Page 124 of The Road Less Traveled By

“Exactly,” Liv agrees, her face shining with delight that I’m finally speaking up for myself and my safety.

“I won’t leave my goddamn house for months if that’s what it takes for Ralph to finally come out of hiding. I trust you guys to keep me safe, and you have, but I feel safest in this house. If he wants to come for me, he’ll come to our fucking turf.”

“You’re saying you’ll have the advantage if he comes back?” Nico questions, and I nod.

“It’s my house. He might’ve cased the last one, but he doesn't know about all the panic buttons or all the other security measures you two psychos installed.”

“She’s right, Vincey.” Nico jabs him in the arm, only for Vince to glare back at him.

“And Bree,” Teags says as she gets off of the floor. “Rule number fucking eight.”

I cock my head at her, confused as to why she’s bringing this up now. “What about it?”

“If you need help from any of us, ask. Stop running when all we want to do is help you.”

I grab my best friend's hand and squeeze it. “I will. I promise.”

“Wait a second, that’s it.” Vince turns to Nico. “He had pictures from when I was hurt of you and Bree around my body.”

“And?” Nico asks.

“Rule number ten,” Vince states, a glimmer in his eyes.

“Always watch the watchers,” Nico and I say at the same time.

“You think he’s been watching you guys this entire time? The whole world knows what he looks like; that wouldn't make sense,” Tristan says.

“He could have some sort of disguise, or maybe he dyed his hair. Regardless, there’s enough pictures that we might be able to find him,” Nico says as he pushes off the wall. “I can try to find similar faces in thecrowds. I can work with that,” he says as he dials someone on his phone as he leaves the room.

Vince heads towards me. “I’m sorry for all the yelling.”

“It’s okay. It’s been a long and overwhelming day,” I tell him as I press a kiss to his lips. “I’m okay, Vince. I bounce back quicker these days.”

“You’re so fucking strong, Bree. I’m so proud of you.”

“So are we. You’ll be sleeping alone tonight, Vince, because Liv and I are staying the night. Tristan too, but the girls will be in Bree’s room. You two can cuddle in bed or on the couch in your room if you want.” Teags smiles at Vince as she pulls me away, and the three of us head up to my room to prepare for an impromptu girls night.

“You can take one of the other guest rooms,” I hear Vince say to Tristan.

“I won’t steal your couch, dude, I promise,” Tristan laughs back, and if I didn't already suspect it, I think they might be becoming friends.

Chapter thirty-eight

— FROM EDEN BY HOZIER

Waking up on mydesk for the third night in a row is starting to give me a headache.

I don't mean to keep dozing off down here, but I can't—no, won’t—stop until I can find Ralph and end this fucking cat-and-mouse game once and for all.

I need to find him before he hurts the one person in the world I don’t want to live without. I thought eventually, as we dated, the feeling would fade, but somehow, I wake up every day wanting her more than the last.

Not just physically, but emotionally. Bree Hart has cemented herself on my soul. She’s part of me now, and there’s nothing that would make me stop wanting her—stop needing her.

For the past few days, while Bree is stuck inside her house, I’ve been working myself to death to try and figure out where this fucker is. Nico and I have found some similar faces in photos, but none have been Ralph.

I check my clock and see that it’s now two in the morning.

Fuck. I was supposed to head back up to Bree at midnight. Liv and Teags are sleeping in the guest rooms, and Tristan has taken over my old room since I've moved into Bree’s.

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