Page 87 of Lady Killer

I rolled my eyes but allowed myself to keep moving with him.

“I’m not helping you chop up whomever you have tied up in the basement.”

Everest chuckled. “You’re a liar, Starbright. If I had the right victim tied up in the basement, you would be the first in line for your pound of flesh. In fact, that’s giving me some superb ideas for a future date—‍”

“Ever . . .”

“But that’s not tonight’s plan. Tonight, we’re going to play another game.”

Chapter twenty-five

Luz

We stood in front of an expansive set of French doors that led out the back of the manor.

Outdoor lights illuminated a palatial courtyard surrounded by a low stone wall and neatly trimmed hedges, with a set of stairs leading down to the gardens. Beyond the manicured grounds, I could make out the edge of a forest, like the one that surrounded Hollow Oak.

“Four thousand acres. Not a soul around for miles,” Everest said as nerves crept up through me.

“Yes, very impressive,” I muttered.

“She’s going to freeze.” Alister’s rough voice caused me to jump.

He was behind us, holding some of my running gear and a pair of shoes I was certain I hadn’t packed, along with a plastic bag, the contents of which I couldn’t make out.

“What’s going on?” I wasn’t hiding the irritation I felt.

“I told you, darling, it’s game night. Valentine’s Day edition.”

“I’m not interested in playing more games.”

“Fine.” Everest moved to collect my belongings from Alister and handed them over to me. “Then call it a trust exercise.”

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. “A trust exercise?”

“You’re sore with Ali and me because you didn’t know about Lucian,” Ever said plainly.

“I’m—‍”

He bopped me on the nose again. “No lying. Your feelings were hurt, and according to the internet, that is valid, even though it wasn’t Ali’s place to tell you and I thought you knew,” he said, taking one of my shoes out of my hand and loosening the laces before placing it on the ground and repeating the process with the other.

Alister said nothing.

“So, in order to heal the relationship, we need to rebuild the trust.”

“And we are going to do that by going for a run?” I asked, as confused as ever.

“Go get changed. I will tell you the rest, darling,” Everest said, giving me a peck on the cheek while pushing me into the nearest powder room.

I considered telling them both to go to hell, but I was unable to deny my curiosity regarding what they had planned, so I found myself changing into my running clothes before returning to slip on my shoes.

“Now, as I was saying, the Blackwell Estate is made up of over four thousand acres, the vast majority of which is woods.” Ever reached around to pull my jacket over my shoulders, and I slipped my arms into the sleeves.

“We’re going outside?”

Alister merely watched, expressionless, as Everest’s nimble fingers zipped me up.

“We are. The whole estate will be considered in-bounds,” he said, snapping the top button in place, and darting forward to place a quick peck on the tip of my nose.

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