Page 135 of Roses in Summer

“We’re going to follow all leads. What you’ve given us provides us with a starting point. But,” he pauses, his face breaking out into a smirk that shows a deep dimple in his left cheek. “Off the record, we’re going to get these bastards and make sure they rot in a cell for as long as the law will allow.”

—

I move in a daze, walking down the steps of the precinct after enduring almost two hours with the police. “Come here, ciern.” Lincoln opens his arms, beckoning me into them. I don’t hesitate and collapse against him.

“They said he was away.”

“He was.”

“Then how did he get back?” I pull back, lifting my head from his chest.

“Because he—they—had this planned, ciern. I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but holy fuck. They saw an opportunity to get rid of their three problems: you, Bianca, and Olivia. They’re not going to stop until they’re arrested, dead, or they succeed in their plan, which won’t fucking happen.”

I shudder at the thought, burrowing back into Lincoln.

“Ser?” I turn my head in the direction of my brother’s voice. I’m surprised to find his phone outstretched. “Liv needs to speak to you.”

Lifting my head, I reach forward, grabbing the phone and bringing it to my ear. “Livvy?”

“Hey, Ser.” She sighs, and I can picture her running a hand through her dark hair. “I’m leaving for a bit, okay?”

“Wait, what?”

“I need to go home to take care of a few things, okay? I’ll call you when I know when I’ll be back, but I need to do this.”

I shake my head, immediately rejecting her plan. “Your life is here, Liv. And you hate going home. Is everything okay?”

“You mean my life pouring beers at a college bar? That’s not what I want for my life, not anymore. I need to do this, okay? I promise everything will be fine.” I don’t miss how she says everythingwillbe fine, not everythingisfine. “You’re my best friend, Ser. I love you, okay? I promise I’ll be back.”

“Olivia—”

“Shit, I need to go. Text me when you get your phone back.” She hangs up, ending our conversation. I pull the phone from my ear and stare dumbfounded at the screen.

I look at Rafe and see the anger swirling in his eyes. He must already know. “She’s leaving.”

He nods. “I know.”

“Why?”

He shakes his head, reaching for his phone. “I don’t know.”

My shoulders drop, and I sag into Lincoln. In the last twenty-four hours, I’ve lost my apartment, my best friend, and all semblance of safety. “Will she be back?”

“I don’t know,” Rafe repeats, his voice sounding almost as broken as mine.

“Come on, ciern.” Lincoln interrupts the moment. “Let’s get you home.” He bends down and picks me up, cradling me to his chest.

“My parents are still here.” I look over his shoulder at where my parents are walking down the steps of the precinct. “You should put me down.”

“Okay.” He hugs me tighter and continues the walk to his car.

—

“Are you going to make this a habit, carrying me everywhere?” I ask, once again suspended in Lincoln’s arms.

“That an issue for you?”

“Only fundamentally and logically, yes.”

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