Storm held out my glass of water to me, then glanced over at Wells. “I might later.”

  Wells smirked. “You got a thing for the new blonde, don’t you?”

  He shrugged. “I wouldn’t call it a thing.”

  “When Storm gets a thing for someone, it’ll be a cold day in hell,” Sebastian said, leaning forward to take the box of pizza and slide it closer to me. “Don’t be shy. Eat up.”

  Setting down my glass of water, I took a piece of pizza and placed it on a napkin.

  “You’ve forgiven King,” Wells said.

  I glanced up at him. Had I forgiven King, or was it just unavoidable? My need for him was stronger than the damage he’d done. I wasn’t going to explain all that to Wells—or anyone for that matter—so I just nodded, then took a bite of the pizza.

  Wells chuckled as he stood up. “Looks like things are gonna get interesting then.”

  “Shut up,” Sebastian told him. The warning in his voice was clear.

  I wanted to ask what he’d meant by that, but I continued to eat and stay silent.

  “Fine. I’m heading out,” Wells said, standing up.

  The relief that he was leaving came instantly. I didn’t much care for his company.

  “See what they’re saying about the Derby predictions,” Storm said to Sebastian, ignoring Wells’s announcement.

  I watched the large screen as he changed the channel.

  “Empire is an early pick,” Sebastian told him as they both sat, focused on the men speaking about it.

  “Hughes always gets the early pick,” Storm replied.

  I didn’t understand what they were talking about, so I sat back and finished off the pizza, then picked up my water and slowly drank it while the two of them went back and forth about horses and odds.

  By the time the sports show they were watching ended, they’d eaten most of the pizza, and Sebastian had refilled my water. I realized, at some point, I had relaxed. I felt comfortable and as if I belonged. Even if I had no idea what they were talking about.

  “The sun is setting,” Sebastian said, standing up. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”

  “Okay,” I replied, setting my glass back on the table and standing up.

  “You think that’s smart?” Storm asked.

  Sebastian rolled his eyes. “It’s a fucking sunset.”

  The look in Storm’s eyes said he didn’t agree.

  “Ignore him. But we need to hurry before we miss it,” Sebastian told me.

  I gave him a small nod and then followed him from the room, down toward the main entrance, and outside. The evening breeze was cool, and I wrapped my arms around my chest. Sebastian saw me and frowned.

  “Wait here,” he said and jogged back into the stables.

  I liked seeing the sunset, and from what was said inside, I thought that he must be taking me to see a great view of it. However, I was chilly, and I didn’t want to stand out here in this longer than necessary.

  Sebastian emerged from the stables then, carrying a hoodie. “Here,” he said, coming up to me. “Wear this.”

  Grateful for some warmth, I took it and pulled it on over my tank top. “Thank you,” I said.

  “No problem. Now, come this way.”

  I followed him around the left side of the stables, then between two of the buildings. There was a ladder connected to the structure that looked as if it went to the roof.

  “You first. I’ll go behind you in case you slip,” he said.

  I wasn’t crazy about heights, but I wasn’t scared of them. I thought for a moment, then figured I might as well go on through with this. He’d brought me out here, and it would be rude to refuse to see it.

  On the way up, I didn’t look down or think about how many feet I was from the ground below. At least I wasn’t cold. When I made it to the top, I paused.

  “It’s okay. I promise,” Sebastian told me.

  I’d gotten this far. I went ahead and climbed onto the roof and walked far enough back so that Sebastian could join me.

  He came up beside me and then touched my arm. “Look,” he said, pointing to his right.

  I turned, and my breath caught in my throat. It was stunning. There were no trees or buildings blocking the view, and with the mountain in the distance, it looked like a painting.

  “It’s beautiful,” I said.

  “Right? I love to see it from up here.”

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d enjoyed a sunset. Much less one like this. I tucked my hands into the front pockets of the hoodie I was wearing, and we stood there in silence, watching nature’s beauty. There was no need for words, and it felt as if talking would be almost irreverent. A show this spectacular deserved one’s complete attention.

  Seeing something like this reminded me of King. I wanted to watch this with him. But he wasn’t here. He was at a party with Scotlin May. My mood began to sour, and I tried very hard to push that thought away.

  Had he ever stood here and seen this? I wanted to ask Sebastian, but I decided that remaining silent was best.

  Storm was still in the lounge room when we returned. He was standing at the bar, pouring a glass of whiskey. His eyes met mine, and he gave me a tight smile.

  Had I done something wrong?

  “I’m about to head to the club. You going?” Storm asked, shifting his gaze to Sebastian.

  “I don’t think we should leave Rumor here alone.”

  I opened my mouth to tell them I’d go to the room and read, but Storm’s gaze locked on me again. He seemed to be studying me hard or thinking it through.

  Finally, he sighed. “Yeah. Probably not a good idea.”

  He walked over to the sofa and sat back down with his drink.

  “You’re not going?” Sebastian asked him.

  Storm glanced back at him. “And leave you here alone with Rumor? No. I think I’ll stay.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Sebastian demanded, sounding angry.

  Storm picked up the remote control. “It means that I would like to keep you alive.”

  “Whatever,” Sebastian said with annoyance thick in his tone.

  I took that moment to interrupt whatever was going to be said next. “I can go upstairs and read. I have several new books.”

  “Not necessary,” Sebastian replied.

  “Good idea,” Storm said at the exact same time.

  Now, this was uncomfortable.

  I stepped back and glanced nervously at Sebastian. “I think I should go.”

  Sebastian shot Storm an annoyed glare. “No. You shouldn’t have to stay locked up in that room. He’s being dramatic.”

  “No, I’m not,” Storm said with his eyes glued to the screen.

  “Yes, he is. Let me make you a drink, and we can find a movie to watch.”

  I glanced warily over at Storm, who didn’t look at either of us.

  “Ignore him,” Sebastian urged.

  I was torn. I didn’t want to let my friend down, but then I also didn’t want to be somewhere I wasn’t welcome. Chewing on my lower lip, I tried to think of a good excuse to leave so that Sebastian was okay with it.

  “It’s fine. I’m staying. Pop some popcorn or some shit, and I’ll find a movie,” Storm said, glancing our way once again.

  “See,” Sebastian said, nudging my arm. “He was just being pissy because he’s got a thing for a new dancer at the club and he thinks he can’t go because King will be mad if I’m here with you alone.”

  “I don’t have a thing for her,” he snapped.

  “Yeah, you do.”

  “If I go read, then you can both go.”

  “No,” they both said in unison.

  Confused, I looked at Storm.

  He gave me a small smile, as if understanding my confusion. “We leave you alone here, and that would be just as bad as you being here alone with Sebastian.”

  King hadn’t explained this all to me. He hadn’t said that my being here was going to make it hard on the others. I should have asked more questions. Thought about the situation.

  “Take me to Maeme’s,” I told them.

  Storm let out a sharp laugh. “Fuck no.”

  I turned to look at Sebastian, who shrugged.

  “King comes back, and you’re not here?” He shook his head. “He’d lose his shit.”

  Right now, I wasn’t worried about what King would and wouldn’t do if I wasn’t here. I was frustrated that he’d put me in this position. I didn’t like inconveniencing anyone. It gave me extreme anxiety.

  “He will be tired from his party tonight,” I said bitterly.

  Storm laughed again. “Tired of listening to Scotlin’s mouth.”

  Sebastian chuckled beside me, as if he, too, found that funny. Hearing them talk about King not liking Scotlin helped. I was jealous of her. I could admit it. Who wouldn’t be?

  “He’s right. King will want to see you after an evening with her.”

  I had needed to hear that more than they could ever know. Suddenly, popcorn and a movie sounded perfect.

  “Okay then, popcorn and a movie it is.”

  Storm turned to look back at the television. “You like action, horror, thriller—please do not ask for a chick flick.”

  I smiled at the thought of making the two of them watch Bridget Jones’s Diary, but I wouldn’t do that to them. I was already keeping them from going to the club, which I was assuming was a strip club from the way they’d talked about it.

  “I don’t like horror.”

  “We can work with that,” he agreed.

  “You ready for me to make you a real drink?” Sebastian asked.

  I nodded. I was indeed ready for a cocktail. Even the popcorn sounded appealing.

  • Twelve •

  It wasn’t healthy, this thing we were doing.

  Rumor

  We were halfway through the second John Wick when I found myself struggling to keep my eyes open. I had thought I could make it through another movie, but I had underestimated the effects of the two drinks Sebastian had made me. Each blink got heavier, and I yawned, then forced myself to sit up. Storm was texting on his phone, and Sebastian was focused on the movie.

  I didn’t know how much longer it would be before King returned, but I wasn’t sure I could wait up any longer. The later it got, the more I began fixating on what it was he was doing.

  Before I could say my good nights and excuse myself, the door opened. My stomach did a little flip at the sight of King in a tuxedo. His gaze scanned the room and locked on mine. Smiling, I stood up, happy he was back. That he was looking for me and that I’d get to go to sleep beside him.

  I took a step in his direction when his eyes seemed to harden, then flare, as if some demonic presence had taken over him. His hand moved so quickly that I didn’t realize what was happening until he had a gun pointed at Sebastian.

  “Oh my God,” I gasped, moving back and almost falling over the coffee table.

  “Take off the goddamn hoodie, Rumor. Now,” King demanded, his eyes never leaving Sebastian.

  I swung my gaze over to Sebastian as he stood up slowly, then turned to King. Much like King, the movement of his hand was so fast that I almost missed him pulling the pistol from his side and aiming it at King.

  My hand flew up to cover my mouth as my heart slammed against my chest.

  “NOW!” King shouted. “GET IT OFF!”

  I realized he was talking to me, and I reached for the hem of the hoodie while my hands trembled so violently that I was struggling.

  “Jesus Christ,” Storm said, sounding more put off than anything. “You’re scaring the shit out of her.”

  “He’s the one who pulled the gun,” Sebastian said, his tone hard. “And over a fucking hoodie. She was cold.”

  “And you didn’t think to let her go get one of mine?” King asked as I pulled the one I was wearing over my head and dropped it onto the sofa. My eyes going back to King.

  “We—we—were go-ing outside,” I stammered, willing him to look at me and put his gun away. Both of them.

  “Were you now?” King asked, his eyes narrowing as he continued to point his gun at Sebastian.

  “Fuck this,” Storm snarled, standing up. “I stayed here tonight so this shit wouldn’t happen. And you’re doing it anyway?”

  “He put his goddamn hoodie on her,” King growled.

  “Technically, she put it on herself,” Sebastian replied.

  “King,” I said, willing him to look at me. “Please stop.”

  His eyes cut toward me then, and I pleaded with him silently. We stood there like that for several moments before he seemed to calm and lower his gun. I put a hand on my stomach, not sure if I was going to throw up or not. Nausea had suddenly come over me, and I wanted to sit back down, but I didn’t dare do it.

  He put his gun back in the holster under his jacket, then held out a hand to me. “Come here.”

  My legs felt wobbly as I made my way over to him, checking to be sure Sebastian had also put away his gun. Relieved to see he was no longer pointing it at King, I tried to calm my racing heart as I went to him.

  When I was close enough, he grabbed my hand and pulled me to him, then buried his nose in my hair for a second before tucking me under his arm. “Let’s go.”

  I didn’t want any more guns or shouting. I went willingly, although the more I thought about what had happened, the angrier I got. He had pointed his pistol at Sebastian over a hoodie? That wasn’t sane. It was more like the definition for unstable and unhinged.

  None of them said anything more to each other as we left and walked to the stairs, then to King’s bedroom. Once inside, he slammed the door with more force than necessary, causing me to jump. I spun around and watched him stalk toward me, which had me backing up away from him until the back of my legs hit the bed. He reminded me of a lion coming after its prey.

  “You get cold, sweets, I got a closet full of fucking clothes you can put on.”

  I nodded, swallowing nervously.

  He reached me then, and I held my breath as he ran a hand down my arm.

  “No other man’s clothing touches this body. Do you understand?”

  I didn’t, but I nodded anyway. It was just a hoodie. Fabric. It had smelled like laundry detergent. I hadn’t even known it was Sebastian’s. I’d thought he’d just grabbed the first thing he saw.

  “You … you … held a gun on him,” I said, fighting the urge to cry or hit him. I was torn between being terrified or pissed off.

  He nodded his head once as he ran his knuckles over my collarbone. “Yeah. I should have shot him in the leg to make a point.”

  I shook my head. “No. It was a hoodie. You don’t shoot people over clothing.” Words I never thought I’d have to say to someone.

  His eyes met mine. “He knew better. Trust me.”

  I disagreed with him, but I didn’t say so.

  “I don’t like guns,” I told him.

  He smirked and ran his hand through my curls. “Yeah, but you like me, and I come with a few.”

  I placed both hands on his chest and tried to move him back. I wanted some personal space. I opened my mouth to tell him so, but then my eyes dropped to the collar of his shirt, and I froze.

  Red lipstick was on the starched white cotton. I didn’t own red lipstick, and I hadn’t been kissing his neck tonight. I shoved hard, and although he didn’t move, I felt him tense. His eyes narrowed.

  “Get away from me,” I bit out.

  Fury, pain, betrayal all began to twist in my chest. He’d come in here and held a gun on Sebastian over a piece of clothing, yet he had lipstick on his shirt

  “No,” he replied, grabbing my hips and pulling me closer to him.

  Unable to look at him or his shirt, I glared at the wall to my left. “You have lipstick on your shirt,” I snapped as my chest felt like it was going to explode.

  His hands tightened their grip on me. “We had to act. Sell the relationship.”

  “With her lips on you?”

  King took my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing my face in his direction. I refused to look at him though. I stared at his chest instead.

  “Look at me, Rumor,” he demanded.

  “No! You come back from making out with another woman and pull a gun on your friend for letting me use his hoodie! That is not fair.”

  King released my chin, but he buried his hands in my hair, holding on to both sides of my head and tilting it back until I had to meet his gaze or close my eyes. “I didn’t make out with Scotlin. I endured her. It was fucking hell. One I couldn’t wait to get away from. All I thought about was getting back here to you. Then, I walked in and saw you in another man’s hoodie. Yeah, I reacted poorly. Rage is a hard bitch, and I had no control over it. I should probably apologize, but I won’t because if I ever see another man’s clothes on your body again, I will shoot him, I swear to God.”

  Did I believe him? He hadn’t made out with her? Had he kissed her at all? What did it mean that he had to make it believable? How affectionate did they get?

  “She put her lips on you,” I said.

  “I didn’t want it. I didn’t enjoy it,” he replied in a softer tone. “Come take a shower with me.”

  I shook my head. “We did that earlier.” I also wasn’t ready to just let this go. Move on. I was considering sleeping on the sofa.

  “I want to wash Sebastian’s fucking hoodie from your body and Scotlin’s shit off me. Please, sweets.”

  I sighed in frustration at myself. At this situation I had gotten into and the fact that I wanted to please him, even after he pulled a gun on his friend over something so dumb. It wasn’t healthy, this thing we were doing. At least not for me. He had too much control over me, and I was the one giving it to him.

  Glaring up at him, I clenched my teeth. “Fine. But I want that shirt burned. And the next time you come back with her lipstick on you, I am moving back to Maeme’s.”