Page 119 of Killer Kiss

I touched my lump again, remembering too late that it hurt like a motherfucker when I did that. “It doesn’t matter. Where’s Augie?” I blinked hard. “And is my brother here for a meal or am I seeing things?”

“Really here.” He shoveled in another mouthful of stew, as happy as a pig in mud.

I still didn’t understand, but Eve took pity on me and filled in the blanks with a quiet smile. “He’s been dropping in every so often, checking to see if any of us have heard from Fawn.”

“And because Eve always has this stew in the refrigerator and it’s literally the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. She always feeds me. You want some?” He held up a chunk of dipping bread in my direction.

I couldn’t even process him right now. I dragged my gaze back to Eve, who was still looking at me like a mother hen wanting to patch up my wounds.

“I’ve got a first aid kit…” she started.

I gripped her arm, cutting her off. “Is Augie here?”

“No. He called in sick again, which we all know is code for he’s in bed with you.” Her tone was teasing, but there was happiness in it. She was clearly pleased about what was going on with him and me.

Scythe’s spoon clattered against the bowl. “Ew. Can we not talk about my sister getting her groove thang on while I’m in the room? I really like this stew, Eve, but I don’t want to find out what it tastes like on the way back up. And talking about Augie poking Ophelia with his pickle makes me want to hurl.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing I had a clearer head to be making sense of all this. I wobbled on my feet.

Eve steadied me again. “You need to sit down.”

“I need to go find Augie.”

But Eve’s mother hen side had taken over. “Nope,” she said determinedly, guiding me to a chair. “You’re going to sit and let me look at your head—”

“No, Eve—”

“Fawn would never forgive me if I let you walk away without taking care of you first. Scythe,” she called. “Tell your sister to behave.

“Sit yo ass down and do what she says. I won’t be happy with you if she stops feeding me this stew. Seriously, Lia. Eat this.” He brought his bowl over to where Eve was still towing me to the table. “You can’t be swallowing down man meat on an empty stomach. Oh, ew. Now I’m grossing myself out…”

Their voices melded and swarmed around me, their hands reaching, touching, grabbing me. The room spun in nauseating circles, my headache increasing until a sudden urge to scream rocketed up my throat. I snatched my arm out of her grasp. “No! God, stop. Just stop! Fawn is dead!”

And so was Augie if they didn’t let me leave.

“What?” Scythe asked, a chill in his tone.

I wanted to break down and cry at the way I’d just blurted it out. Eve stood stunned, not moving, her arms frozen in place as she waited for me to say more.

Or to take it back.

I couldn’t.

I shook my head, deserving the ringing in my brain, but I had nothing left to give. “Eddie killed her.”

“You can’t be sure…” Eve whispered, but it was clear she knew I was.

“There’s a video. I saw it.”

Scythe stood slowly and walked away.

My shoulders sank. “Scythe!”

But he didn’t respond. He didn’t turn back. He just walked out of the club like the harbinger of death he’d once been.

There was no doubt in my mind he’d find Eddie and take care of what needed to be done. Even if it took the rest of his life to hunt him down.

I’d been trying to keep him out of this because this wasn’t his life anymore. He had a family. A child due soon. People who needed him to be here, happy with them.

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