Page 97 of PET

Christian’s gaze flits across my face before he presses his forehead to mine. “I’ll always be here for you—so long as you want me to be.”

I nod against him, recalling the words Zeke had said that completely tore my heart wide open. These boys are my family now. There isn’t anyone left.

“I love you, little hellfire.”

Another round of tears leaks from my eyes as I lean back and look him in the eyes. “I love you, too, Christian. For always.”

“For forever,” Zeke whispers.

The three of us fall into another embrace, saying nothing as the feeling of our love wraps us up tight. I don’t know where I’d be without them, and I never plan on experiencing it.

Chapter 40

BILLIE LUCAS

Aswepullintothe cemetery, I’m surprised by the number of people milling about and making their way to the gravesite. I didn’t realize my mom was so influential in the area, but then again, I’m just learning about this huge secret society our family has been a part of for who knows how long. None of them—that I see so far—look familiar at all.

Dana’s driving the SUV with blacked-out windows so nobody can see who’s inside, but if they could, they’d see me sitting in the backseat between my boys, holding both of their hands. My leg hasn’t stopped bouncing since we left the bunker. My eyes were too puffy to apply makeup, and I honestly don’t even care what I look like right now. If I’m judged for it, then it shows what kind of persontheyare.

When Dana parks us at the very front near the hearse, she turns around and looks between the three of us. “You’re all going to see some familiar faces when you get up there, but I don’t want you to freak out. It’s customary within the society that funerals and weddings within the families are neutral ground. You’ll be friends with your enemies today.”

Christian squeezes my hand. “And you need us not to make a scene.”

She winks at him. “Exactly. I’m not going up with you, though. I’ll be planted right here to stay in touch with the Barretts on the other side of the cemetery. We’ll be right here ifanythinggoes awry. But it shouldn’t because attacking another family on neutral ground is like waging war.”

I just want to get this over with, and Zeke seems to know this as he opens the door and slides out. He turns and holds his hand out while Christian exits on the other side.

They’re both right at my side again, all three of us dressed in nothing but black, as they lace their fingers in mine. It’s felt like forever since we’ve been seen in public—well, since the Halloween party, at least. All eyes are on us as we walk across the grass covered in a thin sheen of dew.

Everyone seems to be in their own black attire, but everything is designer, of course. I’ve never seen a single one of these people in my entire life, and I kind of want to tell them all to fuck off.

But as we crest the small hill, I see where everyone is crowded around and a cold sweat covers my body. In the middle of them sits my mother’s silver casket, the shade matching the storm clouds above our heads, and matching how my soul feels.

My knees give out, and I’m about to collapse, but Christian catches me. He keeps his arm tightly wrapped around my hips as Zeke steps in front of me, framing my face.

“Tell us what you want to do, baby.”

I swallow, looking just past his head to everyone now looking at us. I’ve created a scene without even trying.Shit.And if I decide to leave now, it’ll only make their curiosity spread like a virus and rumors will erupt like that old geyser out in Yellowstone.

“I’m okay. Just don’t let go of me. Either of you,” I tell him.

With a nod, he takes my hand while Christian squeezes my side. We make it down the small hill together, and I ignore every sideways glance and look of pure judgment as I make it to the front. Three chairs sit right in front of my mother’s casket, held for us, I assume. We take a seat and I can’t pull my gaze from the silver box holding my mother’s body—one I never got to see, got to say goodbye to.

I slowly close my eyes, a single tear falling as I reach up and brush it away. When I open them again, I stare straight across into my uncle’s smiling eyes. My chest tightens with a searing rage, feeling as though my hatred toward him is ripping me apart, like an unstoppable tornado of emotion consuming everything in its path. I’ve never despised someone so deeply before.

When the priest begins his eulogy, I tune him out and scan the crowd for others who I might need to keep my eyes on. And when I see CJ standing there with his mother, I feel my stomach tighten into a ball of surprise and jealousy. Why the hell is she at my mother’s funeral?

She’s slept with Christian before.MyChristian. And now I can’t stop sizing her up, seeing what an older woman has while wondering if he liked it. I know they forced him to do it, but I still have questions. Like, how he got an erection if he didn’t want to do it. Was a minor taking pills to help him perform? I can’t think about it…

I look up at him to see if he’s looking at her, too, but his eyes are locked on someone else entirely—his father.

My gaze goes back to Mrs. Robinson—that’s not her last name, it’s… Wait, I don’t think I actually know what it is. Would it be Hastings? No, that doesn’t seem right. She’s looking me dead in the eyes. A rise in her eyebrow and a smirk make me want to march right up to her and punch her in her stupidly beautiful face.

And she’s glaring at me the same way.

God, I’d love to get into a fight with her. I’d go feral—pulling, punching, scratching, biting. Nothing would be off the table. I want her to feel the hatred I have for her.

Zeke leans forward into my line of sight, and I realize he’s looking past me. My head whips and I inhale a sharp breath. Mr. Van and his sidekick Mr. Fairfax stand on the side in their prison oranges, handcuffs linking their wrists and ankles to their waists. Three armed officers stand behind them, locked and loaded, in case they try anything funny.

---