Page 14 of Eden's Joker

It makes me shudder. “Don’t say things like that… “

“Don’t worry, you’re safe in your bookstore,” she says. “No one will find you there.”

That used to be true, but it’s not anymore. I can’t tell her that though, not yet.

The sky outside is bright and sunny, the heat reaching me even though the window is firmly shut, but it’s doing nothing to ward off the cold gripping me. I wrap the blanket tighter around myself, but that does nothing either.

“I thought I was being careful,” she says. “I promised myself I would be, after what happened in Mexico. But I didn’t think anything would happen on Main Street in Pleasantville, you know?”

Her voice is hoarse by the time she finishes speaking.

“I thought we were safe here too,” I say.

A very annoying thought is sounding in the back of my mind. It’s saying I should be wary of Tyler. He’s a stranger, I know next to nothing about him, and we are at war. I want it to shut up, but it just keeps nagging and nagging.

“I don’t think it’s hit me completely yet,” Summersays. “I hope it won’t be too bad when it does. It was a really close call. I almost died.”

I shudder, my teeth actually chattering.

“But I’m fine and that’s all that matters,” she says firmly. “It was Edge who found me. He just rode to save me, not stopping for anything, not even Cross’ order.”

“It means he really loves you,” I say. Cross is the president of Devil’s Nightmare MC, and the guys usually do what he tells them to without question, as far as I know.

“You think?” she asks, such hope in her voice.

“You don’t?” I ask, totally perplexed at how she possibly could not.

“I guess… he hasn’t said it yet… I think I love him too… but I haven’t said it yet either.”

“Do it,” I say. “Before it’s too late.”

She scoffs. “OK, Eden, don’t go losing it now. I’m fine. Stop worrying. And the amount of protection we’re gonna get saddled with after this won’t be no joke. Good thing Dad knows about me and Edge, because it’d be impossible to see each other in secret after this if he didn’t.”

“He didn’t mind?”

“I think he was secretly happy about it,” she says. “You know, keeping it in the family… kinda.”

“Eww, gross,” I say.

She laughs. “What, am I wrong?”

Ten years ago, my dad saved Edge and his bestfriend Ruin from getting beaten to death by a bunch of bikers who wanted to rob them. He’s been treating them almost like the sons he never had ever since. So no, she’s not wrong about Edge being practically family.

“Now all you have to do is bag Ruin and we’re all set,” she adds.

“Oh, come on. Ruin’s only got eyes for Ariel and I don’t like him like that.”

This would be a good time to tell her about Tyler. Maybe. But I don’t.

“OK, yeah, you’re right,” she says. “Listen, I’m gonna go spend some more time with Edge while I still have him. But I’ll see you at dinner?”

I tell her I’ll be there. And as soon as I hang up, I text Tyler and cancel tonight’s dinner date. A voice in my mind is screaming at me to reschedule right away. A couple of minutes later he texts back wanting to do exactly that.

But I can’t. What if he’s not who I think he is? What if after Veronica, Harper, Trixie and my sister, I really am next to be taken?

I don’t think Tyler would hurt me. I don’t think he’s been lying to me, and I don’t think he has anything to do with the war. But I’m still very cold and shaky and I meant it when I told my sister that we need to be careful. And for once, that goes as much for me as it does for her.

10

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