Page 84 of Drown in You

Luke pushes me behind him, out of Marcus’s line of sight. “Don’t come back here again if you know what’s good for you. It’ll be the last thing you do.”

Marcus peels out of the parking lot, and my shoulders don’t relax until the bumper of his red Cadillac is out of sight.

I fling my arms around Luke, sniffling into his chest. “Thank you!” To the other Devils, I add, “All of you.”

They nod, looking more morose than victorious.

“How the hell did he know where to find you?” Luke’s brows rest low over his eyes.

“I don’t know. I asked him, and he said, So you haven’t found it yet. I don’t know what the hell that means. How did you know he was here?” It’s a miracle they showed up when they did. Marcus already thinks his life is over—what’s a little prison time?

“Finn.” Luke nods to his teammate. “He managed to track the asshole’s number.”

Thank god for Finn. Thank god for all of them. Especially Luke. “How did you get his number?”

I don’t remember ever showing it to him.

He stiffens for a second before admitting, “Your phone.”

Just admit it, Luke. Admit you’re Ten. Why are you still hiding it from me? You know I love you—both versions. The masked man and the stepbrother.

I do. I love him. As terrifying as it is to admit to myself. When I’ll be able to admit it to him out loud, to risk my heart, I have no idea.

But I’m too exhausted to argue with him about the secret he may or may not be keeping from me right now. All I want to do is go somewhere quiet with him and forget any of this ever happened.

Finn kneels and collects the belongings Marcus dropped on the ground, handing my bag and the smashed camera back to me.

“Thanks,” I manage, but I can’t bring myself to smile at him. This camera meant more to me than I thought. I didn’t realize how much until it was destroyed.

Luke must spot the obvious distress on my face. “We’ll get you another.”

Stupid tears spring to my eyes, and I have to turn away so the other Devils don’t see me cry over a fucking camera. “It’s okay.”

“We’ll see you back at the house?” Knox asks Luke.

Luke gives a single nod before his hand shifts to my lower back and he guides me to his car. The three Devils climb back into the other and take off. Luke grabs my bag and tosses it on the passenger seat before taking the camera from me and examining it.

He smiles as he pulls out a small piece. “The film is still intact. You might not be able to take any more photos, but you can get the ones you already took developed.”

I throw my arms around him again, relief washing over me.

Luke presses me against the door before returning the hug. This one is tight and warm. The kind of hug I never want to end. “I don’t want you walking around campus by yourself anymore. If you need to get somewhere, you call me for a ride.”

“You’re too busy to drive me everywhere. You have class and practice and?—”

“I’m never too busy for you. I’ll make it work.” His tone is as soft and soothing as the arms wrapped around me. “If I really can’t be there, I’ll send one of the Devils.”

I roll my eyes. “Right. Because it’s not like they’ve kidnapped me before or anything.”

“They won’t try anything with you now. They know.”

“Know what?”

“That you’re off-limits.” His gray eyes bore into me, and my heart stutters.

“Marcus knows about us, Luke.”

His brows pull down low over his eyes as his spine goes rigid. “That’s not possible.”