Page 69 of Lady Killer

“I don’t need you to babysit me,” I said, casting a disdainful look at him over my shoulder.

Alister snorted as Everest continued to pack my suitcase, humming to himself as he worked his way to the bathroom.

“And what happens if you’re not alone when they come, Luz? What happens to Autumn? We know there is at least one more sheep, likely working with the killer. Could you honestly take them both on and protect your friend if it came to it?”

His words pierced me, the blow to my pride a visceral pain in my chest.

I’d wanted to argue with him that I could take care of myself, that I was safe on my own. But as soon as he said Autumn’s name, he had won.

“Fine,” I said, no longer pushing against his hold. “I’ll stay with you, but only if you promise to keep Autumn safe. I want someone watching her.”

“Done,” Alister said without hesitation.

“And I won’t be cooped up. I still need to attend my classes.”

“Of course.”

“And I’ll be packing my own bags, thank you very much. Get that man out of my toiletries before I do.”

Alister chuckled, a low deep rumble that I could feel in my own chest.

“My pleasure, petite diablesse.”

The distinctive chanting of Daddy Yankee’s “Rompe” blasted over the sound system of the Range Rover.

Guess who chose the music?

“When the fuck did you start listening to this shit?” Alister complained from the driver's seat.

“A bop is a bop,” Everest statedwith a sniff.

He was seated next to me in the back, his arm wrapped tightly around my shoulders.

“You don’t speak Spanish.”

“And what better way to learn than throughmuuuusiiiccccc.” He threw his head back and sang as we drove the short distance to the twins’ place.

From the outside, the brick townhouse looked almost innocuous.

“Bring her in while I park the car in the garage.”

Alister and I had been circling around each other for months. Now there was nowhere left for either of us to run.

Everest let us in, and as we padded through the front hall, I was struck by how quiet it was.

“Where’s Nixon?” I asked, certain that if he were here, I would be able to sense his noxious energy somehow.

“He’s out at some party,” Everest replied with a wave of his hand. “Now, let’s show you to your room. I voted for you to stay with me, but everyone else vetoed the idea . . .”

I followed the still-talking blond up the narrow staircase that led to the upper levels of the townhouse.

“My room is on the second floor, Alister’s and Nixon’s are on the third, and the fourth floor is where your room is along with Nixie’s studio.”

“Studio?”

We had reached the top floor, and Everest came to a stop in front of one of the two doors on the landing. It was the same guest room Alister had taken me to that first day.

“Ugh, yes. Nixon also fancies himself a bit of an artist, but likea real one.” He scowled, and I wanted to ask what he meant by that, but before I could, he kicked the door open, slamming it into the wall with a bang.

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