Page 76 of Killing Me Softly

Chapter fifteen

Female of the Species

The way Kenny looked at Aaron right then snapped him back to the present, shattering the lingering fog of hypnosis. His expression was razor-sharp, eyes dark with something Aaron couldn’t place. But he felt it, low in his gut.

“Who is this?” Kenny asked, voice edged in cold steel.

Aaron glanced at Jack just as Jack stepped forward, his body tight with alertness. He’d noticed it too. That barely perceptible shift in Kenny’s demeanour. This wasn’t frustration over an ex’s incessant calls. This wasn’t about Taylor pushing his way back into Aaron’s life after what he’d done.

This was something else.

Someoneelse.

Aaron couldn’t hear the voice on the other end, but the way Kenny’s knuckles blanched white around the phone sent a chill creeping down his spine.

It wasn’t Taylor.

A sharp slither of unease coiled in Aaron’s stomach as Kenny snapped his gaze to his, tension barely leashed beneath thesurface. Then, without a word, Kenny stood, turned his back, shutting Aaron out.

“Where’s Taylor?” Kenny demanded into the phone.

Aaron’s stomach plummeted. He surged to his feet, closing the distance between them, pushing closer, needing to hear.

“No. You tellme.” Kenny’s voice was a lethal, controlled thing, his grip on the phone iron tight, and he was blocking Aaron out of it all again. Holding the weight alone. Slipping into that same protective instinct. The one that screamed at him tokeep Aaron away from this.

Aaron couldn’t have that.

“Kenny.” Aaron reached for him, gripping his arm, fingers pressing in, demanding attention.

Kenny shook his head, silent, resolute, keeping the phone locked to his ear. So Aaron slid his hand along Kenny’s arm, ghosting his fingers over the taut muscles beneath his jumper, then covered Kenny’s hand clutching the phone with his own. Kenny turned. Met his gaze. Aaron gave a curt nod. A silent plea.

Kenny’s jaw tightened, a battle between instinct and trust. Protection and surrender. And he held his grip on the phone for a second longer. Fighting with himself.

Then he closed his eyes and let go.

Aaron took the phone. And just like that, Kenny relinquished.

“Who is this?” Aaron spoke into the phone.

“Oh, happy birthday, baby brother. I was calling for you, but I think your boyfriend might be a little controlling, y’know. You should watch that. Those ones tend to turn violent.”

Aaron drew in a breath. That voice, slithering through the phone and threading itself through the cracks in his mind, was like a knife twisting in his chest.

Her.

The sister he had unknowingly forgotten. A ghost buried so deep inside him she’d never been more than a whisperof memory. Out of reach. But she had beenthere. Watching. Waiting.

And now, she wasn’t just a shadow in his past.

She washere.

Aaron’s body locked tight, the war inside him tilting between fear and something far more treacherous.Guilt.

He should have remembered her.

Should have saved her.

“Why do you have Taylor’s phone?” Aaron brought down the mobile from his ear to press speakerphone, allowing everyone to listen.

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