Page 9 of Seven+Four

I add, “The species most helpful in forensic investigations are house flies, blow flies, and flesh flies.”

“I want to say wow, but I’m going to say eww.” Lori scratches his nose as he turns toward the table, wrapped in Gabe/Bez’s arms.

“Talking about investigations.” Hunter sets on the table a transparent plastic bag with a pair of blue panties and a letter inside. They were in a package sent to the lab with my name on it.

I cringe at the sight of them. The love letter is quite disturbing, since the person professes his undying love to me, talking about belonging together and fated mates—which I don’t really understand. It wasn’t handwritten, instead they used an old typewriter.

“The only fingerprints we found are from the postman and a couple of people working at the post office,” Rami states.

“They were all clean. The stamp has no trace of DNA,” Hunter adds. “The letter as well, and also the underwear.”

“No joy, then.” Lori looks my way. “ Are those panties yours?” He points at the lacy underwear inside the plastic bag.

Uri’s body tenses while his fingers tighten on my side. Words get stuck inside my throat, so I shake my head, wiggling slightly on my chair.

“That would’ve implied that this shithead broke into and entered Sari’s place to steal his underwear.” Raph lets out an incredulous sniff.

“Rami installed Serena as a security alarm in all our houses. It’s impossible for anybody to get past her undetected,” Ollie declares.

“Unless that someone is Uri’s biological brother. He did get inside his property. Could the stalker be him?” Gabe’s monotone voice doesn’t take away the seriousness of his question.

“It’s not him,” Uri hisses. His fist on the table flexes, turning his knuckles white. Is he defending him? He looks angry.

“Whoever it is, we will stop him. You can never be alone, Sari. Someone always has to be with you.” I nod as Rami’s arm wraps protectively around my shoulder for a moment until Uri unceremoniously shoves it off, pulling me tightly against him. A shiver rolls down my spine, and he tucks me even more closely to him, probably misreading the trembling of my body. I’m a little creeped out by this stalker who seems obsessed with me, but it’s Uri’s nearness that caused my body’s uncontrollable reaction.

“How do you know it wasn’t your biological brother sending me the package?” I ask Uri.

I slowly turn in his hold, and he allows it, his large palm sliding against my waist as I face him. He’s so good-looking. Those full, masculine lips so close. A soft rumbling comes from him; I feel the vibration against my chest more than hear it. Without giving it thought and feeling strangely bolder than usual, I lift my handand place it on his heart over his shirt as I tilt my head up to look into his eyes. The depth of those light ginger pools… My breath gets stuck inside my lungs once again.

“I know it wasn’t him,” he whispers without clarifying further. Because he doesn’t feel the need to. The sting makes me lower my gaze, reminding me once again why I created some distance between us.

There is no missing the slight vibration under my fingers as he growls once again.

“I’ll give this prick free neutering as soon as he shows his face. I’ll run his balls over with my car. It might not kill him, but I bet it would hurt like hell. Especially since I’m willing to throw it in reverse and do it a second time.” Lori pauses. “Or ten more times. Whatever it takes.”

“Nobody wants to see you behind a wheel ever again,” Gabe states, making his fiancée push his head all the way back to glare up at him. Gabe answers with a peck on his nose. I’m still getting accustomed to seeing this affectionate side of him.

The waitress comes, bringing plates filled with pie. After a couple of teasing comments aimed at the newcomers, she leaves, and Gabe and Lori finally sit at the table between Uri and Michael, who is still sitting on Raph’s lap.

Ollie pushes a slice of chestnut pie toward me. I give him a forced smile. I’m about to slide the plate my way when Uri grabs it.

“Hey! It was for Sari,” Ollie complains.

Uri shrugs, putting a fork of chestnut pie in his mouth, as Rami says, “Sari doesn’t like chestnuts, right?”

I nod hesitantly.

“Oh!” Ollie’s eyes widen as he understands Uri’s action.

“He likes them, but they give him indigestion,” Uri clarifies, setting what looks like a slice of apple pie in front of me. He knows me so well, knows I can’t say no when offered something, so he took the choice off my hands. I would’ve ended up in bed with a stomachache if he hadn’t intervened.

My heart speeds up at his attentiveness. It usually beats faster when he’s near me, and then gradually calms down when he leaves. It feels like it’s constantly waiting for him, waiting to swell, to overflow with desperate, hopeless want. A seemingly never-ending agony.To which I decided to put an end to,I remind myself.

A self-derisive snort leaves my lips as I put a hand over my mouth to avoid spraying apple pie all over the table. I grab my glass and down it to wash away the crumbles.

“How many did you drink?” Uri asks me.

“Three or four.” When I see his gaze darkening, like he would to scold a kid, I clip, “It’s juice!”

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