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“Be careful finishing that sentence,” Edmund said lightly, but it held a warning. “Don’t be as ugly as they are. It’s not a good look.”
Charlie’s eyes widened, but he finally shut up. Alexa drew closer, assessing him.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly, reaching out. She held his hand and offered comfort in the silence. Archie did the same, snuggling against her neck as if he read the atmosphere.
“I know. I was supposed to protect you, but now…I don’t know who to trust, Alexa.”
Silence.
“I do.”
“What?”
She squeezed his hand, then led him out of the manor. “I know where we can find sanctuary. But we have to get there soon.”
“Hey, Alexa. What brings you to our abode…and with a Wilder?”
Billy’s voice was ringing with confusion, but not as heavy as the confusion Edmund felt as he took in the house skeptically. One, it was in the middle of a suburban neighborhood and had only fences for protection—if one even counted those considering how old and worn down they looked. Two, the house was as old as the fence, and he could already imagine the loud creaks every time he took a step. But Billy’s scrutiny was the focus, so he met the guy’s question with a nod.
“I heard this place could offer sanctuary, and we are here looking for one.”
“Sanctuary?” Billy’s brows furrowed. Then they cleared as he whirled back on Edmund in accusation. “Are you shacking up with my cousin? Did you bring trouble to her with your malicious kin?”
“Both false,” Edmund shot back easily. “I’m not just shacking up with her, and that’s an insult to her. I’m also not the one who brought trouble since it comes from an outside source, but you are right about the malicious kin.”
“Please, all this testosterone is shifting us away from the main topic. Billy, I promise to answer all your queries in good time. But can wepleasecome in? It’s really urgent.”
Billy took Alexa’s words in and softened when his gaze landed on Archie, who waited patiently. When he reached out, the kid didn’t hesitate to jump in Billy’s arms and shower him with kisses.
“I missed you,” Archie announced. “You haven’t been visiting lately.”
“I know, and I’m sorry,” Billy said, all smiles and croons for the little boy. A pause, then, “Come on in, then, guys.”
Charlie was the first to step in, wariness seeping into his body and looking thoroughly creeped out. Alexa was just as wary, baffling Edmund as he went in last. Before he could follow them, Billy stepped in his path, Archie no longer there and his arms crossed. The glare was menacing, a far cry from the man’s often-charming, breezy approach.
“You were supposed to paint my cousin, not fuck her.”
Edmund tilted his head. “And you were supposed to accompany my ex-fiancé on a journey of self-discovery, not fuck her. But I guess love makes us do the craziest, strangest things.”
Billy growled. “So, what? Is this revenge?”
“Clearly you are not listening to a word I just said…Ah, Iz.” Edmund sighed in relief. “Maybe you can clarify things here.”
The blonde woman with a radiant smile and ethereal aura glided closer, as graceful as he remembered. Her smile was more hesitant now, but she still looked more welcoming than Billy as she stopped in front of him.
“Hey, Edmund.”
“Hello, Iz. Tell me, did I ever tell you that I love you?”
She shook her head promptly, scrutinizing him. “Edmund, you were never in love with me. I knew it as much as I knew that we would have been miserable with each other in the long run. I always thought of you as someone who didn’t think that love made sense…but I’m wrong. I am so wrong.”
“Yes,” was his only response, the emotion pushing forth every time he acknowledged his love for Alexa.
“I see.” There was a tense pause. Then Iz brightened, reminding him of why he had been drawn to her in the first place. It felt like a lifetime ago, his feelings for her paling in comparison to what he felt for Alexa now. “Billy?”
“What?”
“We need to secure the place. We need to stay here in the meantime, too. Cancel your events this weekend, and I will cancel mine. Get ready to inform Angelo if it’s needed, but we handle this for now.”
