Page 57 of Tell Me Why
Re-focusing my attention on the report, I read over it quickly, my heart sinking deeper with every sentence. Right after the attack on Rush House, we had Vaughn dig up everything he could about Shadow and Ash, so I already knew they weren’t as holy as they claim to be, butthis…?This is some dark shit, and I wasn’t prepared for it. “Damn,” is all I can say.
“We thought you’d find that interesting,” Jackson says, watching me carefully. I wonder if he shares my brother’s concerns for me.
Quickly thumbing through the backup material, both relief and dread coil in my stomach. Relief, because this information will only help with my plan for Eve. Dread, because when the truth comes out, it’s going to shatter her. There’s no way it won’t.
“Are you going to tell her?” Ash asks.
Replacing everything in the envelope, I seal the flap and toss it back onto the desk. “Don’t worry about it.”
I’m not involving them in this—not any more than they need to be. That shit Sin pulled on our front lawn a few weeks ago was personal tome.He nearly killed my fucking twin. And yeah, the other guys are pissed, too, but this fight is mine—and I’m going to do what I need to do to finish it. Without them.
“You’re up to something,” Jackson says confidently.
“Why do you say that?” I pull a blunt out of my pocket. I light up, take a deep pull. The second the burn hits my lungs, the tension in my shoulders starts to unravel.
“Because I know you,” Jackson says. “And you’ve been way to chill about this shit with Sin. That can only mean you’re planning something.”
I glance between Jackson and Ash. “The only reason I’m so chill is becausewehold all the cards. Eve is ours. We’ve got that asshole by the balls.”
“He has a point,” Ash says.
“Yeah,” Jackson concedes with a sigh.
I tap the tip of my blunt on the surface of the desk, then shove it into my pocket. “Listen, as much as I’d love to sit around and talk about my feelings with you guys, I’m tired as fuck.”And Eve is waiting in my bed.
As much as I criticize Lucas for having to tear himself away from Wyn, I’m beginning to feel the same way about Eve, and that freaks me the fuck out.
“Get some sleep,” Jackson says. “Ash and I will head back to the house in a few and send everyone home.”
“Thanks, man.”
Leaving the guys, I walk back to the house, weave through the kitchen, and head up the stairs without talking to anyone. I’m bone tired, and all I can think about is crawling into bed and pulling Eve’s perfect ass into the curve of my body.
My bedroom is dark, quiet, but the curtains are open, allowing the pale moonlight to filter into the room, casting shadows across the bed. Approaching, I stare down at Eve. She looks so damn peaceful, her breathing slow and steady. I reach down and brush a strand of hair off her cheek.
Does she know about the things in Vaughn’s report?
The way she talks about Shadow and Ash—about her brother—I’m guessing not. And I hate that it matters to me. It shouldn’t.
But it does.
It matters too fucking much.
I want to rip apart anyone who’s ever hurt her, burn down everything that’s ever made her flinch. This girl is in my head, crawling through my veins, and I don’t think I could stop caring, even if I tried…
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
Eve
I awake with a start,panic gripping me by the throat before I’m even aware of my surroundings. Sitting up, I pull in several gulps of air, beads of sweat trickling down my temples. I push back a strand of hair that’s stuck to my face and glance around. The faint glow of pinkish light seeps through the windows, which means it must be morning.
My first thought is that I must’ve had a nightmare. But as my brain slowly starts making sense of my surroundings, I remember I’mlivingthe nightmare. I’m in the ninth ring of hell—otherwise known as Rush House—and the devil himself has decided to make me his own personal plaything.
So that’s fun for me.
With a groan, I shift under the mountain of covers and subtly feel the spot next to me on the bed, breath held. The sheets are cold, empty. I’m alone.
Pushing out a sigh of relief, I lie there for a second. My muscles ache, and my brain feels sluggish.
