Ethan and I both follow the direction of his finger and squint. That hope hardens and sinks into my stomach.
“That’s a store mannequin,” Ethan deadpans.
Emery’s face falls. “Oh.”
“Wait!” Ethan focuses on something in the distance, his eyes narrowing. “Is that…? Oh shit!”
Before either of us can comment, Ethan throws his car door open and runs outside, not even bothering to shut it behind him.
Emery and I exchange an eloquent look before following after him. It’s only when I cross around the car that I glimpse what captured his attention in the first place.
The world fragments around me until all that exists is her. My pulse misfires, and I find myself running before my brain can catch up with what I’m seeing.
Izzy and Jake stand on a side street in front of a toy store that is, fortunately, closed for the day. Around them are half a dozen bodies. Bloodstains saturate the brick walls, with more red smeared across the sidewalk and dirt.
“Holy fuck, pretty girl!” Emery’s mouth drops open as he staggers to a halt in front of her.
His gaze flicks from her face, to one of the bodies, and then back to her.
“Are you okay?” I demand, hurrying towards her.
I resist the urge to grab her shoulders and instead study her from head to toe. I want to make sure there’s not a single bruise marring her perfect skin. The leaden weight in my gut lightens when I notice no new blemishes.
“Reid?” Izzy blinks wide blue eyes at me, and I wonder if she’s in shock.
What are the symptoms? I mentally think back to the anatomy class I took last year and?—
Izzy wraps her arms around my waist, hugging me tight.
I stand perfectly still, barely breathing, my hands flexing by my sides as if they have a life of their own. Wanting to touch her. Terrified she’ll be disgusted.
My thoughts churn a mile a minute.
My mate is hugging me.
Izzyis hugging me.
My nerves tighten and sing as each sense goes on high alert.
For a moment, I forget that I’m a repulsive beast of a man. That I look like a monster, and no doubt smell like one. Everything narrows down to Izzy—her arms around me, her cheek nestled against my chest, her soft hair brushing against my nose as I inhale. I could stay here forever.
And then a loud, jubilant voice cuts through the dreamy haze I’ve found myself in. Irritation quickly replaces it, crystallizing my blood and skittering across my skin like a large arachnid.
“Well, well. What do we have here? Six dead men…and one soon to be dead man.”
I lift my head and see Travan standing between Silas and Kyle, glaring at me.
I tense automatically, something Izzy no doubt feels. She slowly untangles herself from me and pivots to face the newcomers. Red clambers up her neck.
“S-Silas. Mr. Remington,” Izzy stutters, wringing her hands together.
The twins move to stand closer to Izzy, one on either side, their shoulders brushing her own in silent support. I remain at her back, towering over her. No one will get through me.
“Please, call me Kyle.” Kyle forks his fingers through his salt-and-pepper hair, seemingly at a loss for words.
“Can you all stop standing around and help us move these dead bodies?” Jake whisper-hisses. I completely forgot he’s here. “Holy fuck. I can’t believe this just happened.”
“Whatdidhappen?” Travan asks, moving to crouch beside one of the dead men.
