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“Do you think we have to worry about more stuff like the dead raven in the snow happening?” I ask as Hunter, Jax, and I sit at the table, eating some sandwiches.
We spent quite a while setting up the cameras and making sure all of them worked before we sat down to eat. It’s late enough that the sun is going down and the party will be starting in a few hours. We checked the cameras before we sat down, and no one is at my aunt and uncle’s house. Hunter received a text from Zay, too, although it was super vague.
I’m fine.That was all it said. But I guess that was enough to settle everyone’s nerves.
I still feel a bit uneasy, but I keep that to myself.
Hunter shakes his head then takes a bite of his sandwich. He’s sitting in a chair across from me, his foot pressed against mine. At first, I moved my foot, thinking it was in the way. But his foot chased mine, so I decided that’s how he wanted it.
Guys are so confusing. They’re always saying girls are, but they’re just as bad.
“All of our cameras are working,” Hunter assures me. “So, even if they did, we catch them before they get too far. Honestly, maybe it’s a good thing if they try it.”
I pick at the crust on my sandwich. “But what if they get into the party without anyone noticing?”
Hunter freezes. So does Jax. Apparently, that hasn’t crossed either of their minds.
They trade a look while I stuff a chunk of sandwich into my mouth.
“Just so you two know, I’m starting to catch on to your secret looks, so maybe you should just say what you’re thinking aloud.” I give a shrug when they both look at me. “It’s true, so I thought I’d just throw it out there instead of sitting here and pretending like I don’t know what’s happening.”
Hunter considers this. “Fair enough.” He cracks a smile then promptly erases it. “We were just thinking that we should probably be worried about that.”
I nod in agreement. “Maybe I should go hang out somewhere else?” I suggest, even though I don’t want to. I haven’t actually been to a party before except for one time where I ended up getting locked in a closet for hours because it was a setup by Dixie May. “Like maybe my aunt and uncle’s?” Those words leave a bitter taste in my mouth. “Or maybe I can just go hang out with Low?”
Hunter actually considers this then extends his hand across the table, takes mine, and starts playing with my fingers. My gaze immediately goes to Jax because, hello, we just made out this morning. But he just gives me this small smile.
WTF?
“Baby.” Hunter draws my attention back to him. “We don’t want to boss you around, but I think I really,reallyneed to stress this.” He looks me straight in the eye. “You shouldn’t ever have to go back to that house, no matter what reason, okay? Your aunt, uncle, and cousin are abusive, and no one should ever have to deal with that shit. You turn eighteen in a few weeks, so all we have to do is keep dodging it until then, and then you’re good to go. We’ve got dirt on your aunt that I’m sure she won’t want your uncle to know about, so we’re good.”
I rub my lips together as his words sink in. “But, how do we know that blackmailing my aunt is going to work? We haven’t even tried it yet.”
“That’s because we haven’t had to yet,” Hunter tells me, tracing the folds of my fingers with his. “When we have to, we’ll use it and make it work.”
I waver, still unconvinced. “You didn’t seem so convinced last night.”
“I was pretty convinced,” he insists. “And now that I’ve seen my father having a meeting with your uncle, I’m one-hundred percent convinced it’ll work because I’m going to make it work.”
I open my mouth to tell him he can’t be one-hundred percent certain it’ll work, but the sound of the front door opening causes everyone to freeze.
“It’s me,” Zay hollers, and everyone visibly relaxes.
“We’re in the kitchen,” Hunter calls back to him.
I hear the stomping of boots and, a moment later, Zay wanders in, his face flushed from the snow, snowflakes dotting his hair. Even his lips look a bit blue.
“Dude, you look cold,” Hunter remarks, eyeing him over.
“I’m fine.” Zay shucks off his hoodie, drapes it on the back of a chair, then rubs his hands together, trying to warm them up. “I stood outside for a bit when I got back.”
“From Raven’s uncle’s house?” Hunter asks, and Zay nods, dropping into a chair. “How’d you even get there without the truck?”
“I drove my car,” he replies like it’s obvious. He fleetingly flicks his gaze to Hunter’s hand on mine. “I have chains.”
Hunter shakes his head with a heavy sigh, his hand leaving mine. “You know that’s not good to do unless under extreme circumstances.”
“I know that,” Zay replies with annoyance. “But Jax took the truck, and I needed to …” He glances in my direction before looking back at Hunter. “I needed a break.”
