Page 63 of Hide From Me

“What’s going on, short stuff?”

I smiled the sweetest little smile I could at Cas.

“I want to go to the after a party that Maddie invited me to. Cas here thinks he owns me. But he’s a liar. Tell me, Xander,” I said and squirmed out of his hold to look at him.

“What is your importance to this whole Spectors thing?”

His laughter boomed around the warehouse.

“This Spectors thing? Cute. But based on that question, I’m guessing you already know. So, princess. Knowing what you do, do you think it’s a good idea to go to an afterparty now that Caspian here has publicly claimed you?”

I crossed my hands over my chest, certain this sweatshirt was riding higher on my thighs than Cas would be okay with.

“So? The leader of the Spectors claims some bullshit prize and suddenly his little minions won’t be seen in public with me?”

Xander’s eyes flicked over my shoulder.

“First, cupcake. I am not his minion. Second, no one would be surprised if we took you out. We are thicker than brothers, thicker than blood. Sharing?”

Xander was an asshole and leaned down to me like I was some tiny child.

“Do you want to be shared, short stack? Because the way Cas is looking at me, that’s not really an option.”

He backed up and put his hands up.

“No can do, Rys. Besides, these afterparties wouldn’t be appropriate for someone as innocent as you. Let him take you home.”

When Zeid came up next to Xander, I knew that I wasn’t getting any help from them, and it sounded like my ride from Maddie was already expired.

“You three are just as big of assholes as you were when I was a damn teen.”

And the way they were all so devilishly handsome when they were laughing at my expense just poured salt into the open wounds. But the worst was the devil at my back.

“Come on, blossom. Your carriage is about to turn into a pumpkin.”

TWENTY-FOUR

cas

I metup with X and Zeid after dropping off a pissed-off Rylee. The thought crossed my mind to drug her again, but that hadn’t gone over well last time. I had to trust she’d just stay put like I asked. Or pray she stayed passed out from my parting gift.

“Ready?”

Zeid handed me a gun and brass knuckles. I already had a knife in my boots.

“Yeah. The text said to meet at the old judge’s house. Anyone know of any other missing judges yet? I’d hate to be surprised by another incriminating dead body,” X said.

I shook my head as I pulled away from the curb in the Escalade. I wanted to ride until my fucking demons blew away in the cold of the wind on my bike, but we needed to do this.

Things had gone quiet over the last few days, and we hadn’t sorted out the cryptic message yet. The fight had brought out a few leads and, low and behold, this random text. Whoever this might have been was watching us enough to know about the fight.

I wanted to be pissed because that also meant he’d seen me kiss Rylee after winning the last round of the night. Fuck, morelike morning. It was pitch-black outside. Best time to hide and hold meetings no one should know about.

“All judges, law officials, and government reps accounted for as of a couple of hours ago. Funds were wired to most, but I had confirmation from eyes around town too.”

Something didn’t sit right with this.

“Why kill the judge and then go quiet? No more clues or bodies piling up.”

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