Page 121 of Terror Tuesday
“As far as you can see is yours.”
“Mine… It’s just going to take a minute to get used to it.”
I gather her into a tight embrace and lay my lips against hers, carefully lowering my voice. “Well, Mrs. Olivia Von Dovish. You’d better hurry because graduation is almost here.” My eyestrail down to her dress, where she’s wearing myDeltapin, and I smile.
“My brothers are going to kill me,” she says when she catches where I’m looking.
“I’d never let them.”
A roar resounds over the horizon as a cloud of exhaust floats over the crumbling drive. Behind the white smoke is a group of three. My brother, Oz, and Apollo on their cruisers.
Olivia stiffens, shifting her weight to stand behind me, and I snag her hand, squeezing a little to let her know these are my people. She’s safe.
The three remove their helmets one by one. Oz’s smirk is already forming, like he knowsexactlywho she is. Apollo studies her carefully, unreadable—except to me. He’s cautious. Ready to strike if needed. Valor, of course, grins like he’s about to say something dickish.
“Hey,” Oz says, voice lined with mock gravity. “So this is the girl who’s been stealing you away?”
“She’s prettier than us,” Valor mutters, striding up and sticking out his hand with a dramatic bow. “Hello, my lady. I’ve heard so much about you. Mainly from the way my brother sighs like a Disney prince whenever you’re brought up.”
Olivia’s eyes widen slightly as she glances up at me. I just shake my head.
“This is my middle brother, Valor. My cousin, Oz. And I think you know Apollo Griffin.”
Olivia’s gaze sharpens. “Oz… Pippi’s twin brother?”
He winks. “That’s me. The better-looking twin, but don’t tell her I said that.”
“She already knows.”
“Excellent. I like you already.” Oz tosses his helmet at Valor and steps closer. “Tell me, Olivia Cardell…are you into motorcycles? Or just psychopaths with good bone structure?”
She raises an eyebrow. “Why not both?”
Oz throws his head back and cackles. His long finger points toward the middle of my chest accusingly. “Valen, I love her. Don’t mess this up.”
Apollo’s voice breaks in, more measured. “This where you’ve been hiding out?”
“Yeah.”
His head tilts, eyes narrowing slightly. “No invitation?”
“Didn’t think you’d want to see the place.”
Apollo scans the decayed stone and rusted balconies. “I get it now. It’s not a hideout. It’s…yours. You’ve been building something here.” Then his eyes flick to Olivia. “You brought her here on purpose.”
I nod once more.
“She stayshere?” he asks.
“She’s not going anywhere.”
Apollo finally gives a small nod. “It must be…alotof work. A rich person’s kind of masochism,” he teases, and I roll my eyes.
Olivia presses her palm to my chest, the action possessive, and it makes me warm inside. “I like it and think it’s beautiful,” she says with a friendly smile.
Apollo chuckles. “Good thing you do. Most people would be scared off, I think.”
“Not me,” she says, and he gives me a private, quiet smile—like he sees it now. The way she fits.
