Olive suppressed a smile as Trick scowled at her. He didn’t bother to argue about it being allergies this time.
“I’m visiting my parents,” Tevin said. “My mom has our whole schedule worked out. We’re going Christmas caroling, decorating cookies, making homemade Christmas ornaments, going to a candlelight service at church.”
Mitzi perked up from her spot by the fire. “I’m going somewhere warm. Caribbean island all-inclusive with a few other single girlfriends. This cast is going to leave me with some amazing tan lines.”
“Going somewhere warm sounds wonderful,” Nova said with a small frown. “I’m going home to New Jersey. However, my family has already started arguing about tree decorations, so . . . I’ll probably escape halfway through and meet up with some cosplay friends for some fun.”
Olive felt Jason’s eyes on her. He gave a small shrug and a hint of a smile.
“We’re heading to Florida,” she finally said. “As you probably all remember, Jason’s dad lives on the Gulf. Sun, sand, and, hopefully, no one trying to kill us.”
A ripple of quiet laughter passed through the room, small but real.
Rex leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable in the firelight. “I’m still finalizing my plans.”
Olive studied him, trying to decide whether that was truth or evasion. With Rex, it was usually both. What if he was secretly a family man with six kids at home? Or if he had a supermodel girlfriend he visited in Europe on the weekends? Or he golfed with the president on his private island during his time off?
They all seemed like possibilities.
For a moment, the room almost felt normal—voices low, laughter cautious, the storm a muffled whisper outside.
Then . . .knock, knock, knock.
The sound cut through the room like a blade. Three slow, deliberate raps against the front door.
Every conversation stopped.
Olive’s heartbeat quickened.
No one moved.
The fire crackled and, outside, the wind howled.
A second set of knocks followed—louder this time.
Jason stood slowly, eyes narrowing toward the entryway. “No one should be out there.”
Olive rose beside him, pulse thudding in her ears. “Then who just found us?”
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Rex sprangto his feet and stepped out in front, taking charge. “I’ll get it.”
Every eye followed him as he crossed the room, his steps careful and deliberate. Olive and Jason fell into step behind him. The three of them stopped just short of the door.
The knocking came again—three slow thuds, heavy and deliberate.
Olive and Jason both drew their guns, just in case.
Rex unlatched the deadbolt, then hesitated, his hand hovering over the handle. “Stay behind me.”
He pulled the door open.
The wind roared inside, carrying a swirl of snow and cold. Two figures stood on the porch—a man and a woman, both coated in white.
The man looked to be in his mid-thirties, with dark hair matted to his forehead and worry etched deep into his face. The woman leaned heavily against him, her coat zipped tight but unable to hide the pronounced curve of her belly.
