Page 158 of The Sidekick

The frustration of having every move I made back then questioned one more time brings me to a boiling point. I ignore them as I call up the footage saved on the cloud and set it to play from the end of their Muay Thai class on. Then I sit back to watch with a huff.

“It isn’t your fault some crazy asshole picked Andi as a target,” Satan says softly.

“I know that,” I glare at the monitor and wipe a tear from my cheek angrily.

“What you did for her was beyond friendship, babygirl. You took care of your own as best you could. You did a great job.”

My lower lip trembles as I fight not to cry, refusing to acknowledge his words. I bite back the demand that he stop calling me that because I doubt he’ll listen. I also don’t want to admit that hearing him say it makes me want to lean into him and absorb some of his evil strength.

I skip through the blank spots and focus on when they arrive home. I didn’t realize that Ira and Brody were there too. Was Shade living here before he moved in with me? There aren’t enough bedrooms for that. Was he sleeping on the floor?

The four guys trudge in. They each go their separate ways without acknowledging each other.

“You better feel bad, you jerks,” I mutter and note who goes where. “I hope you feel bad forever.”

Ira goes into a bedroom. Brody follows him after he grabs a beer from the fridge. Felix steps outside and paces restlessly. Blaze sits at the kitchen table and glares a lot.

I pull up the bedroom camera as a main focus, leaving the rest to shrink down. Ira is pacing as Brody tries to calmly explain something. I pause it and go into the settings. The option for sound is turned off. I huff in frustration. This is what I get for not keeping up with the cameras.

“Anybody good at lip reading?” I ask hopefully. They both look at me like I’m crazy.

“Dang it.” South would be able to. I should send this to her and see what she thinks.

I unpause and watch as the conversation becomes a heated argument. At one point, they’re loud enough that Blaze comes to the stairs and yells something that makes them stop. They leave the bedroom, pass Blaze, and get into a vehicle, driving away.

The twins stay separated for hours. I start skipping ahead as it becomes apparent they aren’t moving anytime soon. Another car pulls up and a woman gets out, dressed for a night on the town or a fancy dinner. I’m assuming this is the mysterious Melissa.

Some women can pull off the short skirt and heels thing so beautifully. Sadly, I am not one of them. The envy lives on.

“She looks amazing in that dress,” I sigh wistfully. “For a jerk.”

“Her ass is flat,” Max shrugs. Satan makes a dismissive sound.

Blaze gets up, opens the door, and she walks in. It seems to surprise him as he watches. They talk casually for a minute before Felix comes in, looking confused. It’s weird to see his face so expressive.

They continue their conversation, her being flirty and Blaze reciprocating while Felix watches. She turns to the stairs with a come-hither look and I roll my eyes. “The subtle art of seducing a scumbag.”

Max chokes on a laugh.

She goes up the steps and into the bedroom Ira and Brody argued in.

“What the heck! Who sleeps where here? I’m so confused,” I flap my hands around in frustration. These guys are a giant puzzle.

She goes through drawers, glancing at the cracked doorway occasionally.

“Is she hoping to score money or what?” Max leans forward to see. I don’t expand it because I’m mainly focused on the argument going on between Felix and Blaze at the bottom of the stairs.

“You know what? Let her, they deserve it.”

“Tera,” Satan gives my name the same warning tone he gives Max. I straighten in my seat with my chin lifted stubbornly. I’m not changing my mind.

When she’s done investigating everything, she quickly undresses. Completely. She was wearing a bra but no panties. She puts the heels back on and struts over to the bed.

“Wow,” my eyes widen in surprise. She’s seriously brave.

“What is it with chicks stripping down and waiting for people in their beds?” Max glances at Satan in bewilderment. “Is it some kind of female instinct?”

“I have never had the urge to strip down in some guy’s place and roll around on his sheets. But I’m weird, so maybe it’s a thing? Does she wear her shoes in bed? That seems like a recipe for sand in the sheets.” I shudder at the thought.

---