Page 88 of Love Me

“You’re going to get yourselves killed.”

Our heads whip to Blake, who shoots a heated gaze at Mia.

“Stop eavesdropping.”

“Not my fault you’re talking out in the open. Besides, I got thirsty.”

He conveniently pops up every time at the right moment.

“What do you know?”

He looks me dead in the eyes. “How much is your life worth?”

“Are you threatening her?”

Hunter goes into full attack mode. Blake lifts his palms in a nonthreatening gesture.“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He leaves, and Hunter says, “He knows something.”

“He’s a vault.” Mia sighs.

“So you’re saying the master thief is having a hard time stealing the information we need?”

They are locked in a battle of wills.

“Find out,” I say.

“I will. Stop questioning me.”

“We don’t want you to get soft, sis.”

“Look who’s talking. Ever since we came here, you have been unfocused most of the time.”

Ouch. The truth always hurts.

I leave and once inside my room, I call my father. It’s the middle of the night, but again, knowing him, he’s not sleeping either.

“We scouted the location. They must be hiding something important there.”

“Yes, your mother.”

“Maybe she’s not there, Father. Even if she is… after all these years…”

“Celine, loving someone also means loving them through changes. Especially then. Go to bed now. You have classes tomorrow.”

We hang up, and I slip under my covers, sleep embracing me.

***

I halt at the foot of the stairs, a smile curling up my lips. Around the kitchen table, Hunter and Kaden grumble over some professor. Mia and Abigail chat about a romance book, taking me by surprise to learn she reads them too. Bailey puts her head on Blake’s shoulder, peering at Hunter, and Blake steals glances at Mia. For a moment, I could picture us all, a big family of friends for life.

“Don’t let me interrupt you,” I say as I snatch a piece of toast from Hunter and take a bite. Being the dick he is, he runs after me. I laugh so hard that I choke on the bread.

I’ll kill him if I don’t die first. Hitting my chest repeatedly, I struggle to breathe through the panic. Laughter quickly gives way to mortified looks.

“Spit it out,” Hunter yells.

But I can’t. Before I can shake my head, Kaden is at my back, locking his hands under my stomach, performing the Heimlich maneuver. I feel the food dislodging, and after a few more pumps, it flies out of my mouth and straight onto Hunter’s shirt. Kaden caresses my back as I continue to heave.

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