Page 28 of Protect Thy Enemy

“Honey, you’re late,” Luna calls back from the living room.

I peer over my shoulder to find her sprawled across the couch, a blanket draped over her legs and a book in her lap. She doesn’t look up, but I can feel her attention on me anyway.

“Wasn’t aware I had a curfew,” I say, grabbing a glass and opening the fridge to grab the water filter pitcher.

“You don’t,” she replies casually, turning a page. “But you’re usually home by now. You know I worry. What happened? And I assume you replaced your battery, right?”

She does worry. Outside of obvious reasons, she has the wildest imagination. It doesn’t take Luna much to flip momma bear mode on and assume I’m dead somewhere on the side of the road. And because of that, I normally send a text when I’m staying late or heading to the gym after work.

But that interaction with Grant threw me for a loop and slightly disoriented me, so I forgot to send myHey, I’m not deadtext.

“Yes, Betsy is back in action. And it’s nothing,” I say, leaning against the counter. The word felt hollow even to me, but I wasn’t about to unload the chaos of my day. Not here. Not now.

Luna finally looks up, her bright eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re a terrible liar, you know.”

“And you’re awfully nosy.”

She smirks, setting her book aside. “It’s part of my charm.” She stands, stretching like a newborn before making her way to the kitchen. “Seriously, though. You’ve been on edge all week. What’s going on?”

“Work,” I respond, taking a sip of water.

“That’s vague, even for you,” she says as she grabs a bag of chips from the pantry. She shoots me a look after a second of silence as she leans against the counter beside me and opens the bag.

“I really don’t want to talk about it,” I say, my tone firmer this time. Not because I can’t confide in Luna but because I don’t even know what to say.

It feels like my infuriatingly hot boss has been picking on me?

Everyone thinks I will fail?

I’m not entirely sure I won’t fail?

I don’t want to worry her more than I already do. For all intents and purposes, Luna is my best friend and sister and would no doubt be there for me, but this just feels like something I have to face alone.

“Fair enough.” She shrugs before popping a chip into her mouth. “But you look like you’re two seconds away from punching a wall. Maybe consider taking up yoga or something.”

It’s my turn to shoot her a look, and she laughs. The sound is light and easy in a way that feels like a balm against the day’s heaviness.

“You know you don’t have to tell me. Not until you’re ready.” Her voice cuts the silence, her tone softer but serious. “But whatever it is, don’t let it eat you alive.”

I nod, grateful for the way Luna respects when to give me space. She gives me one last look before retreating to the couch, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I stare into my glass, Grant’s words echoing in my head: “Prove it.”

The worst part wasn’t that he’d said it. It was that I wasn’t sure who I was trying to prove it to—him or myself.

Chapter Ten

Holden

As I replay the detail, my hands grip the steering wheel so tight, my knuckles are white.

The explosive was small and homemade but deadly enough to make my stomach twist. We caught it in time, but just barely. It was too fucking close.

I glance in the rearview mirror. Williams stares out the window, her posture rigid, her hands clasped in her lap. She hasn’t said a word since we left the school. Good. She shouldn’t be talking. She should be thinking and processing what went wrong. Whatshedid wrong.

Park sits beside her, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. Tate’s beside me, scrolling through his phone, but even his usual nonchalance feels forced.

“You’re thinking too loud,” Tate mutters, breaking the silence.

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