Page 72 of Filthy Liar

“If you guys get followed by the reporting parasites, call Maddox. He can sic Zane on them so they leave you alone,” Beckett called out as she was carted away, and much to my relief, the reporters stayed back as I led Raven towards the car.

Logan and Zavier got in the back, and Ander gave me a look. “Go on. You’re in no state to drive.”

Raven gave my hand a squeeze, encouraging me to climb in before adjusting the seat so she could get in the front. Logan instantly put an arm around my shoulders, his comfort almost causing me to break again.

How many nights had he done this for me when Josh had died? I’d tried to keep my grief hidden from Raven, but Logan always seemed to know and come find me to make sure I was okay.

I leaned into him, soaking in his silent comfort as we headed towards Ashburn Valley. Zavier kept glancing at Raven, but she’d shut down and was staring blankly out the window.

Ander’s hand moved to rest on her thigh, and I relaxed a little at the reminder that I wasn’t the only person she had right now to hold her together. It felt selfish, but I just couldn’t be that person right now.

I had to trust that the guys could be there for her, and hoped that she understood my need to take a step back to gather my own emotions.

Zavier

We weren’t at all surprised when Raven crashed when she went to lie down in the bedroom, or when Reid passed out on the couch an hour later. Both of them were emotionally drained, and the sleep would do them some good.

I headed outside with Logan and Ander so we could talk without waking them, and Ander instantly let his walls down a little. He’d been holding in his own feelings about the situation, but I knew him. He was blaming himself.

“Don’t, bro,” I said lightly when he opened his mouth to speak, reaching out to pat his shoulder. “It’s not on you.”

“That house meant everything to Raven, and Reid?—”

“That house has been a curse for a long fucking time,” Logan cut in, lighting a cigarette. “We’ve been trying to get her to let it go for years, but she wouldn’t. I’m probably a bad person for admitting it was a relief to see it burning.”

“I feel the same,” I admitted, feeling like a dick. The devastation on Raven’s face was like a punch to the stomach, but that house had been haunting her the entire time I’d known her.

I didn’t want her to forget her brother, I just wanted her to remember him for the good times, not the day he’d died. I swore whenever she was in the kitchen that she’d stare at the bullet holes and relive that day.

“Now what?” Ander asked, scanning the yard for trouble automatically.

“There has to be a way to find him,” Logan scowled, angrily blowing out smoke before offering it to me for a drag.

I took it, having a few drags before handing it back.

“What do we know?” I asked, lifting my chin at Ander. “Any idea on his next move?”

“He doesn’t exactly have a pattern, just a style,” Ander replied, pulling his own cigarette out to light, offering me one for myself.

“Which is?”

“That shit with the house is the style. I already told you he likes burning shit, particularly with people inside. He never does things in a set order to avoid someone learning his moves. We need insider information, which we can’t get without Dante.”

“You don’t have anyone else on the inside?” I asked.

“That I trust one hundred percent? Not really. Stefano’s men are sneaky fuckers. Look at how they managed to sneak into Wet Dreams, murder one of the girls, and get out without being seen, while pinning it on Dante. That person had to be covered in blood, and they got out without a single witness? My money’s on Antonio hacking shit so they could get out unseen.”

“What about your cleanup guys? Aren’t they on the inside?”

“Some bailed, some are acting weird. I wouldn’t be surprised if Stefano turned them against me to protect themselves. I don’t trust any of them right now, not with this.”

“Why did Dante think Antonio was in his pocket instead of his father’s?” Logan asked with confusion.

“Probably because Antonio is one of his childhood friends.”

“Wait, Antonio is our age? Not some fifty-year-old hacker dude?”

“Yep. The guy’s a genius with technology. Cruz would come in his pants if he saw the guy’s office,” Ander chuckled. “They’d probably be really good friends if Antonio hadn’t been raised in the mafia. He doesn’t trust anyone, and it can make him a little unlikable.”

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