Page 44 of Whispers of the Lake

Am I dumb for considering it? I feel like I should reject him, but we have such good sex. And when he’s in a good mood, he really is kind. I might meet him for lunch just to hear him grovel. Who knows what’ll happen after that.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Idug around in one of the kitchen drawers until I came across a flashlight, then hurried out the front door. I clicked it on, swinging the beaming light forward, and went in the direction Rory had come from when she first arrived.

The path within the woods was easy to find. I walked rapidly while trying to keep my breaths and heart steady. The water of the lake trickled, and damp leaves swished. Heavy branches groaned and twigs snapped beneath my feet, but I didn’t slow until I spotted the lights on the Reeds’ house.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” a deep voice growled.

I clicked the flashlight off and rushed behind a tree. Peering around the corner, I saw Rory standing next to a set of stairs on the side of the house. The stairs led to a side door. Probably the one she’d snuck out of to get to me. She stood next to an unlit firepit, quivering as Damian glowered at her.

“We told you not to go over there, Ro! You aren’t supposed to be talking to her!”

“I—I didn’t tell her anything!” Rory exclaimed.

“It’s not about that! Damn it, Rory! You never fucking think!” Damian whirled around and stormed off.

Rory sniffled, then she turned her head and let out a startled gasp. For some reason, my heart dropped when I spotted a silhouette standing in front of the side door.

“Alex,” Rory breathed.

“Where is the bag, Rory?” His voice sent a chill down my spine. It was eerily calm.

“W-what bag?” Rory asked.

“You know whatfuckingbag.”

She flinched as he stormed down the stairs. He gripped her upper arm and wrangled her close to him. “The bag the girl had,” he snarled.

Rory was still shaking. Whimpering. “I—I don’t know where it is.”

“It was in my room and now it’s gone, so where is it?”

Rory didn’t respond and her silence clearly pissed him off. He gripped her arm harder, and she cried out as he started dragging her toward the door.

“Let her go, Alex!” Damian appeared again, chest puffed up as he glared at Alex’s back. “Don’t hold her like that.”

“She’s fucking lying, Damian!” Alex shot back. “Who else was in the house to take that girl’s bag? I’m sure it wasn’t you, was it?” He released Rory and practically shoved her away so he could walk in Damian’s direction.

It was strange to see a person as large as Damian shrink at Alex’s approach. Damian had way more muscle and could’ve taken him down easily.

“She’s recovering,” Damian said in an even voice. “Her body is still weak. You can’t just grab her like that.”

“She’s not too weak to talk to the fucking tenants,” Alex spat.

Damian looked from Alex to Rory, but Rory was scurrying into the house. Alex stepped closer, getting in Damian’s face. His chin dropped to avoid his brother’s eyes.

“You can defend her all you want,” Alex said. “But I’m not going to prison because both of you want to act like fucking idiots.”

To prison? What would cause him to go to prison? I shifted, trying to hear what more he was saying, and a branch snapped. Both men looked in my direction.

Shit.

I hid behind the tree again, lowering to a squat. They couldn’t see me here. It was too dark. I peeked around the edge of the tree, then cupped my mouth to refrain from gasping. Someone stood at the edge of the woods, peering into the darkness. They were only a few steps away. I wasn’t sure which brother it was, but I could hear him breathing. My heart drummed an uneven beat. If he walked any closer, he’d catch me.

“Just get in the fucking house,” Alex snapped. His voice was distant.

I took another peek, and the men were rounding the house to reach the front porch. Once they were out of sight, I made a dash for it back to the rental. Without the flashlight on, it was tricky sticking to the trail. I got caught in a few branches and nearly tripped over roots but, eventually, I found the cottage lights.

---