Page 60 of Hollow

Heat rushes to my face. “I didn’t plan for anything to happen.”

“It rarely is planned with him.” His expression softens slightly. “I’m not judging you, Briar. It’s complicated between all of us now.”

“Because of Liam.”

“Not just because of Liam.”

His tone makes me look at him more closely. There’s no jealousy in his eyes—or at least, not just jealousy. There’s understanding, too.

“What is this?” I ask, barely audible even to myself. “Between all of us?”

Damiano stares at me for a long moment, something shifting behind his eyes.

“I know how it is with him,” he says quietly. “I’ve been there.”

Heat crawls up my neck as his words hit too close to home. He sees it in my face, and his laugh is low and bitter.

“Flint and I have been destroying each other for years.” His fingers find my jaw, tilting my face up to his. The touch is deliberate, claiming. “Now you’re caught in the middle.”

“I’m not caught anywhere,” I say, but even I don’t believe it.

“No?” He brushes his thumb along my bottom lip, and I think of Flint. “Whatever this is between us. It’s not going to end well. For any of us.”

I should pull away, but I don’t.

“You don’t know what I want,” I whisper.

“Maybe not,” he says, dropping his hand, “but I know what I see.”

He shifts back to his side of the Jeep. I’m starting to hate the way he stares at me when I can tell he’s reading me. It’s like he can see every page of my sordid diary meant for my eyes only.

“But one thing is for sure. Viktor’s not going to stop looking for his brother. Both Flint and I know this. The more attention you draw to yourself, the harder this gets for all of us.”

He’s right, but admitting it feels like giving up some essential part of myself—the last bit of control I have in this spiraling situation.

“I’ll be more careful,” I say, reaching for the door handle.

“That’s all I’m asking.” He softens slightly. “The three of us are in this together now, whether we like it or not.”

I step out of the vehicle, needing distance from the intensity building between us. “Goodnight, Damiano.”

“Goodnight, Briar.”

I slip inside through the back door, the warmth of the empty house immediately enveloping me. The kitchen is dark except for a single light left on over the stove. I lean against the counter, finally letting out the breath I feel like I’ve been holding all night.

My hands are still shaking. From the cold? From what happened with Flint at The Vault? Or from whatever just happened with Damiano in the Jeep? I’m not sure I can separate it all anymore. Every action, every touch, every word between us feelsloaded with something I’m not equipped to handle. Especially not now, with Liam’s body still fresh in the ground and Viktor hunting for answers.

God, what am I doing? Two men in fewer than twenty-four hours. Me, who hasn’t been with anyone since getting super sick years ago. It’s like I’ve lost all sense, all caution. Like killing someone flipped some switch inside me that’s now seeking out more danger, more intensity.

I need to get my head straight. Need to wash off this night.

In my room, I strip off my clothes and step into a hot shower, letting the water sluice away the night’s events. But it can’t rid me of the memories—Flint’s hands on me, Damiano’s knowing eyes, the growing web between the three of us.

Chapter 19

Briar

Meet me at the body.

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