Page 31 of To Hate You

Watson got out of the Chevrolet truck and met me halfway on the front porch, clutching his puffer jacket tight. “They know about her,” he said with a grim fucking look on his face. “We spotted them watching the Whitlock residence.”

“You’re sure it’s them?”

“One-hundred percent.”

“Jesus. Fuck.” I cursed, placing my hands on my sides. “And her brothers?”

“Nothing unusual. My guess is they bought the message we sent from her phone.”

“They won’t for long,” I remarked. “Two days max, then they’ll start turning the town upside down for her.”

Watson pulled his beanie further down over his ears, his warm breath misting in the cold night air. “I still think getting the brothers in on this might be a good idea.”

“Not a chance. The fewer people involved, the better.”

“It could buy us more time. If they go making noise around town looking for her, it will only draw unwanted attention.”

“We are not involving the twins.”

“He’s right.”

What the fuck?

I turned to find Sienna standing by the front door. “Seriously? I told you to stay the fuck inside.”

“You of all people should know I don’t do well with orders.”

“This is serious shit, Sienna.”

“I’m well-aware since I’m the one caught in the middle of it.” She walked closer, tucking her hands into her coat pockets. “Your friend here is right. If you don’t want any attention on my family or me, you have to tell Silas and Spencer what’s going on.”

“Absolutely not.”

“They are going to look for me.”

“We bought ourselves some time when it comes to your brothers.”

She frowned. “How?”

“We sent them a message from your phone.”

“Saying what?”

“That you needed some time alone, and you’ll be back soon.”

Sienna let out a mocking laugh. “They’ll never believe that.”

“Why not?”

She crossed her arms. “Because that’s not something I’d do.”

I cocked a brow. “Are you telling me that going away on your own, wanting to get away for a while, isn’t something you’d do?”

It was hard not to notice how her expression changed as she gave it some thought. The confidence she had when she walked out here was suddenly gone, her eyes downcast as she turned to the side. “Maybe you’re right,” she murmured, her words followed by a puff of warm air into the cold night. “They might believe that I’d do something like that right now.”

I narrowed my eyes, my gut telling me that something was really wrong. Something she wasn’t telling me.

She walked back inside without saying another word, and I turned my attention back to Watson.

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