Page 128 of A Twisted Arrangement

As if sensing I need a moment to get myself together, Damon calls out to me, “I’ll meet you out front.”

I nod, unable to speak, holding myself straight only long enough for the three boys to disappear back into the house. Tears stream down my cheeks as I’m rocked with a million emotions. The earth-shattering relief that we survived is tainted by the fact that it’s my family’s fault that all of this happened to begin with. I’m the only remaining Laurent, and I won’t be able to avoid the Order’s hatred.

I hold my head high as I walk around the building to where Damon and Matthias are already waiting. The two younger Everettes are huddled together under a blanket only a few feet away.

“You good?” Damon asks. There’s a hardness to his features, any playfulness he’d once had carved out of his face.

“I’m fine,” I lie, not wanting his pity.

I don’t notice my hand still wrapped around the gun until Matthias is slowly releasing my fingers. His deep brown eyes meet mine for several seconds, some unknown secret written there.

He leans in closer, whispering, “You’re safe now.”

My shoulders drop, and I sway on my feet when he gives me a hint of a smile, easily catching me. However he feels about my betraying him is buried under the happiness of escaping.

“We’ll debrief in thirty minutes,” Damon cuts in.

The adrenaline’s already wearing off, taking every ounce of my energy with it. I wipe my face, my hand coming back sticky. I’m not sure how much longer I can do this.

“I’m taking her to the hotel,” Matthias says, with no room for argument in his tone. Damon’s not the only one who’s changed. This past week has taken a toll that will leave permanent scars on all of us, no matter that it ended in our favor.

A muscle ticks in Damon’s jaw before he gives us a small nod. “Meet me in the lobby tomorrow morning, Scarlet.”

“Yes, Lord.” I bow my head to him in the respect his position commands. Matthias’s warm fingers tip my chin up.

“You don’t bow to anyone.” His brown eyes are soft but sure as he runs his thumb along my cheek.

Warmth spreads throughout my chest, chasing away my thoughts as he replaces them with himself. We’d made it. I had faith that Damon could get Matthias out, but my plan didn’t guarantee me the same. There was a decent chance my father would kill me first.

I let Matthias tuck me to his side and guide me toward a large black SUV. Acid burns in the back of my throat when I don’t recognize the driver. I’m stopped when Matthias leans in, his breath brushing my temple sending shivers down my neck.

“He’s one of ours. Let me keep you safe.”

My body relaxes into his, my muscles turning into Jell-O as I climb into the car. My limbs feel like they’re being held down by weights, and Matthias catches me, maneuvering me until I’m able to lean against the opposite door.

“The hotel’s about twenty minutes from here. Get some rest.” His heat sinks into my skin as he reaches over me, causing my heart to skip wildly. His lips are so close to mine, and I can practically taste them. My chest clenches as I wait, desperate for his kiss, but he turns away from me, leaving my heart crashing against my ribs, and pulls my seat belt over my lap, clicking it in place.

I’m too tired to be embarrassed, and I let the door take my weight, drifting off to sleep.

My body jostles, shifting up and down in a steady cadence, drawing me out of my dreamless sleep. Matthias is looking down at me, a line between his brows. I hate to see the worry there and want to tell him I’m okay, but I know he’d sense the lie. Instead, I reach up and brush my finger across it, smoothing it out.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.” His voice is low, barely above a whisper.

I look around at the unfamiliar hallway. The wallpaper looks gilded in gold, with crystal light illuminating overhead. “Where are we?”

“We’re at Hotel Savant. Damon’s set up multiple guards around the building and throughout the halls.” He says it without me asking, knowing I need reassurance. I’m not sure when I’ll ever feel safe again.

He tugs me closer, his familiar scent filling my nose. “Nearly to our room.”

Our.

The word bounces around in my head like it can’t find a spot to land. There’s no reason for us to share a room, but I can’t bring myself to protest it. I’m not sure I could make it through tonight on my own. There’s a connection built in trauma that holds me to this boy, one that won’t ever fade. After everything, there’s no one I’ll feel safer with than him.

Matthias stops in front of a room and swipes a card over the keypad. It beeps, lighting up green, letting us in.

The bed is calling my name, but there’s no amount of exhaustion that could get me to climb in while caked in blood.

I wiggle until Matthias puts me down, then points to what I assume is the bathroom. “I’m going to shower.”

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