Page 93 of Nemesis

I slept for over twenty-four hours. When I stumbled out in search of something to eat, my stomach growling, Reese was passed out on the couch.

Shocking, ’til I remembered telling him to stay here.

And Saint didn’t object?

Anyway, I found cheese and crackers, sat on the counter chewing slowly, then made it back to bed. I was asleep in minutes.

Now it’s Saturday, and there’s a fight at Olympus tonight. I’m just mustering the energy to get out of bed when a soft tap comes on my door.

“Come in,” I call.

Reese enters. He pauses at the foot of my bed, his gaze drinking me in.

This is really the first time we’ve been awake at the same time. I had a whispered conversation with Saint the other morning, but it was so early, Reese was asleep.

Or pretending to be.

“How are you feeling?”

I lift one shoulder. “About as well as I can, I guess.”

“Headache?”

“Mostly gone.” I draw my knees up. “Want to sit?”

He nods, but he closes the door before he ventures closer. Just that small action sends my heart into overdrive, and my chest tightens. He gives me space, sitting out of reach. His hair is messed up, the waves flopping down on his forehead and nearly getting in his eyes. Even as I watch, he rakes his hand through it and offers me a glimmer of a smile.

The fact that he’s attractive isn’t even fair.

“Saint was telling me about how he found you.” His gaze shutters. “The guys who… had it out for you.”

“The Cyclopes.” I make a face. “We still don’t know anything about them. I really need to tell my brother?—”

“I know them.”

I stop. “What?”

He shifts. “Um, I know them. Knew them, really. In Emerald Cove. They weren’t established there by any means, but they were getting organized. There just wasn’t space for them, but then rumors about the war between gangs in Sterling Falls caught wind.”

“And they decided to come here,” I finish. “Who are they?”

“Their leader is a mystery. No one speaks about him, and there are layers of leaders before you get to the top.” He rubs at his eyes. “I was involved with them. A little.”

“No.” My throat closes.

“I needed money off the record, Tem.”

I can’t believe I’m letting him call me Tem. It feels closer than I want him, but at the same time, heat curls in my belly.

He’s being honest.

And ifI’mhonest, I’ve been judging him on our past. But there’s almost a decade of the unknown between then and now.

“Why?” I wave my hand. “Don’t feel like you have to answer that. God knows I’ve done my fair share of fucked-up stuff.”

He smiles. “I want to hear about that.”

“Are they… Are the Cyclopes here to stay?”

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