Page 46 of Reclaimed

“I wanted to ask if you could stay away for a bit tonight? I won’t be alone.”

Flicking the cap off my bottle of water, I guzzle down a mouthful while she speaks. “I was planning to stop by the diner and bring dinner over once I’m done here, do you want me to drop something off and leave you to it?”

She hesitates. “No, that’s okay. I’m having the girls over and we’re making homemade pizzas.”

I halt my trek across the room. “What girls?”

“The Powell women,” she huffs a laugh. “I managed to keep them at bay for a week, but Juniper said their patience has run dry.”

“Patience for what?” The words crawl out of my throat on a dry rasp. The plastic bottle in my hand crinkles as I chug more water.

“I’m their newest cause. Frankie said I need to roll with it.”

Frankie.

“Is she coming too?” I ask as an onslaught of images rip through my head. Frankie’s pale face in the woods as she ignores me telling her to run. Her flinch as he aims the gun at her head. Squeezing my eyes shut does little to ease the assault.

“Um. I think so. Juniper said they’re all coming. Even your sister managed to get the evening off. Said Sebastian is on a work trip.”

Cortney. Frankie. Juniper. Bree. Whitney. Nearly all the women in my life that I love are going to be packed into her small house, and I’m not allowed to protect them.

“Anyone else?”Like my brothers?I fight to keep my voice casual.

“A couple girls from the club. Juniper used to waitress there so we’re all friends.”

“That sounds like a nice evening, starshine,” I say softly. “I’m a little concerned about staying away.”

“You don’t have to worry. A serial killer isn’t going to break into a house with eight women in it.”

I lick my lips. No, but if he’s watching the place he could attack someone as they leave. Or once she’s all alone.

“You’re right,” I force a smile in my tone. “Just let me know when they’re packing up and I’ll head on over for the night.”

“Thank you. I owe you one.”

“I won’t say no to another batch of your blueberry pancakes.”

“I’ll make raspberry ones this time.”

“Deal. Later, starshine.”

A pause. “Later, Powell.”

My thumb moves immediately from the red button to the call list and I tap on the first sibling I see.

“Hey,” Corjan answers in surprise.

Somehow I find myself in the kitchen without even realizing I was moving. The fingers on my free hand wrap around the edge of the sink, gripping the stainless steel basin in an iron grip.

“You okay with Bree going to Isla’s tonight?”

“Only because I’ll be sitting down the block from seven to eight.”

My head pops up.

He continues. “Lee will be there from eight to nine.”

“What?”

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