The papers slip from my suddenly numb fingers, scattering across the table.
Harper. Oh my god. The victim’s last name can’t be a coincidence. Rowan was even ‘kind’ enough to include one article that lists surviving relatives like a brother, Ethan Harper.
My brother is accused of killing Harper’s brother and sister-in-law.
Harper, the man I’d spent last night with, whose rare laugh makes something warm unfurl in my chest, that same Harper lost his family to my brother.
I glance toward the front desk. Harper is turning away, receipt in hand, heading back toward me with a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He doesn’t know. He has no idea who I really am or whose blood runs in my veins.
I gather the papers with shaking hands, stuffing them back into the folder and hiding the evidence in my bag.
What the hell am I going to do now? How do you look into the eyes of someone you’re falling for and tell them your brother killed their family?
Bacon and Other Peace Offerings
Dodger
The scent of fresh air smells so wrong. Where’s all the smog and engine exhaust?
Getting inside the secluded cabin in the woods is even worse. I drop my bags by the door and stare skeptically at an offensive piece of decor, a garish, oversized moose head mounted above the fireplace.
“We’re staying here for how long?”
“Don’t say it like that.” Harper shuffles in behind me. “This is a nice place.”
I point to the moose. “In what universe is that nice?”
Marlow laughs. “It used to be a lot worse.”
Hard to believe. The cabin is rustic, cluttered with dead animal decor and knickknacks that look like handmade camp art projects. We left the city behind. Rowan will never find us here.
“You should have seen the place before Wynn and I started remodeling it,” Marlow says, leading us through a quick tour. “This place has been in the Iron Pack for generations and it’s out of the way. Wynn’s grandparents used it as a getaway when they were Alphas. Full disclosure, we hauled the moose out of storage.” Marlow rubs the back of his neck self-consciously. “There may have been a few mishaps before I got the hang of renovating. The moose covers the stain.”
Harper blinks and shakes his head, making the executive decision to not ask follow up questions. Then his gaze swings to me and he raises an eyebrow, wondering if I’m going to comment. You know what? The dead moose is fine. I find myself staring down at my shoes.
Marlow tosses Harper the keys. “Food and basic supplies are in the kitchen. Wynn chopped some wood though you may need more. If you can, save the generator and use the fireplace at night.” He smirks, tossing a loaded glance at both of us. “It’s more romantic that way.”
Heat creeps up my neck and I give Marlow my best death glare. Something I should be pretty good at because, hello, necromancer. But he only waggles his eyebrows and makes kissy faces. Ugh.
Harper clears his throat. “This isn’t a vacation.”
The demon shrugs. “Hey, it’s still a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do except…”
“Except?”
Marlow winks. “I’m sure you two can think of something.”
He’s strolling out the door a short time later, and suddenly it’s just me and Harper. And the moose. And all the tension I’ve been carrying since I learned about the connection between our brothers.
The last thing I want is to be alone with Harper after everything Rowan’s little gift revealed.
“It’s not so bad,” Harper says. The wolf steps closer, an almost smile on his face. “Private cabin, just the two of us. Could be nice.”
A few days ago, I would have melted at those words. But now all I can think about is whether my brother killed his family and how Harper will hate me when he finds out.
