Page 130 of Craving Consequences

I twist my head back to peer up at my best friend, but he’s staring down at his feet. Hands on his hips, expression a dark thundercloud.

“We can’t,” Everly whispers to me. “After the party, everyone will know I am no longer with Bron and I can’t be friends with Lauren after what she did. Jefferson may be behind on a lot of things, but the people aren’t stupid. Eventually, someone will put the two together.”

“So what?” I blurt, pushing to my feet. “You’ve been part of our family for years. Why would that change?”

“Because no one will understand why my and Lachlan’s cars are in your driveway overnight, or why I’m randomly at your houses when I’m not there to see Lauren or Bron. They won’t understand why I’m still invited to dinners or trips without Lauren or Bron. They will put it together and it will blow up in all our faces.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, fighting to stave back the thrum building behind my eyes.

“This is ridiculous.” I drop my hands. “So, what if they know? What can they possibly do?”

I am not a fan of the glances the other two share, or the way Lachlan isn’t saying anything.

“A lot,” Everly murmurs with just a hint of fear that only intensifies my irritation. “I work at the mayor’s office, remember? I have seen the complete dismantling of an entire family overnight. Best case scenario, you and I will only get fired from our positions and Lachlan will lose his construction business. We’ll lose all credibility. We’ll be the talk of the town, humiliated, belittled and shamed.”

“That’s the best case?” I mutter.

She nods slowly. “Worst case...?” Her and Lachlan steal peeks again. “Freeze our bank accounts. Tow our cars ... burn our houses down.”

I am not stupid.

I was in the army, for God sakes, I know fear tactics when I see them. I have never been blind or oblivious to therumorsthat circulate Jefferson. The hushed talk of people that had tragic incidents that forced them out of town. Did some of them sound weird? Yes. Am I the right person to pass judgment when I don’t have all the facts? No. Accidentshappen. If the authorities have looked into the case and ruled on it, what more can I say about it?

“I told you before you moved here that you need to be very careful to follow the rules,” Lachlan murmurs, facing me. “Jefferson doesn’t like rebellion and disorder.”

“Who?” I blurt, staring from one to the other, thoughts a cyclone of disbelief and rage. “Who is doing this? Why are they allowed? And you never once told me my house may get burned to the ground.” I round on my friend. “What the fuck kind of town did I move to? I get order and following the rules and a few nosy neighbors, but in all the years I have known you, you never once said I was moving into a cult.”

“Jefferson isn’t a cult,” Everly says a little too quickly.

“Baby, threatening to harm you and your family for not following the most insane rules is a cult,” I snap ... too harshly, but this is beyond my comprehension. “When you have people in charge who hold an entire town hostage solely through fear, manipulation and terror, that’s a cult.” I face my friend who is not looking at me. “Talk, Shaw. What the fuck is happening here?”

All this time, all this goddamn time, I thought their worries were based on a few busybodies spreading rumors. Gossip that would eventually die once something else popped up. I know enough about small town mindsets to figure they’d eventually let it go.

Under no circumstance, not once, had my guess been that we would be assaulted. Possibly killed. That’s a different ball game. That’s a level of insanity a normal person would laugh at, but as a man who spent too many years watching a literal war unfold ... it would be a cold day in hell before I let anyone touch Everly. Or Lachlan.

Lachlan sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “Let’s get dressed. We can talk over breakfast.”

I allow it.

I can feel my temper brewing dangerously close to the rim. I need to calm down. I also need a shower. We all do.

I help Everly out of the chair and keep a firm grip on her hand as we return to the main part of the house. I’m trying really hard not to squeeze too hard. To not pinch her fingers when all I can feel is her terror of a town she grew up in. People she grew up with. I want to deny the audacity because I haven’t seen any such crimes taking place, but Everly and Lach wouldn’t lie to me; if they say the town is dangerous. I believe them. The only question remaining is what am I prepared to do about it?

Halfway up the stairs, the power zaps on with a low whir. Lights flicker back to life and a familiar hum echoes from the kitchen and the fridge. The three of us exchange relieved glances before resuming our direction.

In the bathroom, none of us question the showering process. There’s no conversation when we strip together. WhenLachlan turns the nozzle on and helps Everly inside. No one says a word when we join her. The task is so normal. So natural. Even the cramped space doesn’t hamper the methodical process of scrubbing down and rinsing off. It all proceeds in a strangely organized manner of me cradling Everly while Lachlan washes. Then him holding her while I rinse off. We both help her to make sure she doesn’t miss any hard-to-reach places.

Team work.

When she cums on my fingers, her moan a soft plea against Lachlan’s mouth ... Well, thorough is thorough.

An hour later, we’re in the kitchen. Everly in my lap while Lachlan cracks eggs into a bowl.

“All right, someone talk,” I command once we’re all comfortable.

Everly has her head on my shoulder, her hair damp and filling my nose with the sweet scent of her strawberry shampoo. She’s clad in a simple, pale blue dress that has bunched high around her thighs. Her bare feet swing slightly while she traces one fingertip along the roadmap of tattoos across my chest.

“There isn’t much to say,” she says, which makes me both want to laugh and yell, but her voice is so small, so ... uncertain. “Anything I say, you’ll think Jefferson is this evil place full of monsters who will hunt people down and kill them, but it’s not.”