Page 52 of Nemesis

Reese Avery is not the type. And he definitely wouldn’t have gotten a hipster arrow on his forearm. He’s not in a boy band.

“Okay,” I allow. “That led you to me.”

“It led me to Bow & Arrow. And then Olympus. And then you.”

“Ah.”

He stares at me.

Do I tell him I’ve seen him?

Do I trust him?

Besides—Reese might’ve left town. If he was smart, he would’ve already. The sheriff has his picture, Antonio and my brother are up in arms about him. He was found with a bomb under my club. And while nothing bad happened, it could’ve.

Scary shit.

Untrustworthy shit.

Whether or not I trust Kade is beside the point, because I don’t trust Reese.

“Dinner is served!” Bobby announces, striding toward us with two paper bowls. He sets one down for me, the other for Kade. From one pocket come napkins. From another—his two back pockets—come two bottles of beer.

The meal: burgers and onion rings.

My stomach growls again, and I don’t bother with formalities. I’ve never been so fucking hungry in my life.

Kade eats slower, alternating between bites and watching me demolish mine. Bobby cracks our beers and leaves us, wandering away whistling under his breath.

Juice runs down my chin. And before I can get it, Kade swipes at my face with a napkin. Saving either my pants or shirt from stains.

“Thanks,” I say after a swallow.

He makes a noise in the back of his throat. “Least I can do after your strip show earlier.”

I scowl.

When my basket is empty, I eye his onion rings. My brother would never share—not that it would stop me, per se. Saint would rather stab me than offer something from his plate. But Kade wordlessly slides it into the middle of the table, still eating his burger.

Okay, fine.

Finally, the food is gone and we sit satiated. I sip the beer, swinging one leg over to get a better view of the water. Bobby has parked this mammoth on the last dock slip. The marina is more protected by natural rock formations, while the harbor on the other side is more open for larger ships.

It just means it’s peaceful.

“I’m not going to help you,” I say.

He doesn’t reply. Doesn’t try to convince me.

Because I think we both know I’m lying.

14ARTEMIS

I siton the rocky cliffside at Olympus as the sun comes up. I was home long enough to grab my phone and car keys, slipping in and out before Saint could wake and register that I was back. I almost expected him to be waiting for me, but he wasn’t.

Not one to let Saint get the first punch in, I left while luck was on my side.

Now I’m here, watching the sky lighten.

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