Page 68 of Lady Killer

“If you wanted to get me in your bedroom that badly, darling, all you had to do was ask,” Everest purred, pulling my body flush with his and snapping his perfect white teeth at me.

They must have just come in because the cold was still pouring off of him. Dressed in a thin knitwear set made up of shorts and a loose sweater, I shivered as I rubbed my arms.

Alister cleared his throat.

Shaking off Everest’s hold, I pushed my way out from between them, very aware of the two large men in my bedroom.

My desk was covered in notes and books, I desperately needed to do laundry, my bed was a mess . . .

“What are you doing here?” I said, going on the offense as I moved to hide my overflowing laundry basket in the closet.

“It’s Valentine’s Day,” Everest said, as if that explained everything.

“Tuesday is Valentine’s Day,” I corrected him, running a hand through my hair, wondering if it was completely wild.

“Exactly, so we’ll be needing to keep you company until it’s passed.”

“Pardon me?”

“You’ll be staying with us for the next week,” Alister said as though it was a given.

Slowly, I turned away from the closet to face them.

“Lo siento, I thought I just heard you saying you think I’m staying with you.”

Alister grunted. Everest waggled his eyebrows.

“Pack for pillow fights, Starbright.”

“Get out.” I pointed to the door.

“Playing dumb doesn’t become you, diablesse.”

“Nor you,Ali, so I’m certain you understand that I’m not going anywhere with either of you. The last time I did, you stuck me in a hotel for two weeks and I have—‍”

Everest clapped his hands. “We’re going to have a sleepover at Ali and Nix’s.”

“Absolutely not.” I marched over to the door to show them out.

Alister’s arm banded around my waist, holding me in place. “The last time we left you alone like this, you wound up chased by freaks in sheep masks, not to mention what happened in the woods a couple weeks ago.”

“Plus”—Everest’s voice came from my closet, and I spun around, still in Ali’s grasp, horrified to find the cheery psychopath digging through my closet—“there’s the whole heart element to their work. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for them to make a statement.”

I had come to a similar conclusion myself, not that I planned to concede the point.

“Trust me, darling, most serial killers are totally drama queens for shit like this. Speaking of which, I’m still dying to know if Aaron was your first. He wasn’t, was he? You never did tell us.”

My mouth went dry. I could practically feel Ali’s eyes burning a hole in the back of my head as I left Everest’s question hanging.

Distracted, I didn’t realize that he had found a piece of luggage until clothes started flying through the air and into it.

“No,” I choked out.

“No, Aaron wasn’t your first kill?” Alister said, keeping me close.

“No, I’m not coming with you.”

“What about Cassandra and the other missing girls?” he pressed. “What happens when the Virgin Sacrifice Killer catches you, the object of their obsession? What do you think will happen to those girls if the killer comes for you on Valentine’s Day and succeeds?”

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