Page 23 of Entangled By You
She doesn’t speak, but I can see the wheels turning behind her eyes, grinding with hesitation and what I hope is a budding trust in me. I know it’s not natural for her anymore, not after everything. But for the last three months, I’ve been there—every damn day. And I’m not going anywhere. No matter what her brain is telling her.
Her fist slams into the front door like a damn sledgehammer. My heart kicks into overdrive, pounding in my chest like I’ve just run for my life. That is, until the door swings open and Harlow’s high-pitched squeal cuts through the air.
She throws her arms around Lexi and yanks her inside with no hesitation. I follow behind, quiet as ever, taking in the subtle changes to the house. What used to be all bare walls, dark corners, and leftover pizza boxes now has warmth. The framed photos mixed with houseplants that are clinging to life, and new throw pillows, show the apparent influence Harlow’s had to soften the sharp edges of the place. The house finally feels like a home instead of the cold-ass bachelor cave Si kept it as for years.
Speaking of the devil, Silas sits on the couch, half-watching sports highlights, beer in hand. But the second he sees Lexi, he’s on his feet, pulling her into a bone-crushing hug.
I know he’d never hurt her. He’s her brother, the last blood relative here for her in this town. But there’s still something primal that tightens in my chest when he holds her like that. The urge to pry her out of his arms and tuck her safely into mine hits hard, fast, and is entirely irrational. I shove it down and give him a sharp nod when he glances up and meets my eyes over her shoulder.
“Hey, man,” he says, voice casual but curious. “Didn’t expect to see you here. You want a beer? Lexi?”
“I’ll take some water,” Lexi replies before I can speak.
I trail Silas to the kitchen, leaving the girls in a tangled heap on the couch, already deep into their rapid-fire conversation like we’re not here with some life-changing news. Their laughter follows us across the open room.
“So,” he says, popping the cap off a beer and grabbing a water bottle from the fridge. “How are things going? Anything new?”
I give him a look. “New since the last time you asked me…what, three days ago? You check in like a paranoid man on a mission, you know?”
He snorts. “Yeah, well. Habit.”
“Nothing new,” I say. “Like I told you, if something comes up with the cops, you’ll be the first to hear it. But it’s been quiet. Too quiet. Either they’ve hit a dead end or his old man’s taken things off their radar. If he’s running things through a private firm now, it’ll be harder to keep an eye on what’s coming. It’s too bad, because the cops, hell, they couldn’t find the ass end of a horse in broad daylight.”
Silas frowns as he hands me the beer and sets the water on the counter. “Yeah. That’s what I’m worried about.”
“It’ll be fine. We’re closing in on almost six months since he disappeared. The trail’s gone cold. There’s nothing from South America leading them back here to lock in on.”
“Yeah, I know you’re right. How’s she doing?” His gaze zones in on his sister.
The rare smile plastered across her face as she chats with Harlow is stunning, and I love every second of seeing it there.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
“What?” I shake off the happiness and steal my features.
“You’re in love with my sister.”
Fuck.
A WOMAN ON A MISSION
LEXI
Harlow’s muffledlaughter at my brother’s reaction is almost enough to send me into a full-blown tizzy right along with him. His glare of pure, murderous fury has Pierce pinned in place like a bug under glass. It’s the angriest I’ve ever seen him, and yet my best friend looks completely unfazed. I don’t know what that says about her, but maybe I’ll laugh about it later.
“I told you not to do it,” she finally says, slicing through the thick tension in the room, her words aimed straight at Silas.
He shoots to his feet like he’s been lit on fire, finger jabbing in the direction of the man beside me.
“I put you with her to protect her, not to knock her up!”
Oh hell no.
That fury of his? Yeah, I match it—easily. No hesitation. That classic family hotheadedness rises and spills over before I can tap it. I’m off the couch in a blink, stepping right into his line of fire, forcing him to look atme.
“Excuse me?” My voice comes out loud and shaking with rage. “First of all, I never asked you to assign a damnbodyguard to my life, let alone to have someone infiltrate my home like I’m some helpless damsel.”
He opens his mouth, probably to scold me like the big brother he is, but I’m not done.
