Page 74 of Torched

Callie’s eyes grow wide, the teal popping against the black of the night, and I’m about to ask her what’s wrong when I feel footsteps getting closer.

“Y’all are having a party and didn’t invite me?” Cristina takes the empty chair with a pout, and we all stay quiet, the mood having completely shifted within seconds.

“I’m getting the silent treatment now?”

“Would you rather have one of my knives in your neck?” Kane offers with a straight face.

“Kane!” Callie scolds, even though we are all thinking the same thing. We can’t trust her, and she needs to go.

“Thank you, Kane, but no.” Cristina smiles at him, then drills her gaze into mine with narrowed eyes. “So where are we going tomorrow?”

I grind my teeth at the fact that she clearly heard what I said, already knowing where this is headed. I move my gaze back and forth between Callie and Kane in question, but it’s Liam’s voice that lets me release the air from my lungs and try to shrug off the hate I feel for Cristina.

“It’s better having her around us than around Callie,” he whispers in my ear.

I hate that he’s right, but he is. The more time Cristina will spend with Callie, the sooner she will find out she’s pregnant and that would put her at more risk.

“You were right,” I tell Cristina, getting off Liam’s lap. “The clues lead to Loranne.”

I turn around toward the house, because I can’t stand being around her any longer. I hate the smug grin on her face and the fact that she’s more perceptive than I want her to be. I know why she needs to stay alive and, God forbid, anything happens to Callie’s grandmother, but Kane is right. She’s a hazard to all of us.

“We already knew I was right,” Cristina bellows to my back. “So, what’s the plan?”

I keep walking, pouring all the contents of my glass down my throat.

“We pay Loranna a visit tomorrow.Goodnight, Cristina,” I sing with annoyance before I disappear into the house.

26

LIAM

PRESENT DAY

“Well,whoputherin charge?” Cristina mocks as Gen walks away from the firepit, and her brown eyes cut to mine. I was so jealous of Kane this morning when he had his hand wrapped around that slender little neck of hers. That snarky mouth finally tensed with fear, her muscles spasming as she squirmed under his touch in agony. I was enjoying every second of it, and if Callie didn’t try to stop him, I would’ve grabbed a bucket of popcorn and took a seat.

I can’t wait for that day to come.

Not wanting to give Cristina any more of my energy, I just glare at her before I follow Imogen back into the house.

“Baby, wait up.”

She turns around, my heart missing a beat when I see the exhaustion in her expression. Putting her empty glass on the side table next to the stairs, she manages to shoot me a smile.

“I’m just going to bed.”

“Are you okay?” I hold her arms in my hands, rubbing her cold skin.

Gen’s eyes close for a brief moment as she exhales, then they find mine. “I’m just fed up. Tired. I want this to be over. I wantherto get herself killed or something.” She points to the yard over my shoulder. “I’m sick of how she’s trying to manipulate us. You. Me. She’s competing with me, and I’m getting closer and closer to wanting to just beat her brains in with a baseball bat. “

I whistle. “Damn, Blondie. Who knew you could be so dark?”

“It’s what happens when you get taunted by the girl who tries to steal your man away from you.”

“Hey”—I take her face in my hands—“you know there isnocompetition, right? She doesn’t stand a chance. In fact, she wouldn’t even be on my radar if she didn’t put herself there every five minutes.”

“I know,” she admits reluctantly. I want to make it better for her, but I can’t give her anything else than the promise it will be over soon, like I’ve been doing every day.

“Come on, let me show you something.” I wrap her hand in mine, then walk us out the door into the front yard.

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