Page 32 of Queen of Blades

From his pocket, Paul produced a small, quite scratched and worn metal refillable lighter with a flip top and a skull with wings etched into it. Pinching it between his fingers, he showed it to his brother.

Wearing a knowing smirk, Eddie lifted his brows. “Do you smoke?”

“No.”

“Then why do you carry that?” he asked, jabbing his index finger at it.

“Because—” Paul stopped his words before they slipped out of his mouth.

Because Harper gave it to him.

Eddie snapped his fingers. “Now you’re getting it.”

Staring at the object, he rolled it so it lay flat on his palm. This tiny, largely useless to him, sentimental object had been in his pocket for over a decade. He’d never used it, but it was imperative that he kept it on him because of Harper.

Clenching his teeth, he curled his fingers around it and squeezed. Dammit. It was obvious. Other people knew.

He cut his glare away from his brother. It wasn’t Eddie’s fault. This was entirely on him.

“So.” Eddie slapped at his back. “What are you going to do?”

17

Harper

Harpercameoutofthe bathroom fully dressed in black leggings and an oversized T-shirt to find a quiet house. Odd. After checking the bedroom and living room, she arched a brow. No one. Where were they? Had they left her alone?

No. They couldn’t have. That’d be the stupidest thing to do if they expected her to stay put.

She entered the kitchen and found the back door open. Ah, there they were. Seated on the steps leading out to the yard were the Ricci brothers, speaking in hushed tones.

They’d left her, their captive, unattended.

Shaking her head, she pushed through the screen door and exited the house. Standing on the porch, she placed her hands on her hips and looked down at them.

“You two really suck at this kidnapping thing,” she announced.

Both of them turned and peered up at her.

“I could’ve taken off out the front door, made my way to the road, flagged someone down, and gotten rescued.” She thumbed over her shoulder, gesturing to the front of the house.

“But you didn’t,” Eddie observed.

Standing a bit straighter, she scoffed. How dare they point out the obvious.

The brothers exchanged a look before breaking out into smug grins. Immediately, her blood boiled, and she curled her fingers into fists.

“To be fair,” Paul started as he stood, “you suck at escaping just as much as I suck at kidnapping.”

Letting out a growl of frustration, she rolled her eyes and retreated into the house. Stomping her feet, she knew she looked like a petulant child, but maybe she should show them just how good of an escape artist she was.

Snatching the sneakers out of the bag Eddie had brought, she stuffed one foot in and then the other. The back door squeaked, and she glanced over to see the brothers entering the kitchen, chuckling to themselves.

Assholes. She’d show them.

Harper didn’t bother tying the laces. Instead, she jumped to her feet and took off for the front door. Now or never. If she got enough of a lead on them, she might be able to make it to the street. With her heart racing and her legs pumping, she burst through the front door. She jumped down the cement steps. Stumbling at the bottom, she avoided twisting her ankle and dashed around the black BMW down the long dirt driveway.

“Harper!” Paul shouted from behind her in an exasperated cry, but she wouldn’t stop.

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