Page 41 of Frayed Owner

“You should have come with better ammo and planned things out better when she’s smarter than you, Jean,” Tracey taunted as I went for the door. “And remember what I said. Remember this moment and how you believed me because I will always feel this way.”

I think we all breathed a sigh of relief when we arrived back home. “I really,reallydidn’t see that coming.”

“No, but I agree with you that she gets nothing from telling people and it was just a threat to get what she wanted,” Tracey muttered. “Either way, I’m going to talk to Taylor about this Hughes thing and update him.”

I nodded but then focused on Clare. I swallowed loudly as I moved closer. “I lied. I’m sorry.”

Understanding and something soft filled her eyes. “I already figured it out. You’re a goddess witch. I know. I just said that for Jean to throw her off.”

“Why? Thank you? How?” I muttered, confused and not sure what to think.

She reached out like she was going to touch my shoulder but then let her hand drop. “You lied to me that day you told me about Grandfather. He didn’t just save you because you were the youngest. That was the lie. He got the vision, didn’t he?”

“I think so. I don’t really know.” I snorted when she frowned. “He was the one who named me, but I don’t know. He didn’t tell me. Wyatt did after crazy and I almost broke with fear.”

“Wow. Okay, just… Wow.” She shocked me by hugging me. “You did well, Bevin. Really well. This is the team now. Tracey and I are your big sisters and—I’m not a fighter, but I’m a damn good planner and organizer. I’ll help. However I can help, I will.”

“That’s a very big change from what I know of your relationship,” Mrs. Moon said, her voice accusatory. “Forgive me for not trusting your intentions.”

Clare stepped back and let me go. “You weren’t raised in that house of horrors as we were. I was lied to just as much as Bevin was and nothing was what I thought. I bullied her and I regret it, but some of that is being spoiled bratty kids. I never abused her.

“I was always drowning in my own crazy with that family. But I want to survive. I survived this long, and I want to keep surviving. So trust in that and I tied my fate to hers. Helping her keeps me safe and out of a fate worse than death.” She snorted. “Plus, the end of our world from what I remember.”

Yeah, that whole thing about a goddess witch or god warlock falling into the hands of a top-tier family thing. No big.

No pressure.

“How did you all come to be there?” I asked after they had a moment to accept that.

“I told them,” Tracey confessed. “Well, I told Mrs. Oliveria and that you both were worried and knew Jean well, so it was smart to trust you. That I was going and would listen, but if the shit hit the fan, I would text her for backup. The shit hit the fan.”

“And we are the fabulous backup,” Mrs. Oliveria said with flair before looking at Mrs. Moon. “Did your chef make that carrot salad? I love that and might sneak a few bites. I keep meaning to get the recipe from you.”

“It is rather good, isn’t it? Just refreshing and hits the spot. Yes, I have a huge container for them because they need their veggies too.”

Well, crisis averted… For the moment at least.

I wasn’t sure with Jean. She could double down or cut her losses to find a better path.

I really hoped the latter.

11

Kelton

“You’re spiraling, man,” Homer said after taking out my earbuds as two of our friends grabbed either side of the weight bar so I was basically trying to lift air. It was the only safe way to stop someone, but it still startled me.

“What the fuck are you assholes thinking?” I demanded as I let go and rolled to my feet. I winced when they all gave me looks like they’d never seen me before. “Sorry. It startled me.”

“Yeah, that was kind of the point because your music is so fucking loud that not even magic will be able to save your ears,” Homer said firmly. “And you don’t answer your phone. Nor talk to any of us. So you’ve got two choices. Come willingly or we’re fucking abducting your ass to talk about this because you’re not letting us be good friends.”

“And we’re done letting you drown even if you’re being an asshole,” one of our other friends grumbled.

“What’s there to talk about?” I drawled. “Just let me get my workout in and I’m gonna crash.”

That was the wrong thing to say to Homer, and my best friend had a temper. He fisted the front of my shirt and got in my face. “Your brother almost fucking died. Because of what you did except that’s not the reality and Charles Shaw is a cock-sucking devil’s spawn and you have feelings for his daughter. And now you feel guilty.”

“I havenothingto feel guilty for,” I snapped… But I did.

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