Page 32 of Hide and Keep

“You okay?”

The confusion melts away from her features, irritation taking its place.

“Goddess, Crue, murder much?”

My arms drop to my sides, the adrenaline evaporating in an instant.

“I’ve never murdered anyone.”

“Says the serial killer to his next victim.”

“I haven’t.”

Her eyebrows lift. “Okaaay.”

“You’re the one running at a goddamn cliff. What the fuck was that about?”

Gazing out at the water, she says quietly, “I wanted to see if I’d fly.”

“What?”

When she doesn’t answer, I shake her and repeat myself.

A break in her reverie, she studies me but doesn’t follow suit. Not that she needs to. I heard her the first time. She considered jumping.

If I wasn’t here, would she have followed through? It seemed like she was about to even with me here.

Maybe she did forget I was here.

Or maybe she just didn’t care.

“What exactly does she need protecting from?”

“Herself.”

“Working for your dad is that bad?” I ask. Enough to kill herself? It’s a fucking motorcycle company. It’s not like she’s set to be the next mafia don.

“That bad?” She scoffs. “Do you have any idea what it feels like to have someone takeyourfuture away?”

Without waiting for a response, she jogs off. I don’t follow immediately after, staying a moment longer to watch the waves coming in.

“Yes,” I answer. Except Ever’s future consists of her running a multi-billion-dollar company. Mine was going to consist of…

It doesn’t matter because mine was taken away from me and now I’m stuck babysitting the unqualified, undeserving, bratty little shit who’d rather throw herself off a cliff than run a multi-billion-dollar company.

I turn and head in Ever’s direction.

“Right this way, Mr. Brantley.”

“It’s Crue.”

“Of course, sir.”

Following close behind Edwin, duffle bag bouncing against my hip as he leads me to the pool house out back, I shake my head at his deeply engrained manners. I wonder if I’ll be able to get him to break protocol before my three years are up. If I got him drunk, I probably could. Although that means I’d have to drink, too, so probably not. I can drink. I just choose not to. I haven’t chosen to since homecoming night, senior year.

Edwin stops on the fieldstone terrace and gestures for me to go up the outdoor staircase first. After filling out a shitload of paperwork, the valet offered to show me where I’ll be staying.

Inside, directly over the pool, is almost an exact replica of the main house, just on a much smaller scale. While the exteriors are light and more in line with most homes in this area, both interiors are far from traditional. Decorated withdark, masculine colors, different woods, copper accents, and live plants, it’s more Gothic in style and feel. If it weren’t for the paneled windows everywhere, it’d be too dark in here. Without any window coverings whatsoever, the natural light keeps it from leaning outright sinister.

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