Page 106 of Their Cruel Love

My sutures fire up. “Owie. Careful!”

“Sorry.”

When Razor moves close, I’m carefully transferred to sit on both of them.

“I cannot believe you thought we wouldn’t want to continue this.”

“Yes,” Razor agrees, solemnly. “A spanking offence, I think. Later, when we get home, and your pretty ass has healed.”

“Ummm.” Spanking sounds interesting but wrong to speak of right now. Even so, a thrill runs through me at the realization that this is now my life, shared with these two men. “Home? Whose house, guys? My apartment was sold. I suppose I’ll have to go looking again.”

“Stay at mine or Marcus’ until we decide where to keep you. Assuming he isn’t bankrupt?”

Decide where tokeep you? My mouth falls open. This will require more discussion.

“The money is coming back to me, including what my family was defrauded of. I’m fine.”

I listen to them talk over my head while I study thependant again. “I would like to have a remembrance ceremony for Milli. The crocodile here may have taken her remains, but I want some closure.” They murmur agreement. “I’m glad we threw Bastion off the cliff.”

“That’s my bloodthirsty girl.” Marcus pats my shoulder.

“Marcus, I am curious if you or Phoebes here got an offer from her stepmother to join some investigative unit the frat is forming.”

I sigh. “I did. I said no.” I couldn’t believe she offered that.

“Me too. She asked, I said I’d check with you two.”

“Hey. Look.” The engines of the helicopter on the landing pad have started and the rotor turns. Someone is jogging up the beach toward us. Though she’s changed into a dress, I recognize Aimee.

“Hi. Your bags are on board. Time to go.” She swallows, catches her breath. “I never said thank you to you, Phoebe, for saving my life back there.”

Gingerly, I maneuver off the men’s legs then hug her. “And thank you for being here, and for saving our lives. I’d saveyouagain, anytime.”

“Me too. Me too.”

We break the hug, and she steps away, nods toward the chopper.

“We might see you again sometime, Aimee. In London?”

“Maybe.” Her smile is wide, generous, and Razor and Marcus thank her then we head toward the jetty.

“Beautiful island. Terrible place,” Razor murmurs, and he stops to look back for a moment.

“Yes. A pity the other guests who came to the ruin are still alive.” It’s something I couldn’t get out of my thoughts. “They killed people, filmed them, and just because they didn’t fight back, they weren’t shot. Karma? I don’t think so.”

“And they can’t be tried either. The frat will make them pay somehow but not anything public, not with courts and trials or prison.”

It’s a problem I can do nothing about though I ponder on it in the helicopter, all the way to the airport.

When we step onto the airport tarmac, a question returns, something I meant to ask Razor about and forgot.

“Hey.” I tug at his sleeve. “How did you know how to use that katana?”

“That? It’s just a big knife. Why wouldn’t I know?” When I purse my lips, he laughs and elaborates. “Truthfully, I studied Kenjutsu for a while. And now.” He claps his hands and walks backward, startling the man in charge of ushering us across the tarmac and further away from the blades of the helicopter. “Where to? Are you okay with us taking you to a place in Australia, Phoebes? Marcus and I found somewhere good. It’s a retreat in the mountains and quiet, with forests and wildlife, and no beaches in sight.”

I stop dead, turning over in my mind the thought of not yet going home. “Australia? Wow. I guess?”

Maybe this would be for the best. Going back to London feels as if it would be retraumatizing. I want to organize a last goodbye for Milli, but not yet. It’s too soon after finding out what really happened to her, then having a battle play out before us…and then, to find out I can happily kill someone if they cross the wrong boundary. Hurt my friend, I will hurt you.

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