Page 127 of Roses in Summer

“Still think it’s not all connected?”

“I don’t know,” I reply honestly, shaking my head at the weird interaction. Looking back at Lincoln, I incline my head toward the entrance. “Let’s head up?”

He grabs my hand, following my lead as I walk toward the door. My brother lives on the first floor, and I wind through the hallway, tracing the steps to his front door. Lifting my knuckles, I rap twice and wait. Instead of Rafe, Bianca yanks the door open. “Thank God,” she squeals, pulling me in by my arm.

“Woah.” I fall inside, looking over my shoulder at Lincoln as Bianca drags me.

“Did you see the asshole? Infuriating, gorgeous dickhead.”

“Sergeant Maroaka?”

“Yes, Jack.”

“Should you be calling him Jack?”

“I will call him any damn name I please.”

Shaking my head at Bianca, I look around, hunting for Liv.

“She’s at her coworker’s.”

“Bernadette?”

“Yes,” Rafe comments, eyes downcast. “She went there last night after her shift.”

“Have you spoken to her?”

“Yes.”

“And…?” I hedge, knowing that talking to my twin brother is sometimes like pulling teeth.

“She’s safe.”

I sigh, annoyance infiltrating my body. “Can you give me your phone?” I hold out my hand, waiting for him to deposit it. He knows why I want his device, and he doesn’t protest. Slapping it into my palm, he shakes his head and turns toward Lincoln, hand outstretched. With my back to them, I pull up Olivia’s contact information, press the call icon, and bring the phone to my ear.

“I told you to stop calling me, Rafael.”

“It’s me.”

“Oh. Are you okay?” Olivia’s tone changes instantly.

“Are you?”

“I mean, I’ll kill someone if they torched our shit, but otherwise, I’m fine.”

“Good.”

“Good.”

“Liv?” I ask, swallowing past the emotions clogging my throat. “Be safe, okay? Once I’m back in the apartment, I’ll call you to come home.”

“You too, Ser.” We say our goodbyes and hang up. Handing the phone back to my brother, I survey the room. I didn’t even realize Ava and Grey were here, sitting next to each other on the leather couch, while Bianca paces between Rafe and Lincoln.

“It was arson.”

“Wh-what?” My head turns sharply to my brother.

“They don’t know if it was a pyromaniac or a random arsonist, but they have reason to believe it was not an accident.”

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