Page 173 of Trust Me

“Let’s get this over with,” Remi suggested before he turned around.

I walked beside him, making sure to keep an eye on him. He was clearly nervous, and I would’ve told him there was nothing to worry about if I thought it would help.

“Relax, baby,” Dean murmured.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because then you won’t be all sweet to me.”

Dean wrapped an arm around me and kissed my temple. “You play me like a fiddle.”

“Do you know how to play a fiddle, clootie dumpling?” West asked.

Linc roared with laughter. I didn’t think I’d ever heard him be so loud. “Put it in my hands and I bet I’ll figure it out in a day.”

“Arrogance. Not attractive.” West suddenly shouted in alarm. “Hey, leave my ass alone.”

“Not a chance in hell, hush puppy.”

“Not funny.”

“They’re weird,” I whispered to Dean.

His nose wrinkled. “Yeah, no kidding.”

When we got to the door, I moved ahead of Remi. As if they were in sync with each other, all of the other guys formed a barrier around us. Remi looked at them, clearly unsure how to react.

I unlocked the door and stepped inside. Dean stayed right by my side, keeping one hand on my back.

“Remi?” Cole called from down the hall. His footsteps were loud as he approached, and I saw Remi’s shoulders rise. “Babe, where’ve you been?”

When he stepped into the living room, he stopped. His eyes went to each of us, narrowing further with every second that passed.

After a minute, he laughed. “What the hell is this shit?” His gaze went to me. “Staging a little intervention, Oliver?”

Now that we were all packed into this house, it felt like overkill. He didn’t seem keen on backing down quite yet, though, so I was grateful that Dean had enlisted help.

West sauntered forward, whistling the Kill Bill theme. He kept his hands casually in his pockets, and when he stopped a few feet from Cole, he craned his neck forward to study him, sort of like a chicken.

“This is the guy?” West looked over his shoulder at Remi. “My good bitch, you’ll have to raise your standards. You’re far too adorable for this troglodyte.”

“And who are you?” Cole challenged.

“Who am I? According to my lover back there, I’m goddamn Lucifer.”

“Yeah, okay. I’m not concerned about a bunch of toddlers who think they’re tough.”

“Oh-ho-ho.” West rocked forward on his heels. I watched warily as his hand formed a fist at his side.

“West,” Kai said, his voice a simple but firm command that had me shrinking into Dean.

“Just leave, Cole,” Remi demanded. “I already told you three days ago.”

Cole crossed his arms. “You don’t want me to.”

“Yes, I do.”