

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About the author

Clarissa Wild is the USA Today Bestselling author of FIERCE, a college romance series, but she's best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X. She is also a writer of erotic romance such as the Blissful Series, The Billionaire's Bet series, the Doing It Series and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.

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First Chapter Reveal ... Flame - book 2, Fierce Series!

FIRST CHAPTER - FLAME (#2, FIERCE)

CHAPTER 1

GOOD BEGINNINGS

Autumn

A bright golden sun blinds us as we wait in front of the prison entrance. The sky is blue, pink, and red, colored by the radiance of the sun, reminiscent of a painted canvas. With my hand on my forehead, I stare ahead into the distance. The dark concrete building sends chills down my spine. Wired fences surround the premises, an eerie warning to those outside as well as inside.

A gentle squeeze of my hand reminds me Hunter is here, right beside me. I have nothing to be afraid of. He cocks his head sideways, looking down at me with an easy smile on his face. A smile that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Our hands are clammy, and I can feel him twitch. The fine creased lines on his forehead show his restlessness. His jaw is clenched and his eyes dart back to the fence, keeping an eye on the only visible door. Tension ripples off him like fumes from a stoked fire. He probably can’t wait to see his brother, but at the same time he seems anxious. Concerned.

His thumb caresses the back of my hand, a warm, comforting reassurance that everything will be okay, but I should be comforting him instead. I tangle my fingers through his, huddling up against him. Placing my head against his shoulder, I take in his soothing scent. There’s a smile on my face, because even though we’re in a horrible place, we’re finally doing what Hunter’s been waiting for all this time: seeing his brother be freed.

A cold breeze wafts past us. I shiver. I should’ve put on something warmer, but I got lost in the hectic pace of it all. When Hunter got the call that his brother was being released, he jumped at the opportunity to pick him up. He didn’t even want to take a shower before rushing out, which is so unlike him.

I rub my hands together and cling to myself. Hunter turns around toward me and says, “You cold?”

“It’s nothing. Forgot we’re nearing winter,” I say with a chuckle, trying to laugh off my stupidity.

“Here,” he says, taking off his coat and draping it over my shoulders.

“But now you’ll get cold,” I say.

“Nah, I’m a freaking radiator. You know that.”

“You sure?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.

He lowers his. “Keep it on or else …” For a second we just stare at each other, until a sly grin slowly creeps onto his face and I burst out into laughter. His threats always make me laugh. Not because they’re funny, but because I love it when he gets rough with me. They’re more promises than threats. Bad, sexy promises.

When the door clicks open, our ears perk up like those of a Labrador. The noise immediately draws our attention. I hold my breath, and Hunter squeezes my hand tight. He inhales a deep breath when a guy about his size steps out, his blond hair and rough features reminding me of Hunter. They do look alike. I only saw his photograph, but it really is striking.

A smile builds on Hunter’s face, and his eyes light up when he sees his brother stepping out of the gate. For a moment he’s nailed to the ground as his brother comes toward us, bags in both his hands. Without saying anything, Hunter lets go of my hand and starts walking toward him, his pace increasing with each step. They meet halfway. His brother drops the bags to the ground and opens his arms.

Tears fill my eyes, but sadness isn’t their cause. Happiness swells inside me. Seeing the two boys embrace in a manly bro-hug brings me peace. Hunter’s finally got what he wanted. The look in their eyes is intense, filled with silent, unspoken emotions. I can tell from a distance. When his brother takes a quick peek at me, I freeze and blush.

They turn around and Hunter smiles at me while his brother picks up his bags and walks after him toward me. Leaning against the car, I try to act casual when they approach, even though I’m nervous as hell. Goose bumps cover my skin, but I’m not sure if it’s from the cold or from my anxiety. I want to make a good impression, but new people always scare me, because I don’t know what they’ll think of me. Insecure should be my middle name.

Hunter’s brother comes toward me and drops one of the bags on the ground, holding out his hand. “Hey, I’m Jessie.”

I shake his firm, tough hand. “Autumn Blakewood.”

The gleam in his gray eyes draws my attention like a magpie to a shiny jewel. His brilliant smile reminds me of Hunter’s, but Jessie’s smile isn’t as cheeky. From the corner of my eye I can see his arm and shoulder are covered in tattoos. His hand feels warm and trustworthy, and I feel like I already know him well enough to relax. Weird. I never experience this.

“So … You’re Hunter’s girlfriend?”

My eyes widen, heat flustering me. “Wha—”

Jessie laughs. “Not the talkative type I see.”

“I … uh …” I stammer. I feel overwhelmed by his abrasiveness. God, he reminds me so much of Hunter, it’s freaky.

Hunter steps forward and puts his arm around my waist, pulling me closer like he’s staking his territory. “All mine.”

I feel almost embarrassed being marked as his publicly like that, but I have to admit I kind of like it. He’s finally at a place where he can freely tell the world he’s with me and that I’m his. I love being his.

Jessie winks. “Good for you. You two look cute together. Although, I must say this is a surprise, Hunter.”

Hunter laughs and shakes his head. “Why? Am I that predictable?”

“No, I’m just surprised she actually wants you as a boyfriend.”

Hunter punches his brother in the shoulder, and I chuckle.

“He’s not that bad,” I say.

Hunter looks back at me, squinting like he’s testing me or something. “Not that bad, huh? Don’t you mean fantastic?” He wriggles his eyebrows, making me laugh even more.

Jessie leans forward and whispers into my ear, “I’d watch out with that one, if I were you. He’s bold and has a tendency to bite.”

Then he opens the door to the driver’s seat and steps inside. Hunter grabs the two bags lying on the ground, opens the trunk, flings them inside and slams it shut again. Then he opens the door to the back seat and gestures for me to get inside like a real gentleman. I’m still chuckling, and yelp a little when he smacks my ass as I get inside. I don’t want to admit that I like him being naughty, but I do. The bite is just that little extra I need to make my life so much more interesting.

Hunter gets into the passenger’s seat and we drive off.

“Feels good to have my car back,” Jessie says, tapping the steering wheel. “Although this baby has seen a lot of nasty things.”

Hunter snorts. “Obviously. If it wasn’t for the fact that we needed it, I would’ve dumped it long ago.”

“Hey, the gang brought some good things too.”

He shakes his head. “They’re the reason you were in jail. Nothing’s good about that.”

“That was partly my own fault. And you got to go to college thanks to the money.”

“Yeah, well that’s all over too, I guess.”

Jessie briefly glances at his brother while driving. I’m behind him, trying to pretend I’m not here, because this conversation feels awkward. I don’t think I’m supposed to be around to hear this.

“What is?” Jessie asks.

“The gang.”

“I’m not sure what to think about that.”

“What?” Hunter spouts. “You’ve got to be kidding me. They were nothing but bad news. I’m glad I got the leader behind bars.”

“You know he’s not the only one behind this. The gang is so much bigger. And now they’ll probably go after us.”

“No, they won’t. The police will roll them up for good. Those assholes are finally getting what they deserve.”

“Dammit, Hunter!” Jessie slams the wheel, and I jolt up in my seat. He’s just as explosive as Hunter.

“I tried fucking everything to keep you out of this and provide you with a good future, but you had to go and involve yourself with them,” Jessie says.

“I did what I had to do! You think I wanted to join them? Of course not! But it was the only way to get you out.”

“I never asked you to get me out!”

Now they’re up in each other’s faces, the car swerving on the road. I’m just sitting here, cowering in the backseat because I’m terrified we’ll get into an accident if they keep this up.

“Guys?”

“What?” they both yell, scowls on their faces.

I back away and point at the road. “Traffic.”

Jessie’s eyes shoot back to the road, and he manages to stomp the brakes just in time. “Shit!”

We come to a screeching halt in front of a traffic light. I barely manage to stop myself from bumping headfirst into the seat in front of me. With his hands clamped around the steering wheel, Jessie snorts, and Hunter sighs, settling back into his seat.

I exhale loudly.

“If I hadn’t joined the gang, you’d still be in jail,” Hunter murmurs, crossing his arms while staring out the window.

“You could’ve also not joined the gang, like I begged you to, so you’d be safe,” Jessie says, his jaw clenched.

“I got you out, didn’t I? That’s all that matters,” Hunter retorts.

Now they’re both avoiding each other’s gazes, and I’m left wondering what the hell happened to that brotherly love they felt only minutes ago. They must really love each other if they can go from bro-hugs to fighting within moments, just because they both care too much for each other. Endearing.

“But you’re both safe now. Alpha Psi will cease to exist as a gang, Hunter will go to college, and you’re out of jail,” I say, trying to talk some sense into them.

They both throw glances at each other, sighing loudly like neither of them wants to call it truce. So typical.

“You both wanted the best for each other. That’s something to be proud of. Don’t fight about it.”

Hunter grumbles, frowning.

“Please,” I add.

It’s silent for a while. They both stop talking, and even sighing, although that almost makes me think they’re just holding their breaths to go at it again. It’s the most uncomfortable silence I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ll be glad to get out of this car once we get to our destination. Wherever that is. Hunter never told me where we’re headed, and as I was too caught up in our plans, I forgot to ask. Getting his brother out was our goal, and now that we have him, I have no clue what we’re going to do.

After a while, Jessie breaks the silence. “Look. I appreciate you getting me out of jail, all right? I just didn’t want you to have to go through what I did just so you could free me.”

Hunter looks him in the eye, and they stare at each other for a few seconds. “I get that, I really do, but I wasn’t going to let them take you away from me. No way.”

Hunter looks down at the carpet flooring of the car. “And I’m sorry I fucked everything up. That I screwed up in college. That I accepted the deal with Agent Williams to get you out. I infiltrated Alpha Psi, but did a lot of horrible things to gain their trust. I’m sorry for everything, but I had to do it. I needed you back,” he says.

It breaks my heart hearing him say that, because I know how much he went through for his brother. How much he was willing to sacrifice for him.

Jessie reaches for Hunter and pats him on the shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that just for me.”

They smile at each other, and I can finally relax again, knowing they’ve settled their squabble.

“I won’t fail you again, I promise,” Jessie says.

“You didn’t fail me. You did everything for me. That’s why I needed to do this. I wanted to make you proud of me, but getting you back was more important to me. You’re the only one I have.”

Jessie smirks. “That’s not true.” He cocks his head and gazes at me for a second. “You have her, too, now.”

A flush spreads across my cheeks, and I freeze. “What?”

Hunter laughs. “Hmm … you’re right.”

I just smile a cheesy smile at both of them.

“Well, I’m just glad to have you back,” Hunter says, grabbing Jessie’s arm.

“So am I, little brother, so am I.”

“So, where are we going?” I ask, to change the topic so they won’t argue anymore.

Jessie and Hunter look at each other, and Jessie shrugs. “Home, I guess.”

Rubbing his temple with his fingers, Hunter says, “I’m not too sure about that.”

I lean forward, but Hunter turns his face away from me. I swear, I thought I could see him blush.

“Why not? She’s your girl, right?” Jessie asks.

Hunter clears his throat while I suck on my lip. I’m not sure what they’re talking about, but I’m dying to find out.

“You can’t keep pretending forever. You’re gonna have to show her one day.”

“Show me what?”

Hunter sighs. “I don’t know …”

“Oh, c’mon. The house is not that bad. Besides, she doesn’t seem like all those other girls you used to hang out with.”

Now Hunter’s sinking back into his seat like he’s ashamed. I’m making faces just from the thought of seeing him hang out with other girls.

“Yeah, well that’s all in the past now,” he says, swallowing.

I’m relieved, but I’m intrigued, too. I want to know where they live, and now that they’re being so reluctant, I’m even more interested in seeing it. I wonder why Hunter doesn’t want me to see. What’s he afraid of?

“I want to see where you live,” I say.

Hunter bites his lip.

“Please?” I say, pouting at him. He bursts out in little chuckles and reaches for my face with his index finger, gently caressing my cheek.

“All right.”

Jessie laughs and scratches his beard. “Can’t wait to see this happening.”

“What?” Hunter snaps.

“Don’t mind me. I’ll just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.”

Hunter punches his brother against the shoulder. “It’s your fucking fault our house looks like that!”

“Hey, I’m a busy man, I have a job. Or … had.”

“So? That doesn’t mean you have to live like a pig, dude.”

“What can I say? I’m a dirty man.” He wriggles his eyebrows, just like Hunter always does.

I snort. “You two are more alike than I thought.”

“Hey!” Hunter says, poking me.

“See? Even she can tell. You’re a pig too. You’ll feel right at home.”

“It is my home, fuckwad. You just turned it into a dump.”

“It’s not my fault you can’t keep your clothes in one pile!”

Hunter gapes at him. “I’m always cleaning your shit, and you know that.”

Oh, here they go again. I roll my eyes and groan. I wonder if this is normal for them. It probably is, but I guess that’s a good thing. It means I have nothing to worry about, because they still seem like best buds. Those two will be A-Okay.

###

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