Page 104 of Kept

We wait until there’s a shout, and then Ryder nudges me forward. “Close those pretty eyes for me, little thief. I want to see your face when you see it.”

“See what?” I ask, but his hands are already sliding over my eyes and he’s guiding me forward. I put my hands out, taking stumbling steps until cool hands slip into mine.

“Easy, prey,” Enzo’s low voice murmurs. “Wouldn’t want any more bruises on that pretty skin of yours.”

I shiver as his breath ghosts my ear. “At least, not unless you’re screaming my name when I put them there.”

“Enough,” Maverick says from nearby. “Let her go.”

It takes a second for my eyes to adjust as the room comes into view. My body turns slowly as I take it in, my eyes widening. The bed in front of me ishuge.

“Plenty of space for all of us,” Ryder murmurs as he props his head on my shoulder. “Guess those sketches of yours weren’t so far off after all.”

“What sketches?” Enzo demands, and I clear my throat, taking a few steps forward.

“Wow. That’s… impressive.”

“We figured you wouldn’t want to keep bed hopping forever.” Maverick rubs his hand over one of the wooden posts at each corner. They have vines and leaves carved into them, reaching up to a pale canopy of material that hangs above the bed, creating a little cocoon. “What do you think?”

“This is my new room?” I ask, and they all nod. “I love it.”

“And that’s not everything!” Ryder bursts out. Maverick and Enzo both break into matching scowls.

“For the love of fuck,” Enzo groans. “Somebody needs to fucking gag you.”

“Sorry.” Ryder doesn’t sound sorry at all as he bounces in place. “I just get too excited.”

“Wait until you see him at Christmas,” Maverick says with exasperation. “No gift is safe.”

Christmas?

“What’s… Christmas?” I ask. The room suddenly silences. You could hear a pin drop.

“You… you don’t know what Christmas is?” Ryder sounds horrified. “Thatasshole.”

“Ryder,” Maverick snaps, before he turns to me. “It’s a holiday we celebrate once a year. You give presents, put up a tree and decorate it.”

My eyes round. “Inside the house?”

When he nods, I immediately make a note to look up Christmas on the laptop Ryder gave me. The googirl will know. She knowseverything.

“God, I can’t wait for Christmas this year,” Ryder says, and Enzo snorts. Ryder points a finger at him. “Shut the fuck up, Mr. Grinch. Guess who’s getting coal in his stocking this year.Again.”

“I like coal,” Enzo says smoothly. “I use it to light the fires of hell.”

I have zero idea what’s happening right now, but my shoulders start to shake anyway.

Maverick pinches his nose, exhaling softly. “Alright, Satan. Can we just put a pin in this conversation for a minute? Since Ryder can’t keep a damn secret to save his life, I think we should probably show Zella the other thing.”

“My idea,” Enzo interrupts. He’s glaring at Ryder. “I get to show her.”

Ryder throws up his hands. I think he’s poking out his bottom lip, too, and I bite back my smile. “Fine. Have it your way, Saint Dickolas.”

Enzo ignores him, holding out his hand. “Little prey.”

This time, we go downstairs. “This is a lot of surprises,” I say softly, and he squeezes my hand.

“We would have spread them out,” he says coolly. “If it wasn’t for people withbig fucking mouths.”

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