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“Jesus Lord, where did you learn to cook?” Autumn asks Bennett, rubbing her stomach with a satisfied sigh. He surprised us both by offering to make dinner when we got back to the North House, then pretty much blew our minds when he cracked out probably the best pasta pomodoro I’ve ever tasted.

“My mom said that no son of hers was going to live on burgers.” Bennett shrugs. “Anyway, you both need some food.” He looks pointedly at my plate. I’ve managed to eat half of it, if that.

“Can he move in with me and Parker?” Autumn asks. “It’s not fair that I don’t get some Bennett cooking every night.”

“Speaking of Parker, any news?” I ask. There have been no calls at all. Not from Hudson, Parker, or West. And I hate the way that hurts me. The way I miss him, even though I keep telling myself not to.

“Still nothing.”

I sigh. I don’t know why I let Hudson persuade me not to get on that helicopter with them. Even if my carbon footprint is getting bigger than a dinosaur’s, I would have done it.

“Stay here and let us go to him,” Hudson said when it arrived on the lawn of the hotel. “Me, Asher, and Parker will handle this. You know what he’s like, if he thinks you’re in any danger he’ll either close down or do something stupid.”

Because I’m half scared – that West really will do something stupid – and half annoyed at being frozen out again, I agreed. And now I’m regretting it.

“If they don’t call soon, I’m going to catch the last ferry,” I say. “Because this is just stupid.”

Autumn reaches for my hand. Or at least I think she does, but instead she swerves around it and grabs my plate. “Waste not want not,” she says, shoveling my chicken into her mouth.

I look at Bennett. “Would your uncle really do something to hurt West?” Because that’s what I can’t get my head around. Yes, Leona died, and by the sounds of it, there was some shady stuff going on at the Abbott house, but West was a kid. Why would Vin punish him for that?

Bennett wrinkles his nose. “I… think so. He’s big on an eye for an eye. I mean, my mom didn’t speak to him for years. After Leona dying, and then Vin stealing stuff from her… they fell out big time.”

“That must be hard.” Autumn gives him a reassuring smile. “Having your family torn apart.”

“Yeah, well I guess he’s not going to be talking to me after he finds out I snitched,” Bennett says softly. Autumn exchanges glances with me.

He feels guilty. Oh god, the poor kid.

“You know West will never let anything happen to you, right?” I ask him. “Nor would Hudson or Asher. You’re part ofthisfamily now.”

For the first time since I met him, he looks his age. A scared kid. Aching to be part of something, afraid he’ll never be.

“If Vin is such a piece of shit, why did your mom hook you back up with him?” Autumn asks.

“Because I got into trouble. She decided that his kind of trouble was better than mine. Mine could get me killed. His…” he trails off. “I don’t know.” He scratches the back of his neck. “My mom, she gave me some… advice, I guess. She said, ‘Don’t let Vin see you weak, Benny. And don’t you ever call him weak either, unless you want the devil himself breathing down your neck.’” He clears his throat, then half smiles. “She once told me the worst thing you can call him is a chicken. Said it’s like waving a red flag at a bull.”

“He sounds like a dream,” Autumn drawls.

Oh, West. Be careful.My stomach tightens even more, making me regret eating anything. But Bennett’s words still buzz in my mind. His mom must know Vin more than any of us.

“What are you thinking?” Autumn asks, her brows furrowing. “I swear I can hear the cogs in your brain moving.” She looks at Bennett. “Did you know she has a stupidly high IQ? Her and Asher. The goofy twins.”

“I’m just wondering if there’s something we can do other than sit here.”

“Hudson will go ape if you go to New York,” Autumn points out. “So will West, and the other two come to that.”

“I wasn’t thinking of going anywhere,” I murmur. The idea is starting to take shape. I glance at Bennett. “Does your Uncle know you’ve told us everything?”

“Not unless West’s told him. I’m not talking to him, remember?”

“Can you check with Parker to see what Vin knows?” I ask Autumn.

“If you tell me why you’re asking, yes.”

“I’m thinking this is a lovely house.” My stomach tightens because I know what I have to do. “And maybe we should invite a visitor over.”

“You want Uncle Vin to come here?” Bennett asks. I like the way he gets me.