Page 52 of Give Me Peace

“Okay, Grumpy Smurf. What’s your deal?” I cross my arms and give him a glare that probably isn’t the least bit intimidating, but whatever. I know what his problem is, but I’d rather he admits it. To voice his damn worries for once instead of internalizing everything like he always does. Sometimes it feels like I’m the reason for the way he is. For years, he had to be the strong one because I was so goddamn weak, and now that’s all he knows.

“Fuck off, Kash.” I laugh, but it’s not a nice one.

“Get your shit. We need to run some errands.” I snatch his hoodie off the dresser when he turns his back to me and head to Saylor’s room. I lay it in her bathroom, hoping she’ll see it when she wakes. It’s barely after seven, so she’s probably got another hour or so before one of the guys can’t wait a second longer and coaxes her from bed with the promise of breakfast. I’ve definitely bribed her with food a time or two.

I snag a cereal bar on my way out, deciding to wait for Krew in the car. He stomps out ten minutes later, looking like Eeyore with all his doom and gloom. Stupid asshole. This is not my forte—being the serious one who puts shit into perspective. I like my lighter role and responsibility just fine. This sort of chat is best left to Loch but seeing as it’s my twin that needs the mental ass-kicking, I think it should be me who delivers it. He slams his door like a petulant child. I roll my eyes and wait till we’re on the road to launch my assault, that way he can’t flee the conversation so easily.

“Are you about done with this whole uninterested act?” I wave a hand in his general direction. He can deny it all he wants, but I know my brother. He’s definitely interested. Right now, I’m more concerned with the wary looks he’s being getting from Saylor. Any time they’re in the same room she seems to shut down, like she’s lost in her head.

“And do what exactly? Fall at her feet like the rest of you?” Krew scoffs, managing to piss me off even more. “The sad part, is that your dicks aren’t even leading the charge, it’s your goddamned hearts. How do you think this is going to play out, brother? Honestly? Loch’s already made it known he plans to pursue her. Kade’s been gone for the girl since elementary school. And Ro? Good luck going against that giant fucker.”

“She’s not a goddamn prize to be won,” I spit. I hate hearing him lay it out like that, because every second I’m with Saylor, we grow closer. It’s hard to imagine they could have the same connection with her that I do, but I know it’s true. I can see it.

“I’m aware.” He glares at me, momentarily taking his eyes off the road. “I’m worried about what this is doing to us. This is our family, the first we’ve ever really had, and it’s slowly being torn apart. Ro hit Kade. When have any of us ever laid hands on each other?”

I think on what he’s saying for a few minutes, making sure my response isn’t rushed or biased. My initial reaction is to defend Saylor, because it sounds a lot like he’s blaming her. But I try to see things how Krew does, wondering if there’s any merit to his observation. And…nope. I really tried, but I just don’t and I’m not convinced he does, either.

“Wanna know what I think?” I pause for dramatic effect, just to annoy the stoic motherfucker. “I think you’re full of shit. That in all actuality, you’re just scared to feel something for her. To let another person in, because then they have the power to hurt you. I don’t have all the answers. And yeah, there’s a high probability that four of us are going to get kicked to the curb. But there’s no fucking way I’m going to sit back and not even fight when there’s a chance I could find happiness with that woman.” Krew is silent, probably thrown off by my rare moment of seriousness. “All I’m trying to say, is that you can care about Saylor without it going beyond that. There’s obvious tension between the two of you and it’s fucked up that you’re feeding it. The least you could do is not make her feel like you want her gone.”

“Did she say that?” Krew snaps his head in my direction, his brows lowered as he scrutinizes me.

“She didn’t have to. Saylor squirms when you’re in the room, like she’s suddenly unsure if she’s welcome while you’re around.”

“Fuck,” Krew swears, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel. “I don’t know if I can even fix it at this point. I’ve thrown her so many mixed signals she’d probably prefer I just left her the hell alone.”

“Nah. Just stop being an apathetic asshole.” I grin, hoping this depressing fucking conversation can be over now. I pull a sucker from my pocket and pop it in my mouth, doing my best to wipe the image of Saylor in our bed from my brain, her plump lips wrapped around my…lollipop. That’s the single hottest thing I’ve ever witnessed and it was actually pretty innocent on her part. We’re silent for the rest of the drive, stopping by the grocery store first to grab a few necessities. On our way back, we swing by the post office. I run in while Krew stays with the car.

I get some friendly smiles here and there, an overly flirtatious wink from the girl working behind the counter, but all I’m concerned with is getting in and out as quickly as possible. I might be better than I was at being around strangers, but I don’t enjoy it. It makes my skin crawl when someone touches me like we’re old friends. I don’t flinch the way I used to because I’m not afraid of them, I just don’t like it. I head straight for our box and shove the key in. As soon as I grab the stack of mail, I lock it and turn to leave.

I sigh at the blast of AC once I’m back in the car. Fuck this Florida heat. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but after living in Washington for most of my life, I long for some cloud cover and rain. Krew reverses the SUV and heads for the house as I go through the mail. I’m holding my breath as I flip through the envelopes, tossing aside random junk fliers and coupons. Just when I think we’re in the clear, my stomach drops at the second to last piece.

Another fucking postcard.

“Krew.” I can hear the tremor in my voice as he glances my way, a harsh curse slipping out when he sees what I’m holding. He steps on the gas, trying to get us back as quick as he can. I pull my phone out, shooting off a text to Loch. We’ve been gone about an hour. With any luck, Saylor will still be sleeping so we can address this immediately. This one is from Iowa, but there’s no specific city listed. The back shows it’s addressed to Saylor, just like the last one. Scribbled to the side are the words ‘tick tock’ and another set of coordinates.

My hand starts to shake. He’s teasing us, trying to draw her out. It makes me sick to think there’s a possibility he could get his hands on her again. This is what’s going to send me spiraling into another manic episode, where I go days without sleeping. Before, it happened because I was too paranoid to close my eyes. Years of being dragged from my bed in the middle of the night fucked with my ability to sleep without fear of what I might wake to. But now? Now I’m going to be too terrified to take my eyes off of Saylor to even consider resting.

I throw my door open before Krew can properly park the SUV, sprinting up the stairs to the main level. Fuck the groceries; they can wait. I try to wipe my face of any worry as I open the door, just in case Saylor’s up and about. Thankfully, it’s just the guys waiting for us. Ro shakes his head and points for me to go back out to the garage. I hand the card over to Loch, who snaps a pic to send to Denvers. We’re quiet as he studies it, but all I really want to do is throw my fist through the damn wall.

I’m scared shitless that Liam’s one too many steps ahead of us. With today’s technology, it shouldn’t be taking this long to locate the fucker. He’s disappeared completely. This man has no background in tech yet he’s flying under the radar like a goddamn pro. And I want to know how.

“When I get my hands on this bastard, I’m going to rip him apart. One limb at a time,” Ro grits out, his voice drenched in hate. Can’t say I disagree.

“Denvers just responded. Coordinates lead to Iowa City, right by another river.” Loch stares at the phone like he wants to launch it across the room. “Said he’ll be in touch as soon as he knows something.” I’m pretty sure we all know what the local authorities are going to find.

“Tink’s awake.” Krew’s looking at the security app, watching her walk down the hallway. He must have had it pulled up just in case. “Let’s grab the food. At least it won’t look so weird that we’re all out here if we each carry some in.” I take a few bags and head on up, eager to get my eyes on Saylor. It’s been too damn long. I drop them on the floor and walk straight for my sweetness. Her eyes widen at the look on my face, but I just wrap my arms around her and bury my face against her neck.

Damn she smells good.

“Missed you,” I whisper.

Saylor laughs, but thankfully doesn’t push me away. “You just saw me.”

“That was…” I pull back to look at the clock. “One hour and thirty-two minutes ago. Way too long in my opinion.” She shakes her head at me as the other guys come through the door. I definitely left them with the bulk of the groceries, but fuck ‘em. All’s fair in claiming time with Saylor. Krew stops dead in his tracks as soon as he sees what she’s wearing, his eyes cutting towards me accusingly, then fixating back on Saylor. His heated gaze rakes her body from head to toe, the blatant ogling going unnoticed by absolutely no one. Saylor shifts her feet anxiously, looking down at the sweater, then to Krew. The sweater. Krew. Her blue eyes widen with realization.

“I’m sorry,” Saylor mumbles. “Is this yours? I thought Kash left it.” She side-eyes me, and not in a good way. Shit. “I promise I didn’t know. I’ll go take it off.” Krew walks toward her, causing her to stumble back a step. Fuck, it’s more like he’s stalking his damn prey. He stops inches in front of her, looking her up and down. His appreciation is obvious, and he clearly doesn’t give a rat’s ass that we’re all watching him feast on Saylor like she’s best thing his code-hackin’ heart has laid eyes on since he first discovered JavaScript.

“Keep it.” I stare in shock as my twin drops his head lower, bringing his mouth to the shell of her ear. “It looks better on you, Tink.” I’m close enough to hear the sharp intake of her breath, witness the goosebumps spread across her freshly tanned skin. I swallow and look away, not wanting my dick to spring to attention. Her reaction is hot as hell, even if I’m not the one that caused it. The guys start talking, steering the topic to safer territory as Saylor starts helping put away the food.