Page 159 of Composed
My lip twitches and I shake my head.
“This doesn’t work without her.Idon’t work without her. God knows I’ve fucking tried.” I face Carter, a frown tugging my lips. “I’m not asking you to share them with her, Cart. I will never put you in a position that makes you uncomfortable. You’re my brother, and I love you, you gigantic twat.”
The corner of his mouth flickers.
“But I can't lie to her about important parts of my life, either. And the terror twins?” I huff a laugh. “They’re pretty damn important. Too important to hide.”
He says nothing for a long moment.
He drums his fingers on this thighs, green eyes dipping to follow the movement.
Then his head shifts, ever-so-slightly. “I need to talk to Noah first.”
“Understood.” I nod, the knots in my stomach loosening.
Noah and Carter made a deal when they had the girls. Keep them out of the spotlight, and only introduce them to new people if the other agrees.
I get it. They're protective. In our world, you have to be.
“She’ll probably want to be here too,” he says. “She’s been asking about meeting the legend that is Hendrix Moore for years. Pretty sure she’s gonna try and steal her.”
I smirk. Not sure if Hendrix is planning to write again when we’re done here, but she and Noah would be a great fit if she does. “She can try.”
A beat passes, then he blanks his expression. “Now, we done being soppy fucks or what?”
The door swings open before my fist can hit it a second time.
Riley steps into the frame. Her pastel pink romper flutters at her knees as she bounces on her feet, stare training over my shoulder. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Just looking for Rixie. Is she here?”
She shakes her head. “No, she went looking for you a little while ago. Came back, grabbed her backpack, and then just left.”
“Fuck.” A weight settles low in my gut. “Did she say where she was going?”
“No, sorry. Did you try Saint?”
“Yeah, I was just with him.”
“Oh.” Riley nibbles her lip.
“It’s alright, I’ll find her,” I tell her, tugging my phone out of my back pocket. “She can’t have gone far.”
“This is Hendrix we’re talking about.” Riley huffs a laugh.
My shoulders droop. “Fair point.”
Hendrix has always had a way about disappearing in no time. She’ll be there one minute, gone the next as if she’d never really been there at all.
I scrub a hand down my face. “Did she take her keys?”
“Hm. Hold.” Riley zips back into the flat.
I tap my foot along the floor, every second dragging until she pops back into view. A key chain dangles from her fingers.
I exhale a slow breath when I spot the studio keys she hooked on missing. “I know where she is.”
“You do?” Riley asks.
