Page 83 of Freckles

He tips my chin, reading my expression while the glinting reflection from the streetlamps shine in his eyes.

“Can I hear the loud army of little rodents scurrying around the walls of your house?” His voice is slightly incredulous, cautiously teasing. “Yes, I can hear them. I do have ears.” He rests his cheek against the crown of my head. “If this is a hearing test, we both get gold stars.”

I glance back at the house, and flinch when the lights again flicker.

“The little scamps are probably chewing through your wires.” He bumps his nose against my cheek, a cold counterpoint to the pulsing heat of my receding panic. “Are you okay to sit in the car for a minute? I’ll grab your clothes and turn off the power. If they’ve nibbled into the wires, I don’t want the place to burn.”

The thought of the freezer being shut off should terrify me.

Instead, I’m calmed by the realisation I can’t keep my secret hidden for much longer.

Along with that comes the understanding I do trust Kincaid. Unlikely as it seemed to me a few short weeks ago.

“It’s okay.” I untangle my arms and legs to stand beside him in the street, completely naked until he covers me with his warm jacket. I pull the collar high, snuggling into the softness, inhaling his scent. “I just thought…”

A new rush of tears overwhelms me, choking off my words as he pulls me against his chest, rocking me, one hand rubbing soothing circles on my back.

It’s surreal enough that I laugh.

“What is it?”

“I can’t believe I thought you were a monster.”

He stops moving except for the hand on my back, still offering comfort. “I am a monster,” he says softly. “But I’myourmonster.”

Another deluge of tears breaks free, but he doesn’t appear worried, just pulls me against his chest again, warming me. “Do you want to come back to mine?”

“And make it easier for your uncle to kill me?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve explained how important you are to me… and he’s out of the country right now.”

His soft chuckle vibrates against my cheek, and I hug him tighter. Forgetting why I ever thought he’s the enemy. “Thank you.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

FRANCESCA

Tana manor remindsme of Kincaid. Beautifully menacing on the outside, but through the doors, I’m enveloped in a cocoon of warmth and safety.

We pass a man with jet-black hair on the staircase, going down on a beautiful girl, about university age. Neither acknowledge us beyond a sulky nod when we creep by, anxious not to stand on any splayed limbs.

His pale blue eyes look familiar but it’s not until we’re through into the main living area that I make the connection. He has a different hairstyle than he did in the pub, but I’m certain he’s the broken bottle arse grabber from the night of Kincaid surprise visit.

Which explains how Kincaid and Jared knew to turn up that night, and… I come to an abrupt stop. “Did you get your friend to steal my phone?”

Kincaid shrugs. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you’re tracking me, aren’t you? That’s how you knew about the pawn shop.”

“I prefer the term stalking.” He reaches back to grab my hand, tugging me forward. “And don’t play the wide-eyed innocent. You the girl who pawned both of my gifts.”

We enter the kitchen and find another boy. White hair. Dark eyes. A sunny grin on his face.

“It’s nothing special,” he says in a mocking voice as Kincaid grabs a couple of waters from the fridge. The tease goes over my head but based on Kincaid’s growl, he knows exactly what it means.

I haven’t seen Ezra but know he must be around, and I have absolutely no desire to meet him or his infamous father.

When Kincaid leads me upstairs to his room, I happily follow.

---