Page 35 of Séance

“Why the fuck would you think we did anything?” Gunner immediately goes on the defensive, probably because he wonders what we did wrong like I do.

Were we at fault?

“I’m not sure what happened,” I answer, hoping to bring my brother’s anger down a few notches before he goes ballistic and we won’t be able to settle him for the rest of the night. “She wasfine, watching the flames, then she started fidgeting and looking around like she was being watched. She?—”

“Or maybe she was casing the place?” Hicks suggests, his eyes narrowing.

“No, dumbass. She didn’t even blink when we showed her around your McMansion or the other treasures that casually decorate the place.” James huffs, a fierce scowl on his face as he glares at us. “If I had to guess, I think she has more money than even you.”

“Or that could be why she is rich,” Hicks muses, his green eyes turning cynical. “She’s a professional thief.”

“What do you think?” James turns toward me, outrage making his pale blue eyes almost white, his glare a silent demand that I defend her.

All the guys turn toward me. Gunner and Ellis appear curious, while Hicks has already made up his mind. I cross my arms, absently rubbing my thumb along my bottom lips as I go over everything that happened since we met her.

Though I’m not quite a professional thief, since I don’t steal anything for hire, I do have a knack for infiltrating any place I want, bypassing security, and picking up anything that catches my eye.

“She could be on the run from a job gone bad, beaten up, and then tossed out of a crew.” I shake my head before I’m even done speaking, dropping my arms to my sides and shrug. “But I doubt it. She’s watchful enough to easily pull off tricks, and her expression is innocent enough to fool any mark, but I don’t get that vibe from her.”

James emphatically nods, sticking his nose in the air as he turns to face Hicks with a glare that screamsI told you so.

Hicks notes the look but remains completely unfazed. “Look, she’s obviously in some sort of trouble. I’ll call Mrs. Killaghanin the morning to see if she can shed any light on the subject. If anyone is after her, we’ll stop them.”

Tightness goes out of my spine now that we have a plan in place. James looks a little too pleased, and I narrow my eyes when I detect a hint of smugness he’s trying to hide. That look never bodes well for us.

It usually means some sort of mischief is afoot.

Just what the hell is my menace of a brother up to now?

Before I can figure out what he’s plotting and put an end to it, Hicks sets down his beer and leans against the counter. “Until we figure out who’s after her, we need to keep our hands off her.” He speaks over everyone’s protests, shouting to be heard over the noise. “She needs our protection, not us lusting after her.”

Everyone tenses at the warning and falls quiet, glancing at each other to gauge who might be interested in Rue. Ellis doesn’t look happy, Gunner is wearing a mutinous expression, and even the normally stoic Hicks, who’s able to conceal his thoughts, cracks slightly, revealing that he’s drawn to her as well.

Fuck.

My heart sinks.

As much as I don’t want to admit it, I’m also intrigued by the girl.

What concerns me most, however, is my brother. I expect my twin to throw a tantrum, not liking being denied anything, but he seems eerily calm.

Too calm.

My instincts practically quiver.

The fucker is up to something.

“And after?” Gunner grumbles, the grumpy fucker clearly not pleased with the competition, and it would be competition from the way the guys are eyeing each other.

Face impassive, Hicks just shrugs. “Once the fucker who touched her is found and buried, then all bets are off.”

The kitchen goes silent, each of us lost in our own thoughts. I’m not surprised no one protested the idea of killing to protect her, I’m just not sure how I feel about us fighting over a girl.

Especially Rue.

It just seems…wrong.

Despite the short time we’ve known her, she feels like one of us. While I think of these assholes like brothers, damn if my mixed-up feelings for her are anywhere near sisterly. No matter my reservations, her fate is already sealed. None of us have any intention of letting her go, not with dark bruises standing so vividly against her pale skin and danger stalking her every move.

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