Page 101 of Broken Pact

There’s a road that runs right down the city line between Avalon Falls and Maple Grove. The left hand side is Avalon Falls, and across the street is Maple Grove. It’s mostly big plots of residential areas over there, the kind of places with a few acres of land per home.

“Did they say who it was? Any of the victims, I mean.” I’m almost too scared to ask. But my roommates faces are flashing before my eyes, and I haven’t actually laid eyes on any of them in weeks now. I’m praying that they’re all still safe and busy with their respective vacations or boyfriends’ houses.

“No, not yet. They haven’t released any names. All they’re saying is two male victims.”

I exhale, relief weighing my shoulders down. I’m going to text my roommates as soon as I hang up with Mom and make sure they’re all okay.

No sooner than I think that, a new thought slams into me. My brothers live in Avalon Falls—Jasper lives in Avalon Falls.

I look over at him, wide eyes and panic lancing between my ribs and piercing my heart.

You live there, I mouth to him.

He reaches over and covers my hand with his, squeezing it gently. “I’ll be fine, baby,” he murmurs quietly.

“Cora? Are you still there?” Mom asks.

I look at my phone. “Yeah, sorry, Mom. I gotta go, okay? Thanks for telling me. Did you talk to Beau and Graham already?”

“They were my first calls, honey. They brushed me off, but I’m going to make your father talk to them too.”

“Okay, keep me posted if you hear anything else, okay? Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, sweetheart. I will.”

She ends the call, and I clench my phone in my hand.

“I’m a Reaper, baby, I’ll be fine,” he assures me.

I exhale. "Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you're right."

Despite his assurances, worry coils tight in my gut. I can't shake the feeling that something terrible is looming on the horizon, a dark shadow creeping closer.

I set my phone down and rub my temples, trying to dispel the growing unease. Jasper's hand covers mine, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on my skin.

"Hey," he says softly, tilting my chin up to meet his gaze. "It's gonna be okay, baby. I promise."

47

JASPER

I’m leaning against the wall outside the garage, soaking in the afternoon sun and the scent of fresh-cut grass. And getting the fuck out of that oven of a garage for a few minutes. Though it’s not much better out here with the blacktop reflecting the sun, but at least there’s a fucking breeze.

The world feels weirdly normal, considering the news that broke yesterday. The thought of some psycho running around unchecked has my hackles up. I rub the back of my neck, the tension coiling tighter with each breath. This shit isn’t sitting right with me.

Hawke saunters over, his easy grin in place as he takes a long pull from an iced coffee.

I lean over and shove his shoulder. “You went to the Coffee Shop and didn’t bring me one back, bro? That’s cold.”

Hawke shrugs with a wide grin, unapologetic. “I hung out with one of the baristas a few times this week. She hooks me up with free coffee.”

“Until you hook up with someone else.” I glance at him with a wry smile.

“Yeah, well, they know the score, Jagger, don’t you worry.”

I push off the wall and head back inside the sweltering garage, calling over my shoulder, “I’m not.”

Hawke follows behind me. “You hear the latest?”

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