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“Flint? You still there?” Mike demands. “What’s happening?”
“Nothing,” I inform him, exhaling a breath of relief. “I’m sending you those photos now. Thanks, Mike.”
“Be safe, buddy.”
I whirl around to confront my housemates. Caden falls onto the bottom steps of the west stairs as Pike slumps up against the wall. I wave my head in dismay, my pulse pounding in my ears.
“Guys,” I say shakily. “What the hell was that?”
CHAPTER 16
Aspen
With Lily finally asleep, I tiptoe out of her bedroom and into the hallway of the second floor for the dozenth time today. My heart stops as I hear Flint’s voice below. Slowly, cautiously, I edge toward the railing and peer over to see what’s going on for the first time since hearing the dreaded words from the main floor earlier.
“I’m Cousin Raya! Gimme a hug! I’m finally here to see my little Lily!”
It was a blessing and a curse that we were still upstairs when Raya and her companion arrived earlier. I had just stepped out of Lily’s room, when the voices floated up to me from the foyer. I’d heard the doorbell but had thought nothing of it until venturing into the hall.
My maternal instincts kicked in immediately, and I ushered Lily back into the bedroom, my heart in my throat as she stared at me questioningly.
“Aren’t we going for ice cream, Aspen?” Lily asked as I closed the door, silently willing her to keep her voice down. And it had been all downhill from there.
For the rest of the day, I kept the little girl distracted as I waited for someone, anyone, to tell me what was going on.
I’d got through to Flint, and knowing that he was coming home had given me some comfort, but several times, I’d heard the voices downstairs getting louder, almost to violent proportions, and I feared for Caden and Pike, whom I’d finally reached about five minutes after speaking with Flint.
They can take care of themselves. I need to take care of Lily.
Intuitively and instinctively, I did exactly that, keeping the child upstairs and out of harm’s way—whatever the trouble was brewing below. I can cut the tension with a knife even now, although the sugar-voiced Raya seems to have left the house.
I glance back at the ajar bedroom door, ensuring that Lily is down for her nap as I listen to the men talking below.
“Why did you let it get this far?” Flint demands. “I know I told you I wanted to get answers, but you should have used your judgment! I didn’t realize it was getting so hostile!”
“I wanted to force her out, but this one wouldn’t let me,” Caden says.
I shake my head, imagining what would have happened if they had resorted to a physical altercation.
“With Lily right upstairs? You wanted to get into a goddamn fight with that punk?” Pike yells. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard him raise his voice, and it chills me to my core. “I told you, I’m sure he was armed.”
I strain forward to get a better look at them in the foyer, but my vision is limited if I don’t want them to see me.
“He wasn’t. That little shit can’t find his ass with both hands,” Caden retorts, his voice just as harsh.
I purse my lips and settle back, wringing my hands nervously.
“Stop it! Both of you!” Flint interjects. “I can’t believe I can’t leave you two alone for a few hours without this place falling to pieces?—”
“That’s just it, though, isn’t it?” Pike whiplashes. “You’re always gone. You’re not here. I’m the one left to keep everything together.”
Someone stomps away, and again, I crane my neck to look, but I can see little other than Caden’s head.
“You?!” Caden remarks. “What am I? Invisible?”
“You’re too busy racing bikes or parasailing or whatever bullshit you’re up to these days!” Pike fires back. “I’m the only responsible one in this house, the only consistent one. I should have been the one who adopted Lily.”
A dead silence falls between them, and goosebumps erupt all over my body.
