Page 169 of They Are Mine

His own room, his books stacked neatly in the office, his coffee cup left in the sink in the morning. Little things that say, he’s ours.

He joins Orion and me to watch Noah play open mic nights. He sits in the café where Noah works, reading some deep, pretentious novel while sipping coffee Noah made just right.

He may be the newest, our baby, but he’s slipped so perfectly into the daddy role.

And I think, we all needed that.

Everything is so fucking good.

I actually start to believe nothing can ruin it.

And then?

Fucking Tammy.

Even dead, she’s an absolute pain in my ass.

“They questioned me for fucking hours,” Orion growls, pacing the living room like a caged animal. His jaw is tight, his hands flexing. “I was working every night. Solid fucking alibi. And yet.” He scoffs, shaking his head. “I’m the ex. And that crazy bitch had texts of her begging me to take her back.”

I sit back against the couch, pressing my fingers to my temple. Jesus Christ, Tammy.

“They pulled you in over some texts?” I ask.

Orion drags a hand through his hair, looks ready to rip something apart. “No. Someone broke into her house and wrote some shit on her mirror. So now, guess what?” He stops pacing long enough to lock eyes with me. “They want to talk to you.”

I tilt my head. “Oh.”

That’s not ideal.

“They asked around work when they were checking my alibi,” Orion continues, rolling his shoulders like he’s shaking off a fight. “Someone said they saw you and me arguing with her.”

I narrow my eyes. Nosy fuckers.

Orion exhales and steps into my space, pulling me against him, solid and protective. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs.

I wrap my arms around his waist, resting my cheek against his chest. I hate that this is stressing him out.

But also? If that bitch weren’t already dead, I’d kill her myself.

“How did she die?” I ask, voice soft.

Orion sighs. “No clue. They didn’t say. Just that she’d been dead a while. Neighbors finally called it in because of the smell.”

The smell.

Rotting in that little shithole of hers.

I hum, running my hands over his back. “So they’re guessing time of death,” I say, thoughtful. “That’s interesting.”

Orion stiffens slightly. Just a flicker. A heartbeat of hesitation. He exhales, dragging his teeth along his bottom lip. “Yeah,” he mutters. “And if they don’t know for sure, how the fuck can anyone alibi the time of death?”

I nod. Exactly.

“Well, I’m always at work, the gym, or with you or Noah. So the whole time frame? I’m covered,” he says.

I lift my head and smile up at him. He’s so smart.

“So are you, sweetheart,” he says.

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