Page 66 of Demitri

“There’s something you aren’t telling us,” Grace observes.

“Possible. But we can get into that later. Tonight, all of us are having a sleepover at my place.”

“Where do you live?” Nola asks.

“Over behind the community center in Briar Mountain.”

Sofie starts shaking her head while Grace goes pale. Nola freezes.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I tell her.

“Bullshit. It’s a fantastic idea.”

“I can’t do that.” Grace, quiet and calm, but with an edge of panic in her voice, looks at Aunt Linda.

“You can. You will,” she assures her.

“We don’t…” Sofie fades, not even finishing her thought.

I turn to Aunt Linda. “None of us are particularly comfortable in Briar Mountain, Aunt Linda. I’m the only one who regularly goes over there, and I only stay as long as I have to.”

“I understand that, dear, I really do. But it’s been a long time since that man was allowed to hurt you, and he’s dead now. He can’t ever do it again.”

“His father—” Grace starts.

“Is also dead and gone. His mother is in therapy in a different state, living with her sister, and his cousin is never going to bea problem for anyone ever again. The whole fucking clan was removed from the face of our town.”

“What about the other cops? The ones who helped them?” Nola asks.

“Cleaned out, kicked out, and not given glowing recommendations. None of them will ever be in a position to aid a monster again.”

“Nate will also be close to you all night. I’ll be with him,” Aiden speaks up.

“Both of you need to be there? You can’t go home and get some sleep?” I ask, looking at him for the first time since he told me Demitri wasn’t coming home for the night.

“I’ll be there.” There’s no room for argument in his tone or words. Just the calm assurance that he’ll be watching over us, no matter where we are.

“Seems like a done deal.” Aunt Linda pats the bar. “Let Brodie close up tonight, Mia. I think he can handle it.”

“You seem to know a lot about Brodie.”

“I’ll fill you in later. At my place.”

Oh, that woman knows exactly what she’s doing. Dangling information like that over our heads, knowing we can’t resist.

“I have to be back for work in the morning,” Grace tries one more time.

“James is going to be late tomorrow, Grace, dear. He’s helping out tonight.”

That causes all of us to pause and stare at the older lady. She really does know everything, doesn’t she?

“We don’t have any clothes with us,” Sofie tries.

“Bullshit. I happen to know that each of you carries an emergency bag in the trunks of your vehicles. Inside that bag are enough clothes for a week and all of your toiletries. Next excuse?”

“I have to feed my neighbor’s dog?” Nola doesn’t even look like she believes her own lie.

“Nope. Neighbor doesn’t have any pets other than a goldfish. She also isn’t out of town this week, she just got back from a business trip three days ago, and her company won’t send her out for another three weeks.”

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