Something viscous oozed down the backrest and dripped on the seat that was covered in animal intestines.
His eyes turned a murderous shade of black. “Check your car,” he said, his voice as sharp as the knife blade Aidan had held against my throat yesterday.
I sprang toward my silver SUV. Thankfully the doors were all locked, and the vandals hadn’t shattered any windows, but they’d raked their claws through the silver paint, leaving grooves everywhere.
“Those fucking Creeks,” August growled from behind me.
We stared at the destruction a moment longer, and then he snatched my palm tree keychain and opened the passenger door for me.
He didn’t say anything as he drove too quickly down the quiet Boulder streets toward my apartment. Fear that it, too, had been defaced made me wring the life out of the grab handle.
The second I stepped over the threshold, I exhaled the breath I’d been holding since leaving my house. August walked to the sink and lathered his hands with dish detergent, scrubbing his skin until it turned pink. After almost a minute, he shut the water off and tore the dish cloth hanging on the oven handle.
“I’ll fix your house.” His eyes were animated with the same ferocity I’d spied last night when Aidan held me hostage.
I wanted to tell August he didn’t need to do that, that I’d do it myself, but nausea roiled in my stomach at the memory of the blood and piss, so I clamped my lips shut. As he lifted his cell phone to his ear, I went to change into shorts, a tank top, and my black hoodie. I took off my necklace and buried it in my underwear drawer, then stuffed my feet inside my scuffed boots. Even though we’d sprayed our shoes with air freshener last night to camouflage any lingering smells, I thought it safer to wear some that hadn’t been in contact with blood and smoke.
Suddenly, a horrific thought speared my mind, and I sprinted out of my bedroom. “August!”
He dropped the phone, and it clattered against the floor but didn’t break. “What?”
“You need to get out of Boulder!”
His eyes, which had widened with panic, now crimped with confusion.
“They sabotaged your pickup, which means they know you were involved.” The words rushed out of my mouth.
His eyebrows pinched closer together, darkening his already murky gaze. “I don’t care.”
“What if they try to hurt you during the duel? Or after the duel? Or-”
“Sweetheart”-he gripped the back of my neck-“I’m angry but I’m not scared. If anyone should be scared, it should be the people who did this, because, mark my words, I’ll find out who was involved.” His fingers were hot and unyielding. “Besides, how can you even think I’d run away without you?”
I bit my lip. “Fine, but tonight, during the duel, you need to look out for yourself, or I’m not letting you come.”
Smirking, he chucked me under the chin.”What?” I asked.
“Not letting me come . . .” He tsked and shook his head. “I respect the hell out of you, Dimples, and I know you’re strong, but don’t ever ask me to stay away or flee. It’s insulting.”
I crossed my arms. “I didn’t mean it as an insult.”
He nodded, smirk gone. “I know.”
“I’m scared, August.”
“I know.” Sighing, he pried my arms out of their tight knot. “But don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. Everything will be-”
“Don’t!” My heart jolted into my throat and beat there. “Don’t finish that sentence!”
He frowned.”It never comes true.”
Dipping his chin into his neck, he gathered my stiff body in his arms and held me.
Just held me.
And I held him.
Until my heart settled back behind my ribs. Until my pulse quieted. Until my temper appeased and my muscles stopped spasming. Until I was ready to take on the outside world again.
Before going over to Liam’s, I called Evelyn because I wanted to see her.
I needed to see her.
She told me she was already at the restaurant, prepping for their popular Sunday brunch, so we drove there. While August parked the car, I went inside and straight into the kitchen. I hugged her before even saying hi, which wasn’t smart of me. Instantly, her pleasure at my visit wilted into concern.
Her all-seeing eyes skipped over all my haggard features. I hadn’t bothered improving my appearance with makeup this morning, so I knew I looked part ghost, part zombie, possibly worse than when I’d gone “rock-climbing” on my own, which had been the story fed to Evelyn when I’d been returned to her after the first Alpha trial.
“Querida, what is wrong?”
I shrugged. “I didn’t sleep well. That’s all.”
She hunted my face some more, seeking the truth I was holding back.
Did she know about Aidan? Did she know that my uncle was gone? Did she know there would be a duel tonight?
“You do not fool me, Ness Clark. That is not all.”
From the worry tightening her crimson lips, I guessed Frank hadn’t imparted any of those things. I was glad he’d protected her. I hoped he would shield her from the world for the rest of her life in case I wasn’t there to do it myself.
The thought made my heart drop to somewhere below my ankles.
Seconds rarely engage, I reminded myself, but then I also reminded myself that I would be facing Justin.
Justin delighted in hurting people.
“It is. I promise.” I smiled but then followed the arc of her gaze as it moved to a place above my shoulder.
I glanced over my shoulder. Biting my lip, I turned back toward Evelyn. I hadn’t even considered how it would look arriving with August so early on a Sunday morning.
On any morning, for that matter.
I hesitated to lie and tell her we were on our way to work on my house, but I didn’t want to risk her coming there after her shift.
“Morning, Mrs. Lopez.” He didn’t touch me, but his body heated my taut spine.
Without taking her eyes off mine, she said, “Good morning, August.”
Her sous-chef glanced our way, a giant knife rocking rhythmically against a white onion, dicing the slimy flesh into tiny little squares that flecked the air with stinging fumes.