Page 49 of Resist

I kiss the back of his hand before I let go. “It’s still us,” I promise, and he nods as he slides inside. We head back over to the bus, our hands swinging so closely together they nearly touch, but not quite. We don’t want to take the risk.

When we round the front of the vehicle, we freeze.

Po is waiting for us, and he doesn’t look happy. “Pack your stuff. We are going home for a while.”

“What happened?” Ryker asks.

“Beck Danvers was attacked and badly hurt. They are postponing the tour.” He forces a smile. “Don’t worry, it will start again. It’s just a small break.” He claps his hands. “No dejected looks. We’ll take this time for more music, okay?”

That makes us groan, but as I look at Po, I see his worry, and I wonder how bad it was.

Is that why she left?

We arrive home the next day and unpack. None of us know when or if the tour will start up again or even how Beck is. It haunts us, leaving us all listless, so we decide to have a movie night.

We huddle around each other in the living room and turn on the TV to see the news. The name Dead Ringers stops me from changing it over to a movie.

We watch the news report in shock as it shows a motel room and reports that Beck Danvers survived a murderer. There isn’t much else, but they keep running through the facts, and horror washes through me.

We all sent Beck and the others messages and flowers, but it’s all over the news, and none of us can believe our eyes.

No wonder the tour is paused. They have more important things to deal with. Despite my own concern, I hope she is okay. Surviving something like that can’t be easy.

“It’s crazy.” Ryker sighs, leaning into my shoulder. “Who could do something like that?”

“Psychopaths,” I murmur as I kiss his head and focus on the news just as the doorbell rings.

“That will be pizza,” Strike says. “Foxy, get it for us. I’m comfy.”

“No,” I mutter, and Ryker looks up.

“Please, baby?” he asks sweetly.

“Fine.” I heave myself up, ignoring their ribbing at how easily I gave in to Ryker. Opening the front door, I focus on getting my cash from my pocket and handing it over. “Keep the tip—” My head comes up, and I freeze.

It isn’t a pizza delivery person.

No, it’s Theo, my ex.

RYKER

“Fox has been a while,” Dash mumbles. I glance at the hallway, realizing he’s right.

“I’ll go see.” Hopping from the sofa, I slide into the hall, grinning as I skid. Fox’s back is to me, and his arm is across the door, the other holding it tightly. He looks tense, so I hurry over, poking his side to get him to laugh.

“What’s taking so long?” I whine, popping up and seeing the guy on the doorstep. Definitely not delivery.

I sober up, running my eyes down him. He’s taller than I am and muscular. His black hair is partially shaved, and his face is square and handsome, with a black mustache above plump lips.

He’s very attractive and different from me.

I look between Fox and him, and it’s obvious what they are to each other. Nobody looks at someone like that unless there’s history—romantic history.

“Fox?” I cover his arm bracketing the doorframe. He snaps his head around, and I turn to the guy to see his eyes locked on my hand touching Fox. “Who’s this?”

Before Fox can introduce him, he sticks his hand out, a cocky smirk in place. “Name’s Theodore. I’m Fox’s first love.” The smile he aims my way is not nice, and he returns his gaze to Fox as if he’s dismissing me. “Not even going to let me in after I came all this way to see you?”

“Why are you here?” Fox finally speaks, his voice tight.

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